Honda HR-V vs Gac Emzoom

What's the difference?

The Honda HR-V e:HEV L offers a respectable driving experience in the city but compared to its rivals, it’s features list and safety don’t always stack up. It sort of straddles the fence between basic and lux at times, which is an odd place for a top-model to be but its sharper styling will win hearts and the cabin is still practical.

GAC isn’t messing around with the Emzoom Luxury. It’s undeniably eye-catching, priced well and carries just enough of a premium aesthetic to draw attention.

Is it the best small SUV I’ve driven? No. It does enough to avoid being overlooked, but it’s not quite reinventing the wheel.

What it does well is deliver a comfortable, easy urban runaround with strong equipment for the price. However, the safety calibration and overall breadth of systems feel like areas that still need attention.

All up, it gets a lot right for the money, but doesn’t quite land a knockout punch.

For a small SUV, the cabin is large. Both seating rows feature excellent access with the 195mm ground clearance not eliciting one grunt from my occupants (even the oldies).

Head- and legroom is decent in both rows but taller passengers might brush the ceiling on bumps when seated in the back.

The only area that lacks this feeling of space is the boot, as it only has 304L of capacity available when all seats are in use and that's on the tiny side compared to its rivals. The Kia Niro has 425L which rivals some sedans!

Seat comfort is best in the front where thick padding and a longer cushion offer more comfort on a longer journey, despite lacking lumbar support.

The rear seats are harder and shorter and you should expect some big stretches from adults after a road trip. However, the directional air vents and other amenities keep it from feeling too basic on comfort.

There are lots of storage options with a glove box that's large enough to fit a manual with room to spare, a small middle console, two large 'stacked' shelves in front of the gearshift, four cupholders, four drink-bottle holders and two map pockets that also feature a device holder large enough to fit my iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The HR-V has 'Magic' seats in the rear which means the base can fold up or the backs can be folded flat. It’s a cool feature that opens up extra storage options.

The technology is simple to use and responsive. The touchscreen multimedia system has built-in satellite navigation, the Honda Connect app, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. The CarPlay is easy to set up and maintains a steady connection.

Charging options are good with a single USB-A and three USB-C ports, as well as, a 12-volt socket but you miss out on a wireless charging pad despite the L being the top grade.

Up front, the Emzoom offers the most space and it’s where it feels most comfortable. The seats are supportive enough for longer trips, and while only the driver’s side is electrically adjustable, that’s not unusual at this price point. Wide door apertures make getting in and out easy and there’s enough elbow room so it doesn’t feel cramped.

In the rear, space is also surprisingly generous for the segment. The flat floor helps with legroom and headroom remains good despite the panoramic sunroof.

Storage is well thought through and generous. Up front, there’s a glove box, a deep centre console and a dual-phone tray that incorporates a ventilated wireless charging pad. There are two cupholders and a drink holder in each door storage bin. You also get an additional shelf underneath with both USB-A and USB-C ports, which helps keep cables and clutter out of the way.

In the rear, amenities are solid, with rear air vents, a fold-down armrest with two cupholders, map pockets and even small device pockets for added practicality. There's a drink bottle holder in each door and a single USB-A port behind the centre console.

Around the back, the boot offers a wide opening and a level load space, making it easy to use day-to-day. Capacity sits at 341 litres, which is enough for a weekly grocery run or a weekend away. There’s a spare tyre tucked under the floor and a powered tailgate is standard.

The tech is easy to live with, too. The media system is intuitive with clear graphics and a responsive touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay connects quickly without fuss, and there’s also wireless Android Auto. Sound quality from the six-speaker system is crisp and the digital radio and Bluetooth hold a steady connection (where some rivals can struggle).

For now, the GAC Emzoom range is about as simple as it gets. There’s a single, well-specified Luxury grade on offer, priced from $25,590, before on-road costs.

That puts it right in the mix with key Chinese rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion Lux, which starts at $28,990 (MSRP) and the MG ZS Vibe Turbo at $24,990 (MSRP). It also significantly undercuts more established mainstream options such as the Kia Seltos Sport+, which opens at $37,550, before on-roads.

The Luxury arrives well equipped. You get an electric driver’s seat with ventilation, synthetic leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide function, and auto-flush door handles. There’s also a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 360-degree camera system, parking assist and a blind-spot view monitor.

Technology leans towards the premium end, too. A 14.6-inch central display is paired with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, along with ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger. There are two USB-A ports, a single USB-C port up front, a 12-volt socket and a six-speaker DTS sound system.

It’s the smaller details that round things out nicely. Auto LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, a temporary spare tyre and a powered tailgate are all included as standard.

All up, it’s a strong package for the price.

The L is a hybrid which combines a 1.5L four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and together they produce up to 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque.

Which is plenty to make the L feel like a zippy city car but on the open road, the engine has a tendency to over-rev and can get whiny going up a hill, which may be a by-product of the continuously variable auto transmission.

