- GAC New Zealand has added a new Lite model to the Emzoom small SUV range.
- The Emzoom Lite comes to New Zealand with a sharp price of just $27,990.
- It is priced at $4000 under the existing model and retains a full suite of safety and driver assists.
GAC New Zealand has added a cheaper entry-level version of its Emzoom small SUV to the local range, with the new Lite model priced from just $27,990 plus on-road costs.
The new model undercuts the existing Emzoom by $4000, bringing GAC into direct competition with some of New Zealand's more affordable small SUVs, including the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mitsubishi ASX, which is now priced from $28,990.
The Emzoom Lite retains the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as the more expensive model, producing 125kW and 270Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while fuel consumption is officially listed at 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle.
Inside, the Lite gets a 14.6-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital instrument display, six-speaker audio system, PVC leather upholstery and tyre pressure monitoring.
However, the Lite does trim a significant amount of features from the standard model to reach its headline-grabbing price, most noticeably the powered panoramic sunroof, electric sunshade and powered tailgate, while the driver's seat is manually adjusted rather than electrically operated and loses its ventilation function.
There are also some significant differences in the parking and driver assistance equipment. The Lite gets a conventional reversing camera and three rear parking sensors, while the regular Emzoom upgrades to a 360-degree camera, six front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot view monitoring and automatic parking assistance.
Other omissions include wireless phone charging, electric folding and heated door mirrors, rear USB ports, a rear-seat centre armrest and hill-descent control, while the Lite also gets smaller 17-inch wheels rather than the regular model's 18-inch items.
Importantly, the cheaper model doesn't lose the major active safety features, retaining adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assistance and integrated cruise assistance.
Like the regular GAC Emzoom, that remains available for $31,990, the Emzoom Lite is covered by GAC's five-year/150,000km vehicle warranty,
