By now, you’d probably think the Honda HR-V is my favorite punching bag; after all, it was the subject of our first head-to-head comparo I did early in the year against the Hyundai Creta. And it was a comparo that, to say the least, produced an upset with the Creta 1.5 GLS Premium winning over the HR-V 1.5 S. Now, here’s my second comparo of the year, and this time the mid-grade HR-V V Turbo is going against an unlikely rival in the GAC GS3 Emzoom.
I know what you’re thinking: why pit these two against each other? The answer is simple. The HR-V, with its three-prong variant line-up was originally meant to compete in three highly competitive sub-genres of the compact crossover segment. Unfortunately, because of a hefty price increase Honda implemented early in the year, the HR-V V Turbo and the HR-V RS Turbo now occupy the same space with just a P 90,000 spread between them (P 1,649,000 versus P 1,739,000). This puts pressure on Honda for two reasons: one, because HR-V stocks have started to regularize right now and two, because competitors like the GAC GS3 Emzoom pretty much offer the same sort of package for a whole lot less cash (P 1,198,000).
Now, the question is: is it worth to fork out an additional P 451,000 for the Honda or does the GAC deliver the same sort of driving experience for a whole lot less dough? Read on.
Exterior
The way Honda and GAC Motor approach their designs can’t be more polar opposites. With the HR-V, Honda has opted to pare back as much as they can when it comes to superfluous design elements. The result is a compact crossover that looks smaller visually, but is dimensionally close to its predecessor. The “hidden” rear door handles and hidden easter eggs aside, there’s nothing really arresting about the HR-V’s exterior aesthetic. Instead, it’s all about giving it simple lines and excellent body proportions. It’s a slow burn in terms of design which means you won’t be questioning its longevity any time soon.
On the other hand, the GS3 Emzoom is clearly designed for instant gratification. It’s the compact crossover for fuccbois and the TikTok generation. GAC puts their “Hi-tech Industrial Aesthetic” design to good use here by coming up with something that looks like nothing else on the road. The use of intersecting creases on every surface, be it on the front grille to the doors to the tailgate reduces its visual girth giving it a stance that’s more hot hatch than crossover. Then, add the intricately spoked matte-finished 19-inch wheels, electronically retracting door handles, and an exhaust that exits at the center of an exaggerated rear diffuser. It’s busy, fussy, bordering on the ugly design, but I like it because it takes risks. If only GAC didn’t forget to install a rear wiper…
Winner: GAC GS3 Emzoom
Interior
Their respective exterior treatments tell you exactly what do expect with these two compact crossovers the moment you set inside. Visually, the HR-V V Turbo’s interior looks dreary with just the diffuser air vents being the only real talking point. However, it’s built to last. This test drive unit, for example, has already done more than 20,000 kilometers and it feels every bit as solid. There’s some wear-and-tear on the genuine leather seats, but apart from that, there’s zero rattles or creaks here. Moreover, the moment you set your butt down on the driver’s seat, it occurs to you that Honda’s got the ergonomics right. The seating is higher compared to the GS3 Emzoom and this subjectively gives you better visibility heightening the sense of maneuverability and control especially in urban confines. If you have to spend an insane amount of time in traffic every single day, the HR-V is the one to be in.
On paper, the GS3 Emzoom is designed for a younger audience; instead, it ends up as being juvenile. Need to switch drive modes? It’s not done via any physical switch, but through the touchscreen. And once you manage to hit the right area of the laggy screen, it produces whooshing sounds along with a change in the gauge cluster layout and ambient lighting. Heck, you can switch over to a noiser exhaust. Need I say more? As tech-laden as this crossover is, you begin to think that instead of helping or easing the overall operation, it’s just tech done for tech’s sake. The seating position is lower, limiting the front and rear three-quarters visibility, and the pedal box doesn’t align well with the driver’s seat meaning your hips will always be canted to the right as you drive. It’s the little things that rob the GS3 Emzoom here. Build quality is high, but the materials used is mixed. There are some nice, plush plastics and synthetic leather dotting the cabin, but also some cheap bits too on the steering wheel and wiper/light stalks.
