GAC has confirmed missing safety features in an upcoming new variant of its Emzoom small SUV will be reinstated for the Australian market after feedback.
The company announced on the 18th of August that it was introducing a new base version of the Emzoom, the Premium, which would bring the price-of-entry down by $3000 to $22,990, drive-away.
Sitting below the Emzoom Luxury ($26,990, drive-away), the new entry-level variant seems expressly designed to make it more affordable than rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion, MG ZS, and segment-dominating Chery Tiggo 4, while stripping out several features.
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Notable omissions included safety features, like seatbelt pre-tensioners and rear seatbelt warning systems, although the active safety items like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep aids were maintained from the top-spec Luxury grade.
Safety features omissions to be addressed
However, now due to feedback from "customers and industry stakeholders" GAC says it will reinstate the seatbelt features available on the Luxury grade.
The brand said the omission was because those features were not standard equipment on the Premium grade in other markets, which contributed to their exclusion from the Australian spec.
A GAC spokesperson told CarsGuide an initial batch of cars set to arrive in Australia in September will remain without the seatbelt tensioners and rear seatbelt reminders, although any car which arrives from November 2026 onwards will have those features reinstated. It is unclear at this stage whether the drive-away price will remain the same after that date.
GAC said in a statement: "Providing vehicle specifications that meet, and where possible exceed the expectations of Australian customers and industry experts remain a priority for GAC."
Emzoom yet to be assessed by ANCAP
The Emzoom is yet to be rated by independent safety body ANCAP. Of the brand's current range, only the fully electric Aion V mid-size SUV has been rated, and was awarded a maximum five stars to the 2025 standards.
Other features stripped from the new entry-level Emzoom Premium include auto-folding mirrors, electric door handles, interior ambient lighting, ventilation and power adjust for the driver's seat, as well as rear USB ports.
The Emzoom is currently GAC's best-seller in Australia, moving 422 units so far this year. It ranks just ahead of the Aion V electric mid-size SUV. Unlike rivals which have hybrid variants available further up the price-scale, the Emzoom is only available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Guangzhou-based Chinese automaker has big plans to be a top 10 player in Australia by 2028 and has promised both a larger hybrid SUV and a ute for our market in the coming years.