Several SUVs made their debut at this year’s Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). One of them is GAC’s very stylish new Emkoo. For this comparo we’ll be pitting the newcomer against Ford’s equally new second generation Territory that also made its public debut at MIAS.
We’ll see how GAC Motor’s new Sports Utility Vehicle stacks up against the more established model from the Blue Oval that’s now in its second generation. For this comparo, we’ll be using the range-topping P1.498 million GAC Emkoo GL variant and P1.599 million Ford Territory Titanium X variant.
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The Emkoo measures 4,680mm long, 1,901mm wide, and 1,670mm tall, this makes it 50mm longer, 34mm narrower, and 36mm lower than the Territory. The GAC SUV rides on a long 2,750mm wheelbase, which is 24mm greater between the axles than Ford’s SUV. The Emkoo with its angular concept car-like styling features a sportier profile with a fastback greenhouse, the Territory on the other hand has a more traditional upright SUV profile. While a slanted back glass can look flashier, it does limit the cargo space above the level of the parcel shelf.
The GAC SUV comes with 19-inch alloys shod with 235/55 R19 tires that have a diameter of 29.2 inches, this is 0.9 inches greater than the Ford SUV’s 235/50 R19 tires. The Emkoo’s low fastback silhouette and larger diameter rubber emphasizes the GAC SUV’s sporty theme. As for the other numbers, the Emkoo is equipped with a 55-liter fuel tank, this is five liters less than the one found in the new Territory.
Here's a quick spec overview of the Emkoo and Territory. Both unibody SUVs are powered by a transverse-mounted 1.5-liter turbocharged in-line-four gasoline mill mated to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. Both models are front-wheel-drive and feature MacPherson strut suspension up front and an independent multilink setup at the rear. As expected from SUVs at this price point, both come with disc brakes on all corners. The Emkoo and Territory both come standard with a host of safety and driver-assist tech features. It’s interesting that despite looking completely different on the surface, under the skin, the two SUVs follow the same tried-and-tested compact SUV formula.
Do you think GAC Motor’s new futuristic-looking Emkoo has what it takes to go up against compact SUVs from established brands like Ford’s all-new Territory? Which of these new 2023 compact SUVs would you choose? Let us know in the comments.