The Emzoom Luxury is front-wheel drive and powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 125kW and 270Nm.

That gives it a slight edge over the GWM Haval Jolion, which sits at 105kW and 210Nm and puts it more in line with the MG ZS Vibe Turbo and Kia Seltos Sport+. On paper at least, it’s competitive for the segment and suggests there’s enough performance on tap for daily driving.

It’s paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. Around town, it can feel a little clunky at lower speeds, particularly in stop-start traffic, but it settles down as you pick up pace and feels much smoother on the open road.

The HR-V L has a low combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of just 4.3L/100km which is not far off the 4.0L/100km claims of its rivals. Combined with the 40L fuel tank, you have a theoretical driving range of up to 930km, which is pretty darn good!

After doing a lot of urban driving, with a couple of longer trips thrown in, my real-world usage came out at 5.1L, which is isn't too far off the claimed figure, is still a good result overall and computes to a range in excess of 780km.

The Emzoom Luxury has a 47-litre fuel tank and a claimed combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) consumption figure of 6.6L/100km, which gives it a theoretical driving range of up to 712km. That’s more than enough to comfortably get through a week of mixed driving.

In the real world, my trip computer returned 6.2L/100km after a mix of mostly urban driving and a longer highway run. That’s a strong result and reinforces its credentials as an easy urban runabout.

The HR-V L is an SUV perfectly suited to city life. Its power delivery is responsive around town, allowing for quick bursts when needed and the well of power feels deep until you get onto the open road. And as mentioned, that’s when it’s let down a bit.

The HR-V has a tendency towards mild understeer in quicker sweeping bends but is otherwise surefooted on the road. The suspension is firm, and you’ll notice the bumps here and there, but ride comfort still manages to be okay most of the time. Also road noise isn’t too high around town.

The visibility is great until you’re trying to look out of the back window and have a passenger to your left or a car seat installed. A digital rearview mirror would have been quite welcome in these scenarios. 

Like most small SUVs the HR-V is easy to park and it’s small enough to be your best friend in a tiny car park. However, the reversing camera doesn’t reflect the grade level as the quality of the feed isn’t the best.

On the road, the Emzoom has enough power to feel spritely and capable, whether you’re darting around town or merging onto the highway. That said, the way it delivers that power at lower speeds can feel a little inconsistent. There were moments where lifting off the accelerator didn’t translate to an immediate response, with the car continuing to surge forward briefly. Which made for a few 'eek…' moments during the week.

Handling is on the sharper side for the segment. The steering and suspension are well judged, giving it a slightly zippy, eager feel through corners without tipping into harshness. Braking, however, can feel a touch spongy underfoot, which takes away from that otherwise confident set-up.

Visibility is a mixed bag. Thick pillars, a relatively low window line and a small rear view can make it feel hemmed in from the driver’s seat. Though, the blind-spot camera feed popping up on the display takes some of the guesswork out of lane changes.

Ride comfort is solid overall. It handles bumps well enough, and a longer drive proved comfortable, although there is a low level of road noise that creeps in at higher speeds.

Where the Emzoom really shines is around town. It’s easy to manoeuvre, with an 11.2-metre turning circle that makes tight streets and car parks feel manageable. The 360-degree camera system is clear and makes parking a relatively stress-free experience.

The GAC Emzoom hasn’t been tested by ANCAP yet and is unrated. It comes with six airbags, which is on the lower side for this class, and there are a few notable omissions.

Features like rear cross-traffic alert, side exit assist and emergency call functionality aren’t included. While there is a blind-spot view monitor that displays a live camera feed when you indicate, it doesn’t appear to have a traditional blind-spot warning system with indicator lights in the side mirrors.

The core safety suite is there. You get autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane- keeping aid and lane-departure warning, along with seatbelt reminders for all seats, a tyre pressure monitoring system and hill descent control. There are also two ISOFIX points and three top-tether anchor points for child seats.

Where it falls short is in execution. The steering assist function tied to the adaptive cruise control is overly intrusive, with noticeable inputs that make it difficult to use comfortably. Given the amount of highway driving I do each week, it’s not a system I found myself wanting to rely on.

Overall, the safety offering doesn’t feel as comprehensive or as well calibrated as it could be, which takes some shine off an otherwise well-equipped package.

Honda offers the HR-V with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and an eight-year battery warranty which is on the lower end considering it's rivals can get up to seven-years unlimited km warranty now.

The five years capped-priced servicing program offers excellent value, however, as services are a flat $199, which is great for the class.

Servicing intervals are at every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first and that should be fine for the average city dweller. But it could get annoying if you put higher than average kays on your car every year.

The Emzoom is offered with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty which is great for the class.

Service pricing has yet to be finalised for the Emzoom and for now the service network is tiny, with only around 10 centres nationwide but you can undergo authorised repairs through places like MyCar.