Winner: Honda HR-V V Turbo
Space and Practicality
Almost nothing separates the HR-V and GS3 Emzoom when it comes to interior space. There’s a lot of leg and shoulder room on both models, whether in the front or rear quarters. The HR-V does lose out a bit more in terms of head room, but for as long as you move the driver’s seat to the lowest position, I didn’t find any issue with it. However, those taller than my 170 cm height might want to do a fit check if you’re in the market for one. Storage options are solid, but not ground breaking with two open ledges, one on top of each other, in front of the shifter and a decent-sized glove- and arm rest storage boxes. At the back, the HR-V’s cargo room is still the final word in terms of flexibility. Neither crossover can fit a 28-inch (large-sized) suitcase without the rear seats being folded down, but at least on the HR-V, it collapses in a 60/40 split and even flips up when needed. A tonneau cover comes standard too.
The GS3 Emzoom doesn’t offer the same level of cargo flexibility which means it loses out big time on this particular occasion. The cargo hold is certainly enough for doing groceries or even the occasional weekend out-of-town trips, but don’t expect to play friendly for that airport run. Having said that, kudos to GAC for putting in some nice touches like extending a scratch-resistant black plastic lip to the cargo hold’s actual load line and putting in a power tailgate even if opening and closing it requires having to go through layers of menus in the infotainment screen. When it comes to knick-knacks, it may seem like it has the slight edge thanks to its clever two-tier transmission tunnel, among others. Unfortunately, actual usability doesn’t rate too high. It’s also the only one to offer wireless Apple CarPlay (even if it’s iffy) and a USB Type C port purely for charging.
Winner: Honda HR-V V Turbo
Performance and Fuel Economy
On paper, almost nothing separates the HR-V and the GS3 Emzoom. Both use a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with similar outputs: 174 horsepower and 270 Nm for the GAC and 177 horsepower and 240 Nm for the Honda. 0 to 100 km/h is done in 7.5 seconds for the GS3 Emzoom and about 8 seconds for the HR-V. But what these figures don’t tell you is how the Honda beats the GAC when it comes to mechanical polish and refinement.
Although CVTs are typically notorious for being fun-sapping gearboxes, in the case of the HR-V, it’s actually the one to have over the dual clutch automatic. The reason? Shift quality. In the GS3 Emzoom, the gearbox tends to get easily confused in stop-and-go traffic causing the entire vehicle to jerk and lurch especially if you’re not smooth enough on the throttle. Whereas, in the HR-V, the stepless transmission makes for smooth progress. It also helps keep the gearbox locked in peak rpm for the turbo to remain spooled (around 3,000 rpm) making for an effortless charge to highway speeds. The CVT also results in better fuel economy too. At similar average speeds, the Honda does 9.61 km/L while the GAC manages just 7.87 km/L. This is just perfect because the HR-V does have the smaller fuel tank between the two. On the flipside, the Honda L15B requires just 91 octane (Petron Xtra Unleaded’s already fine) to the GAC 1.5 Megawave’s 92 octane minimum. Since 92 octane gas isn’t available locally, you have little choice but to go up to 95 octane such as Petron XCS.
The story’s the same when it comes to suspension tuning. Neither is a beacon of enthusiast-centric handling, but it’s the HR-V that gains an edge when it comes to steering precision. It also feels slightly more secure when being pushed around even if the 17-inch Goodyear tires on the Honda pale in comparison to the grippy 19-inch Michelin tires on the GS3 Emzoom. It’s also the HR-V that remains unperturbed by Manila’s badly pockmarked roads. There’s just more consistency to the way it absorbs cracks and ruts throughout the entirety of the suspension stroke, compared to the GS3 Emzoom which tends to crashy as the shocks start to rebound.
Winner: Honda HR-V V Turbo
Value for Money
Ah. Now here’s the kicker. With a P 451,000 price gap between them, the HR-V already loses out even before you start drilling down on the standard features. Both receive ADAS or advanced driver assist as standard, but the GS3 Emzoom offers much, much more. The HR-V has been dealt by a big blow no matter how you look at it. The GAC has the advantage when it comes to wheels (19s versus 17s), tailgate (powered versus manual), seat adjustment (electronic versus manual, infotainment screen (10.25-inch versus 8-inch), airbags (six versus four), and cameras (360-degree versus rear). The GS3 Emzoom is also the only one of the two to have a panoramic sunroof, rear parking camera, and tire pressure monitoring.
