2026 GAC EMZOOM Premium Undercuts Small SUVs at $22,990

$22,990 drive-away buys a turbo-petrol small SUV with a 14.6-inch screen, adaptive cruise, AEB, and 7 years of unlimited kilometre warranty. GAC EMZOOM Premium is the new entry trim level of the range, at $4,000 under the Luxury trim level.

Orders open now, with cars to reach dealerships early September. The $22,990 special runs through to 30 September 2026, unless extended. The EMZOOM Luxury launched at $26,990 drive-away when GAC opened in Australia offering EMZOOM alongside the AION V and the M8 PHEV. White is the only colour without a surcharge, with others an optional extra cost.

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GAC EMZOOM Premium, front three-quarter

GAC EMZOOM Premium, side profile

GAC EMZOOM Premium, rear three-quarter

GAC EMZOOM is featured in this gallery image from the Australian launch.

GAC EMZOOM is featured in this gallery image from the Australian launch.

GAC EMZOOM is featured in this gallery image from the Australian launch.

ABOVE: 2026 EMZOOM Premium

GAC EMZOOM Premium Equipment for $22,990

The 14.6-inch touchscreen includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 7-inch LCD cluster in front of the driver and 6 speakers around the cabin. Passive entry and start are standard, along with single-zone automatic air conditioning that vents to the back seat. The seats wear artificial leather, the driver’s chair adjusts 6 ways by hand, and the wheel is leather and multifunction. Rain-sensing front wipers and LED automatic headlights with height adjustment come as standard, as do LED daytime running lights and a rear fog light. There’s 1 front USB-A port and a 12V outlet, which is where $22,990 starts to show itself.

GAC EMZOOM Premium comes with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane keep assist. Lane departure warning, integrated cruise assist, high beam assist, and an emergency stop signal are standard too. Dual front airbags and front side airbags, with side curtains above. Then an electronic park brake with autohold, ESP, hill-hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring, an engine immobiliser with alarm, a reversing camera, and 3 rear parking sensors. GAC’s release lists the kit and no crash rating, so the safety case stops at the equipment.

Further cementing brand intentions on dominance, GAC EMZOOM Premium has 7 years of unlimited kilometre warranty, but as yet, no service pricing, and no roadside assistance term, so the true cost of ownership stays half-drawn until the servicing schedule goes public. Plenty of cheap cars sold on a long warranty before, but few sold on a long warranty and a full set of driver assists at the same time.

The 1.5 Turbo and What It Drinks

1497cc, 125kW at 5500rpm, and 270Nm held from 1400 to 4500rpm. A 7-speed dual-clutch sends it to the front wheels, and emissions are Euro V. Combined consumption is 6.6L/100km, 8.5 in town and 5.4 out of it, which for 125kW is honest rather than heroic. The Premium weighs 1370kg, 45kg under the Luxury. MacPherson struts at the front, a torsion beam at the back, electric power steering. Standard issue at this money, and GAC hasn’t dressed it up as anything else.

The 5 seat GAC EMZOOM Premium is 4410mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1600mm tall with a 2650mm wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 145mm, which is hatchback more than SUV. The boot is a decent 341 litres seats up and 1271 litres seats down. Finally, tyres are 215/60 R17 with a temporary spare.

What GAC EMZOOM Premium Does Without

The list of deletions against the Luxury is extensive, but most of us probably won’t notice. Gone are:

• Panoramic sunroof and its electric shade
• Power tailgate
• Ambient lighting
• 50W wireless charger
• 360-degree camera
• Automatic parking
• Blind spot view
• Hill descent control
• Lit vanity mirrors
• Rear centre armrest
• Rear USB port

Then the downgrades:

• Mirrors lose electric folding and demisting
• Hidden electric door handles become mechanical rotary ones
• Driver’s seat drops from ventilated and powered to 6-way manual
• 225/55 R18 tyres become 17s
• Parking sensors go from 6 front and 6 rear on the Luxury to 3 at the back

Two of those really hurt. 1: The rear windscreen wiper is gone, and on a tall hatchback shape in a wet Sydney winter, you’ll swear at that one from the first roundabout. 2: Seatbelt pretensioners on the front and second rows are Luxury-only. That is an odd place to find the savings on a car that hands you AEB and lane keep for nothing.

GAC Group sells in more than 70 markets and makes no secret of wanting the China export crown by 2030. We’ve driven the AION UT and the M8 Luxury PHEV, so read those reviews for more. GWM passing 250,000 Australian sales shows Australians are keen to have value over loyalty. Adding to the woes of legacy car makers is the fact that almost all of them have left the entry level space. GAC EMZOOM Premium is a small SUV body in a space now occupied only by Chinese brands. Is that a sign of where the rest of the market is going?

We review EMZOOM in a few weeks, so for now there’s no verdict on the ride, the dual-clutch’s manners in traffic, or how politely the lane keep behaves.

GAC EMZOOM Premium

More GAC Stories

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• 2026 GAC Aion UT OTA Quickie Review
• GAC M8 Luxury PHEV Review, The Van That Killed the Carnival

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Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.