The Tesla Mannequin Y has turn into the benchmark within the EV SUV area, and for good motive. It constantly leads gross sales and units expectations for vary, expertise, and on a regular basis usability.
It’s additionally the default selection for lots of patrons on this section, with few mainstream rivals managing to meaningfully disrupt its place up to now. However that doesn’t imply the competitors is standing nonetheless.
I just lately drove a brand new EV SUV that instantly challenged that benchmark. From the second I received inside, it felt extra spacious and extra luxurious than the Mannequin Y, with a stage of cabin consolation that stood out right away.
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The place the AION V EV SUV comes from and who builds it
What it’s essential to learn about its guardian firm
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
Right here within the UK, a rising variety of Chinese language automakers are coming into the EV market with more and more aggressive choices. The AION V is produced by GAC Group, a significant state-owned Chinese language automaker.
AION has additionally grown rapidly inside that ecosystem and is incessantly ranked among the many world’s largest EV producers, alongside Tesla and BYD.
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A have a look at the AION V EV SUV’s exterior styling
Early ideas on its proportions and street presence
As somebody who will get to check a variety of the most recent Chinese language EVs, one factor has turn into more and more clear. In the event you eliminated the badges, it will typically be tough to inform which model you’re taking a look at, as many share a broadly related design language.
It’s additionally not all the time instantly clear which section they sit in—crossover, mid-size SUV, or one thing in between. The AION V, nevertheless, does start to separate itself from that sample.
The entrance finish retains issues minimal, with a clean, grille-less panel the place you’ll sometimes anticipate a combustion-style design. 4-line LED daytime working lights add definition, echoed by the taillights on the rear.
The AION V is a big, chunky SUV, and if something, the usual 19-inch alloys really feel barely undersized in proportion. Nonetheless, the pronounced wheel arches and roof rails assist reinforce its SUV stance and provides it a extra purposeful street presence.
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Contained in the AION V and its inside design
A concentrate on area, supplies, and structure
A lot as you may anticipate from most fashionable EVs, the AION V’s cabin is dominated by a big central touchscreen, supported by a slim driver show. Beneath it are two storage slots to your cellphone, one in every of which presents wi-fi charging.
The place the AION V actually shocked me, nevertheless, is simply how spacious it’s inside. There’s a enormous quantity of room within the rear, with six-foot passengers getting beneficiant leg and headroom, together with a large fold-down middle armrest.
If you wish to step issues up, the Premium Pack provides tray tables within the rear, related in idea to these you may discover in a Bentley Flying Spur. They’re clearly geared toward engaged on the transfer, assuming you may have another person doing the driving.
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
The touchscreen itself is shiny, sharp, and responsive, however not with out its frustrations. Too many features are buried in layered menus with inconsistent naming, which makes them tougher to entry than they need to be.
Storage isn’t one of many AION V’s strongest areas. There’s no conventional glovebox, though you do get a central armrest compartment and, on Premium Pack fashions, a temperature-controlled storage field for holding meals or drinks scorching or chilly.
General, the AION V feels solidly constructed with inside supplies that, for my part, really feel extra premium than many equally priced rivals. Premium Pack fashions additionally add actual leather-based upholstery as an alternative of the artificial alternate options generally present in newer EVs, together with the Mannequin Y.
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
To maintain issues easy, there is just one battery and motor mixture out there. There aren’t any conventional trim ranges as such, though the £1,450 (~$1,974) Premium Pack that provides a major quantity of additional gear.
As customary, the AION V comes well-equipped with power-adjustable entrance seats which are each heated and ventilated, a heated steering wheel, 19-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, a panoramic roof, wi-fi cellphone connectivity, vehicle-to-load performance, dual-zone local weather management, and a 360-degree digital camera system.
Choosing the Premium Pack provides a extra luxury-focused inside expertise. This contains real leather-based upholstery, massaging entrance seats, rear tray tables, and a temperature-controlled storage compartment. It additionally brings an air high quality sensor, together with the choice of cream or tan inside trims along with the usual black end.
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How the AION V drives on the street
Consolation, refinement, and on a regular basis usability
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
Regardless of its pretty chunky proportions, the AION V has clear, sq. dimensions and a low window line, which makes it comparatively straightforward to put on the street in tight city environments. It additionally comes with a 360-degree digital camera as customary, which makes parking easy.
The steering is mild, and the electrical motor responds rapidly. Whereas it offers effectively with bigger bumps and potholes, smaller sharp imperfections can nonetheless trigger noticeable cabin motion.
On paper, 204 horsepower doesn’t sound particularly excessive by fashionable EV SUV requirements, however in observe there’s nonetheless loads of efficiency for on a regular basis driving. Merging onto quicker roads or overtaking is dealt with with ease, and as soon as up to the mark, the AION V settles right into a quiet and relaxed cruising character.
Nonetheless, it’s a really totally different story when the street turns into extra demanding. The AION V’s measurement turns into extra noticeable in corners, the place it could actually really feel heavy if pushed. It isn’t a performance-focused SUV, and physique lean is obvious by way of bends, whereas the sunshine steering presents restricted suggestions about what the entrance wheels are doing.
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The AION V’s real-world vary and charging functionality
Actual-world effectivity and on a regular basis usability
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
Powering the AION V is a 75.3kWh battery, with a claimed vary of as much as 317 miles. Throughout my time with the automobile, I noticed effectivity of round 3.2 miles per kWh, although with a heavier driving model, 3.5 miles per kWh feels extra reasonable, which might translate to only over 260 miles of real-world vary.
Relating to charging, the AION V helps a most charge of 180kW. That permits it to cost from 10–80 p.c in round 24 minutes, which is aggressive sufficient for this section and makes longer journeys pretty easy.
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Remaining verdict on the AION V
Sturdy on consolation and area, much less convincing on driving really feel
Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek
Professionals
Cons
- Extraordinarily spacious inside
- Sturdy stage of normal gear
- Excessive-spec premium expertise (on higher trim)
- Underwhelming driving dynamics
- Irritating infotainment system
- Minor however notable practicality quirks
To sum issues up, the AION V presents a genuinely luxury-feeling inside and greater than sufficient passenger area for on a regular basis use. Beginning at £36,450 (~$49,672), and with an eight-year care bundle included — masking guarantee, servicing, and roadside help — it presents itself as a powerful all-in possession proposition.
Nonetheless, it isn’t with out its compromises. Whereas consolation and area are clear strengths, the driving expertise and software program quirks might depart some patrons wanting extra refinement in day-to-day use.
Consequently, some should still be drawn to alternate options such because the Tesla Mannequin Y, or upcoming rivals just like the Kia EV3, anticipated to reach later in 2026.
