Aion V review: Now for something a little different

3.5OUT OF 5

The verdict

A break from the norm

The Aion V feels distinctly different from most other Chinese C-SUVs, and it’s mostly for the better thanks to superior range and driving experience

★★★★★

A lot of people probably haven’t heard of the Aion V but I bet a good number of them could guess what it is.

Yep, it’s a well-priced electric family SUV from China. But maybe, just maybe, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Aion is another newcomer brand to the UK, looking to make the most of our tough EV targets and lenient import tariffs. It currently has two models on sale in two of the biggest segments – the Aion V represents it in the C-SUV market while the Aion UT flies the flag in the competitive supermini sector.

Priced in the mid-£30,000s, with lots of kit and space for an average family, the Aion V is competing with the likes of the Geely EX5 and Changan Deepal S05 as well as “legacy” brand cars such as the Skoda Enyaq and Ford Explorer.

That’s a lot of competition…

Design and interior

The Aion V definitely manages to stand out immediately, although perhaps not in the way the design houses in Milan, Shanghai and Guangzhou might hope.

It is at least different from the usual idenkit offering from the likes of Lepas, Geely and BYD but it is also pretty peculiar.

It has a faint feel of what the 1980s thought the 2020s would look like with its blocky shape, odd angles and funny rectangular “cyber-dragon claw” lights. It’s not a handsome thing, but at least you’ll be able to pick it out of a line-up.

All models come with 19-inch alloys, chrome-coloured roof rails and an active aero shutter in the lower grille that aids efficiency – more of which later.

On first acquaintance the interior feels less unique. The whole layout of a big central screen, two phone slots and a couple of cupholders in an otherwise featureless centre console feels very familiar.

However, there’s a blessed break from the Great Chinese Parts BinTM, with a selection of unique switchgear and materials you won’t see in any rivals. Build quality is impressively solid, with thick chunky touchpoints such as the door pulls, reassuring action from switches, and plastic trim that feels about three times thicker than most European cars.

But it’s all a bit chintzy. There’s a lot of very shiny chrome on places like the window switches and the speaker grilles. It looks cheap even though it doesn’t feel it.

Aion describes the V’s cabin space as “surprisingly spacious”. It’s not that surprising for the class, but it is spacious. There’s generous room in every direction for adults in the front and rear, and an airy feeling courtesy of a huge panoramic sunroof. Everyone gets heated seats and those in the front also get a cooling function.

Opt for the £1,495 Premium Pack and the front seats also get a massage function. That pack also adds real leather upholstery, a sturdy tray table for the rear-left seat and a “CoolHot Box” in the centre console that can be warmed to 50 degrees or cooled to -15 degrees.

Matching the generous interior space, the Aion V’s boot offers up to 427 litres of storage behind a standard-fit powered tailgate.

Technology and equipment

While the Aion differs from a lot of rivals in some interesting ways, it follows the herd when it comes to its onboard tech. Pretty much all the key functions are controlled via the 14.6-inch central touchscreen.

Cleverly, there’s a shortcut panel that can be pinned to the screen and gives direct access to some proper adjustments rather than more menus. But… that panel vanishes if you connect your phone, and there are still a hell of a lot of menus. And some really basic functions are tiny icons buried too deep within those menus.

In another departure from the expected Chinese approach, the Aion V’s driver “assistance” systems feel less intrusive in both how quickly and how aggressively they intervene. Which is nice.

With just one trim level, virtually everything is standard, from the heated seats, powered tailgate and LED headlights to dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise and a 360-degree parking camera, plus wireless smartphone mirroring.

Range, battery and charging

Aion says that the Aion V offers up to 317 miles from its bullet-proof 75.3kWh battery.

Yes, really, bullet-roof. As well as the nail penetration test that BYD boasts about, this one has passed a bullet impact test. You know, for when you’re cruising the mean streets of Chipping Norton.

Anyway, over a week of mixed driving on cold Scottish roads it returned an impressive real-world range of 313 miles and energy consumption of 3.45m/kWh against an official figure of 3.72m/kWh.

A peak DC charging rate of 180kW is good for the class and should allow a 10-80% charge in 24 minutes in ideal conditions. AC charging at up to 11kW is also standard on this one-powertrain model.

Performance and driving

As mentioned, the Aion V comes with just one powertrain that pairs the 73.5kWh battery with a 201bhp front-mounted motor.

That delivers a very typical 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds and a perfectly adequate top speed of 99mph. On-the-road performance is pretty much as expected with decent throttle response and enough punch for most situations, although things start to run out of puff at higher speeds.

Three levels of braking regeneration include a one-pedal driving mode but, predictably, have to be adjusted through the screen rather than via the paddles European and Korean rivals use.

Aion says the V’s suspension was set up at its UK R&D centre for UK roads. We’ve heard that before from Chinese brands but here it actually feels like it has worked, at least to some extent. It rides well over most surfaces, with decent damping and a pliant ride, but at the expense of a slightly slack, floaty feeling on tougher roads. The steering is also far heavier than most Chinese SUVs, giving some sense of the car’s size, but it’s still pretty lifeless and uncommunicative – like 90% of the C-SUV segment.

Price, trim and rivals

The Aion V comes in just one trim level, priced at £36,450. That’s more than Chinese rivals such as the Geely EX5 and Leapmotor B10, but then it also offers more range and faster charging than them.

Other alternatives such as the Renault Scenic also undercut it and offer more range but less standard equipment.

On top of the list price there’s just the option of metallic paint at £675 and the previously mentioned Premium Pack which costs £1,495 and unlocks another paint shade and the option of a cream or tan finish to the leather upholstery for £195.

The Aion V comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard, as well as eight years’ servicing, roadside assistance and MOT fees up to the eighth year after registration.

Verdict 3.5/5

On paper, the Aion V seems like a familiar story – a Chinese SUV with a decent price, high spec, bland interior and frustrating infotainment.

But there is a little more to it than that. Its range and charging are closer to European rivals than Chinese ones, and the overall driving experience also feels better tuned for UK driving conditions. It’s still not as good to drive or easy to use as a Skoda, Kia or Ford, but it feels like a step in the right direction.

For

Good range and charging

Solid construction

Generous specification

Against

Weird looks

Fussy infotainment

Mixed driving dynamics

Fact file

Aion V

Price

£36,450 (£37,945 as tested)

Powertrain

Single-motor, front-wheel-drive

Battery

75.3kWh

Power

201bhp

Torque

177lb ft

Top speed

99mph

0-62mph

7.9 seconds

Range

317 miles

Consumption

3.72m/kWh

Real-world range

313 miles

Real-world consumption

3.45m/kWh

Charging

up to 180kW

Boot space

427 litres

Insurance group

32

The rivals

Alternatives worth a test drive