Winner: GAC GS3 Emzoom
Verdict
The Honda HR-V wins in this comparo, but I’d be placing a big asterisk here. The HR-V wins simply because I personally wouldn’t trade driving refinement and driver comfort over aesthetics and tech toys. But there lies the kicker. The HR-V’s advantage lies mainly in its mechanical refinement and that’s something that only a handful of people would probably appreciate or care about. For the majority, they’d probably look at the price difference between the GS3 Emzoom and the HR-V and immediately conclude that they’d simply put the P 451,000 difference to work elsewhere. This could be put to use in things like maintenance cost, fuel bills, insurance fees, or even additional accessories.
At its P 1,598,000 introductory price tag, the HR-V V Turbo was barely palatable, but now that it’s at the P 1.65-million mark, Honda has just priced themselves out of market. It’s for this very reason that well-priced, well-featured Chinese crossovers like the GS3 Emzoom have proven to be successful. Despite its lack of mechanical polish, its feature-laden approach has made it a purchase consideration to a lot of Filipinos.
Winner: Honda HR-V V Turbo*
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2023 GAC GS3 Emzoom vs 2023 Honda HR-V |
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| Bottom Line | 2023 GAC GS3 Emzoom 1.5T R-Style | 2023 Honda HR-V 1.5 V Turbo Honda SENSING |
| Pros | Head-turning style, nicely speced for the price. | Balanced performance, impeccable cargo flexibility. |
| Cons | Ergonomics, jerky transmission, inconsistent ride/handling. | Bland exterior/interior, pricey. |
| TL;DR | A worthy look if you can forgive the lack of mechanical polish. | Gets the mechanical bits right, but lacks in overall packaging. |
| Ownership | ||
| Year Introduced | 2023 | 2022 |
| Warranty | 5 years / 150,000 kilometers | 3 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basics | ||
| Body Type | Compact Crossover | Compact Crossover |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F | F/F |
| Under the Hood | ||
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged | Turbocharged |
| Fuel Delivery | Direct Injection | EFI |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | Inline-4 | Inline-4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 174 @ 5,500 | 177 @ 6,000 |
| Nm @ rpm | 270 @ 1,400-4,500 | 240 @ 1,700-4,500 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / ~92 | Gasoline / ~91 |
| Transmission | 7 DCT | CVT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive | Yes, Adaptive |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed |
7.87 km/L @ 15 km/h, 9.52 km/L @ 20 km/h (fueled with Petron XCS) |
9.61 km/L @ 17 km/h (fueled with Petron XCS) |
| Fuel Tank Size (L) | 47 | 40 |
| Dimensions and Weights | ||
| Length (mm) | 4,446 | 4,385 |
| Width (mm) | 1,850 | 1,790 |
| Height (mm) | 1,600 | 1,590 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,650 | 2,610 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,415 | 1,363 |
| Suspension and Tires | ||
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam Axle | Torsion Beam Axle |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Disc |
| Parking Brake | Electric, w/ Auto Hold | Electric, w/ Auto Hold |
| Tires |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 235/45 R 19 Y (f & r) |
Goodyear Assurance
TripleMax 2 215/60 R 17 H (f &r) |
| Recommended Tire Pressure (PSI) | 33 all | 32 front / 30 rear |
| Wheels | Alloy | Alloy |
| Safety Features | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 4 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes | Yes |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Rear | None |
| Parking Camera | Yes, 360-degree | Yes, Rear |
| Front Seatbelt | 3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2 | 3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelt | 3-pt ELR x 3 | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes | Yes |
| Other Safety Features |
Automatic Emergency
Braking Lane Keep Assist Lane Departure Warning Traffic Sign Recognition |
Collision Mitigation
Braking System Lane Keeping Assist System Road Departure Mitigation Lane Departure Warning Lead Car Departure Notification |
| Exterior Features | ||
| Headlights | LED, w/ High Beam Assist | LED, w/ Auto High Beam |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Rear (LED) | Yes, Front (LED) |
| Light Operation | Auto On/Off | Auto On/Off |
| Wiper Operation | Rain-sensing | Variable Intermittent |
| Tailgate | Power | Manual |
| Interior Features | ||
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather | Leather |
| Seating Surface | Synthetic Leather (PVC) | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | 6-way, Power | 6-way, Manual |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | 4-way, Manual | 4-way, Manual |
| 2nd Row | 60/40, Split-Fold, w/ Arm Rest | 60/40, Split-Fold, w/ Arm Rest |
| 3rd Row | None | None |
| Sunroof | Yes | None |
| Multi-Information Display / Size | Yes, 7-inch TFT | Yes, 7-inch TFT |
| Convenience Features | ||
| Power Steering | Yes | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, with Fold | Yes, w/ Fold |
| Rear View Mirror | Day/Night | Auto-dimming |
| Proximity Key | Yes | Yes |
| Climate Control | Auto, w/ Rear Vents | Auto, w/ Rear Vents |
| Audio System |
Stereo USB Type A USB Type C Bluetooth |
Stereo USB Type A Bluetooth |
| Smartphone Connectivity |
Apple CarPlay (wireless) CarbitLink |
Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 6 | 6 |
| Steering Controls | Yes | Yes |
I believe having bigger wheels(rims) may not always be advantageous especially when it comes to fuel efficiency.
