Could the GAC Emkoo Hybrid make sense in PH?

If there’s one crossover that really stands out from GAC Motor PH’s lineup in looks alone, it’s probably the Emkoo. Serving as the brand’s stylish and high-tech compact crossover, it slots above the GS4 and sits below the GS8 flagship SUV.

In the Philippine market, it comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine derived from the Empow. It makes a similar 177 PS with 270 Nm of torque and is also saddled with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch gearbox driving the front wheels. Since its engine capacity is below 1499cc, GAC Motor PH was able to price the Emkoo competitively as it starts at just PHP 1.298 million.

But with electrification becoming more and more popular in the country, perhaps GAC Motor PH could come up with an electrified version of the stylish crossover. Luckily for them, the automaker actually already sells one in the PRC, and it’s aptly named the Emkoo Hybrid.

On the outside, it looks the same as a regular ICE-powered Emkoo apart from the different alloy wheels unique only to the hybrid version. Under the hood, however, it gets an Atkinson cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s assisted by an electric motor.

The engine alone produces a humble 140 PS at 6000 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. But thanks to an electric motor, the Emkoo Hybrid has a total system output of 238 PS and 300 Nm of torque. If those figures look familiar, that’s because it’s the same powertrain found in the Empow Hybrid.

Power is then sent to a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) which can switch between low and high speeds, depending on driving conditions. Thanks to the electrified powertrain, GAC claims the Emkoo Hybrid can average up to 21 km/l based on the CLTC cycle.

Inside, the vehicle gets the same cabin and dashboard as the ICE version. That means it gets a digital instrument cluster, a sleek touchscreen infotainment system, a flat bottom steering wheel, and a unique center console complete with a wireless charging pad.

So far, GAC Motor PH has yet to bring any of the brand’s HEVs (or PHEVs) into the country. Hopefully, in the future, the automaker will bring them in and will be able to price them competitively. In addition, they can market them as exempted from coding since vehicles such as EVs, HEVs, and PHEVs are exempted from the expanded number coding scheme.