GAC Emzoom vs Mazda CX-3

The GAC Emzoom starts from $25,590 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-3 opens at $27,800. That makes the GAC Emzoom the more affordable entry point by $2,210.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $28,149 and $30,580 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The GAC Emzoom features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-3 gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The GAC Emzoom stands out with Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, panoramic roof, power tailgate and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Mazda CX-3. The Mazda CX-3 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and head-up display. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the GAC Emzoom gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-3 offers black cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the GAC Emzoom and 1-zone in the Mazda CX-3.

The GAC Emzoom uses a Petrol Turbo producing 130kW and 270Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds.

The Mazda CX-3 responds with a 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol (Skyactiv-G) with i-stop making 110kW and 195Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic (skyactiv-drive) driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The GAC Emzoom has the clear power advantage at 130kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the GAC Emzoom is 3.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GAC Emzoom measures 4,410mm long on a 2,650mm wheelbase, 135mm longer than the Mazda CX-3 at 4,275mm (2,570mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GAC Emzoom generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 341L in the GAC Emzoom and 264L in the Mazda CX-3, giving the GAC Emzoom a 77L advantage.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,881/year for the GAC Emzoom and $1,796/year for the Mazda CX-3. That is a $85 annual difference in favour of the Mazda CX-3.

Warranty: 7 years / 150,000km (GAC Emzoom) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-3). The GAC Emzoom has longer coverage.