ReplyDeleteGoing an inch bigger (HR-V RS) didn't seem to have any adverse effect.
Deletehttps://www.carguide.ph/2023/03/review-2023-honda-hr-v-rs-turbo-honda.html
In fact, if I were getting an HR-V, I'd get the RS.
For me whats matter most are the reliabily/durability of engine and transmission, add to that comfort/refinement. Priced difference would be offset later by the cost of maintenance due to reliability and durability issues, gas savings, and resale value. And finally honda prestige vs gac
ReplyDeleteThis is what I have always thought. The only reason why people are buying Chinese vehicles because they are cheaper. Otherwise, they are still inferior products.
ReplyDeleteThe difference in purchase price will easily be negated by their respective re-sale values. But, I agree the HRV RS is the best buy among the 3 variants.
ReplyDeleteResale value are crap.
DeleteYou dont buy a car because of resale value. Otherwise youre boxed to a brand you dont like. You buy a car bcoz its what your mind and heart wants..
Dito lang talaga ako nakabasa ng mga tao na puro resale value iniisip sa pagbili ng sasakyan. Kaya nga bumibili sasakyan kasi kailangan or gusto, so gusto niyo bumili para ipagbili?
DeleteIf you will used your head/mind then im sure you will not buy that china crap.
DeleteIf youre a person with half the brain, you will understand value for money.
DeleteOr waste of money for unreliable, not durable products
DeletePeople here are mostly gatekeepers with their beliefs stuck in the 1990's
DeleteThey still believe that modern Toyota and Honda vehicles on sale today are as reliable as the ones from the 1990's to 2010's but they forgot that CVT transmissions,hybrid batteries and turbocharged engines of modern Toyota and Honda vehicles won't last for 10 to 20 years and those very expensive parts needs to be replaced too.
Resale value depends on the brand too as Subaru,Nissan and Suzuki vehicles got terrible resale values
^Agree.
DeleteHow sure are the other naysayers above that GAC is unreliable when it has proven itself by beating HONDAS, TOYOTAS, MAZDAS in our local 8 and 12hr endurance races for the past 5 years by being RELIABLE?
GS3 Emzoom for me
ReplyDeleteHRV in Turbo variants are overpriced
Buy it and bang your head on the wall later. But its ok, its your money anyway.
DeleteIn short, you can't afford the HRV.
DeleteHow sure are you all that GAC is unreliable when it has proven itself by beating HONDAS, TOYOTAS, MAZDAS in our local 8 and 12hr endurance races for the past 5 years by being RELIABLE?
DeleteResale value and badge appeal are also huge things for the socially upward-looking pinoy motorist.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is, of course, reliability, which remains a question even for a company that builds Toyotas and Hondas in China.
Reliability to me is more an issue of ownership rather than the brand. No matter what brand you own if you dont take care of the car it will give you headaches down the road.
DeleteMy money I'd buy the Honda. For my company car I will choose the GAC because I must return it to the corp in 5 years. I'm scared to own a Chinese car after 5 years with parts and aftersales coming more into play.
ReplyDeleteYou get what you pay for
ReplyDeleteI don't really care about the length of the warranty. As typical Chinese cars sold here another company will handle the brand or the dealership will completely dissappear.
ReplyDeleteHonda did their homework right with their CVT. Stepless shift with holding the engine rpm at its peak power band with the turbo always spooled makes huge difference in performance. Seen this firsthand on an open road with my forester xt.
ReplyDeletei saw the Emzoom displayed in a mall, it really is a looker. If this was a Honda or a Toyota, it would be a sure hit, probably with a long waiting list to boot.
ReplyDeleteIf only GAC has the same appeal as MG and Geely, sales figures would be different.