Another week, another Chinese car brand arriving in Britain with an electric SUV to review. This time it’s Aion, part of the enormous GAC group, and its opening offer is the sensibly named V.
Well, fairly sensibly. It’s pronounced “Aion Vee”, rather than “Aion Five”. Beyond that, the recipe is familiar: five seats, plenty of equipment, a large battery and a price designed to cause trouble for established European rivals.
On paper, the Aion V looks promising. Prices start at £36,385, its 75.3kWh battery provides an official range of 317 miles, and it can charge from 10 to 80% in around 24 minutes. It’s also roomy, comfortable and backed by an unusually comprehensive ownership package.
What is the Aion V?
Aion might be new to the UK, but it isn’t an inexperienced start-up. Parent company GAC has been around for decades and builds cars in China through joint ventures with Honda and Toyota.
The V is Aion’s first model here, with the smaller UT hatchback following later in the year. More will arrive after that as GAC attempts to establish yet another new name in an increasingly busy market.
There’s just one mechanical setup for now. A 201hp motor drives the front wheels, taking the V from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. That won’t impress anybody accustomed to violently fast electric cars, but it’s more than adequate for a family SUV.
The styling is harder to judge. Its upright, blocky body and unusual lighting give it some identity, but I’m not entirely sold on the look. Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and at least you won’t mistake it for any of the myriad identikit models arriving on our shores.
What’s the Aion V like to drive?
Fine. Honestly, that’s the word we kept returning to.
The performance is fine. Acceleration is smooth and perfectly sufficient, even if it never feels especially energetic. The steering is fine, too: accurate enough to inspire confidence without offering much entertainment. Body movements are kept reasonably tidy, and the V behaves predictably when the road starts twisting.
Comfort is similarly decent. The suspension deals with most broken surfaces without fuss, although it can become slightly busy or unsettled across more awkward stretches. It’s not bad enough to spoil the experience, but rivals like the Skoda Elroq feel more polished.
There’s no great sense of fun, but equally nothing that makes driving the Aion a chore. It’s quiet, easy to place and undemanding around town, which is arguably far more important in a family SUV than the ability to clip an apex on the school run.
Its 317-mile official range is competitive at this price, while a peak charging rate of 180kW should mean relatively short stops at a suitable rapid charger. A heat pump is standard, too, helping efficiency during colder weather.
I got 3.44 miles per kWh during my time with the V, which translates to a range of 259 miles. Well short of the official figure, but respectable enough. Or fine.
Is the interior any good?
Yes. It’s all… Ok, it’s better than fine. This is where the Aion V makes its strongest case.
The cabin is attractive, solidly assembled and covered with enough soft-touch material to create a convincingly premium first impression. Some of the shiny trim is less convincing, but the important controls, door handles and touchpoints feel pleasingly substantial.
Equipment is generous. Even the standard car includes electrically adjustable seats, heated front and outer rear seats, ventilated front seats, a panoramic roof, wireless phone charging and a 360-degree parking camera.
Predictably, most functions are controlled through a vast 14.6-inch touchscreen. It responds quickly and looks sharp, but simple tasks can demand more prodding than they should. Adjusting the mirrors, changing the regenerative braking or operating the sunblind shouldn’t require a hunt through menus.
The Premium Pack adds genuine leather, massaging front seats and a heated and cooled compartment between them. It’s clever enough to keep an ice cream frozen or a takeaway warm, although replacing conventional storage with a miniature fridge might not suit everybody.
More useful is the substantial folding picnic tray fitted to the back of the front passenger seat. This doesn’t feel like a flimsy airline table destined to sag beneath a coffee and a packet of crisps. It’s solid enough to support a laptop, and the enormous rear legroom means the back of the Aion could realistically become a temporary mobile office.
Is it practical?
Rear-seat passengers are treated exceptionally well. There’s a flat floor, masses of legroom and backrests that recline far enough to make long journeys genuinely relaxing. The rear doors also open widely, which should make loading children into car seats significantly easier.
The boot is less impressive. Its capacity is competitive, but intrusive wheelarches limit the usable width and the parcel shelf looks distinctly unresolved.
Opinion was split over its lightweight fabric construction. I’d prefer a more substantial solid panel, while a colleague argued that the flexible cover was easier to live with. Either way, the strange gap between the shelf and the back seats is awkward. It exists to leave room for the reclining backrests, but looks as though somebody remembered they moved only after finishing the boot.
What about the eight-year promise?
Aion’s clearest selling point is its “Great 8” package. The car comes with an eight-year warranty, battery cover, roadside assistance, servicing and MOTs. Crucially, that support stays with the car when it’s sold, which could help reassure second-hand buyers and protect residual values.
It’s a remarkably generous offer, but the thin dealer network remains a concern. Aion has partnered with the AA, allowing specially equipped mobile technicians to carry out some servicing and repairs at the owner’s home.
That’s undoubtedly convenient, but we’re not convinced everybody spending close to £40,000 will regard “a man in a van will service it” as the premium ownership experience Aion intends. A proper nationwide dealer network would provide considerably more reassurance, and that’s something Aion is working on, but it’ll be a slow burn.
Aion V first drive verdict
The Aion V is spacious, well equipped and pleasant to drive. Its electric credentials are competitive, the cabin feels impressively upmarket, and the eight-year ownership package shows that Aion understands why British buyers might hesitate before trusting another unfamiliar brand.
But competence isn’t scarce in this class. The Renault Scenic E-Tech and Skoda Elroq are more polished, while countless other electric SUVs compete at roughly the same price.
There’s very little wrong with the Aion V, though. Equally, beyond its huge rear cabin and ownership package, there’s little that makes it irresistible. It’s a perfectly decent first effort from a brand with serious backing and, in a market full of flawed newcomers, being fine might be a more meaningful achievement than it sounds.
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