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Is the GAC Emzoom still worth it in 2026?

The Emzoom faces stiff competition from younger rivals, but it can still hold its own in a battle of value.

Jerome Tresvalles on Jul 13, 2026

It may not look like it, but the GAC Emzoom is now three years old in the market. Stylish, loud, and fast, the Emzoom shows that owning a crossover doesn’t have to mean settling for a boring car. You can still get something that excites the senses.

Despite that youthful aura the Emzoom exudes, there’s no escaping the fact that younger and fresher rivals have arrived in between those three years. To keep the Emzoom in fighting form, GAC gave its crossover a few upgrades for the 2026 model year. With that in mind, let’s revisit the Emzoom’s spec sheet to see if it's still a worthwhile buy in 2026.

Related: GAC Motor Philippines brings the AION UT to the Philippines

It still looks exciting

Time has done nothing to dull the Emzoom’s looks, and that’s a compliment to its design. It’s hard to do something wild and sporty without it getting old quickly, but GAC has done it. The Emzoom can still turn heads on the road as it flies by.

The sharp angles, large wheels, and sporty touches appear fun rather than loud. Plus, GAC has made an effort to give it actual street cred by installing genuine dual exhaust pipes at the rear rather than faux pipes on the bumpers. The new crossovers on the block may be younger, but the Emzoom still has style.

Still the same punchy turbocharged powertrain

The 2026 Emzoom continues to run on a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission sending power exclusively to the front wheels.

According to GAC's official specification sheet, the engine produces 174 hp and 270 Nm of torque, figures that put it comfortably ahead of most naturally aspirated rivals in the segment. It might not have electrification like other new crossovers, but this is still a genuinely punchy little crossover on paper, and the dual-clutch gearbox should keep things reasonably brisk around town and on the highway.

As for suspension, the EEmzoom gets MacPherson struts up front, a torsion beam at the rear, and electric power steering. Both the base GB and range-topping R-Style share the same mechanical package, riding on a 2,650mm wheelbase and wearing 225/55 R18 tires as standard. Curb weight ranges from 1,370 kg to 1,415 kg, keeping the Emzoom on the lighter side of the segment, contributing to its fun driving dynamics.

Updated tech and equipment

This is where the 2026 refresh earns its keep. Every Emzoom now gets a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital cluster, and standard wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The R-Style adds a panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, ventilated and power-adjustable driver's seat, 50W wireless charging, six speakers, ambient lighting, and folding mirrors.

Its real strength, though, is safety: adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, hill descent control, side curtain airbags, and automatic parking. That's a comprehensive suite for the segment, and it keeps the Emzoom feeling up to date even in the company of newer cars.

An accessible price

Pricing remains the Emzoom's best argument. The GB starts at P1,059,900, with the R-Style topping out at P1,159,900 — just P100,000 apart for a substantial jump in comfort and safety tech. Both come in Graphene Grey, Ivory White, Moonlight Grey, or Superstar Silver.

Sitting just above P1 million, the Emzoom still undercuts several mainstream Japanese and Korean rivals while offering more standard kit and, in R-Style trim, driver-assistance tech that pricier crossovers still can't match.

So, is it still worth it?

Yes. The Emzoom shows that staying relevant doesn't require a full overhaul — just smart quality of life updates where they matter. A proven powertrain, a genuinely modern cabin, and pricing that still beats the competition add up to one of the smartest value plays in the subcompact crossover segment. In 2026, the Emzoom isn't just holding on — it's still making its case.

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