One day while at the office, a test unit was delivered to my colleague. It was a Chinese crossover. And I can still recall our childish delight at the sight of the TIE fighter-like taillights, the rotary door handle that resembled a toilet flush, and the customizable RGB ambient lighting. Though memorable, this impression gave me no idea whether the GAC Emkoo had the substance to back up its styling.

A lot has happened more than a year later, with GAC Motor Philippines introducing new models and continually expanding its dealer network. The next milestone arrived during this year’s Manila International Auto Show when the brand previewed its first electrified offering, the Emkoo Hybrid. Through a drive down south, we experienced how this crossover gives the best of both worlds.

We were handed the keys to the test unit after the product briefing. And while walking out of the lobby of Discovery Primea, the Emkoo Hybrid arrived at the hotel driveway. The Superstar Silver colorway was eye-catching, appearing more like a bluish off-white with hints of yellowish gold. Stepping inside, we were greeted with the same futuristic interior as the ordinary Emkoo. To avoid getting caught in rush-hour traffic, we wasted no time and hit the road bound for Tagaytay.

Being a hybrid vehicle, the electrified Emkoo is powered by a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with 138hp, and a 180hp motor with a 2.1kWh battery pack. Together, the maximum output is 235hp with maximum torque of 300Nm. The idea behind the Emkoo’s powertrain is that it selects the most efficient mode of propulsion depending on the driving conditions.

According to GAC, the car runs on purely electric motor at speeds below 60km/h if the battery has enough charge. Beyond that, the engine will fire up and work together with the motor. Go even faster than 80km/h and only the ICE will be propelling the vehicle.

The Emkoo Hybrid is charged primarily via the ICE. There is also regenerative braking, which recovers some energy when coasting or braking. Since there is no charging port (unlike with a plug-in hybrid), the generator will activate inevitably, even if you never drive beyond the city.

If you’ve never operated a hybrid, there’s no need to worry. You just drive it like any other car as the vehicle is responsible for managing its power deployment. You can tell when the ICE is running, but the transition isn’t jarring.

The Emkoo Hybrid is no slouch on the expressway, with more than enough power for when you need to pick up the pace. And even the steep hills in Tagaytay were no problem. For a more engaging driving experience, you’ll want to switch over to Sport mode. Not only does this modify the throttle response, but it also gives weight to the light and numb steering.

It might seem counterintuitive, but the car is less fuel-efficient on the expressway compared to the city. That’s because you most likely won’t need to fire up the engine when crawling in traffic. Going from Mr. Moo’s in Tagaytay to CALAX, we achieved an average fuel efficiency as high as 58.8km/L. But once we had to constantly burn gasoline, it dwindled to 20km/L after all the expressway driving. This stayed the same even after going through EDSA.

It didn’t take long for me to discover the quirks of the interior. A rotary switch allows you to adjust the thermostat, yet there is no button or dial for the fan speed—only a capacitive switch to the left of the infotainment screen. There is a dedicated phone holder, but it isn’t a wireless charging pad.

Apple CarPlay relies on a wired connection, and Android Auto is absent. So my colleague had to depend on CarbitLink to connect his smartphone, which wasn’t the most convenient way to enjoy the infotainment system.

After spending the whole day with the Emkoo Hybrid, I became even more familiar with the car’s design and build quality. According to GAC, the rotary handles were designed to prevent women from scratching their nails when opening the door. Meanwhile, the circular elements represent good fortune and wholeness in Chinese tradition.

We normally don’t pay attention to the use of language in cars. But the poor English made it difficult to take the automobile seriously—such as when engine speed is labeled as “rotate speed,” or with messages like “Please brake the vehcile before shift to R.”

The biggest offense is placing the Start/Stop button between the hazard lights and the Park button on the center console. I just wanted to turn off the hazards when I accidentally shut down the vehicle. The fact that I had to look down—instead of keeping my eyes on the road—to avoid pressing the wrong button was bad ergonomics.

Despite these flaws, I still enjoyed my time with the GAC Emkoo Hybrid. The crossover looks cool, it drives decently, and the cabin is comfortable to sit in.

If you’re considering the Emkoo GL, then you should know that its hybrid sibling costs P200,000 more at P1,698,000. That doesn’t seem like a bad deal with the fuel savings and the coding exemption under EVIDA.

Don’t take our word for it; schedule a test drive to see for yourself.