Aion V: the new all-electric family SUV

A new name is about to hit the road: Aion.

Aion is the electrified brand from Chinese giant GAC, and Aion is launching in Britain with the new Aion V, a spacious, tech-heavy, long-range family SUV designed specifically to take on the mainstream EV market. It’s the first model from the brand, and it lands in the UK with the backing of a company that knows a thing or two about selling millions of vehicles globally.

For UK drivers, the Aion V is the opening statement: a family EV with big-car comfort, premium-car refinement, and a specification sheet that reads like a greatest-hits list of features from the class above.

With its bold design and distinctive identity, the new Aion V isn’t even trying to blend in.

The “cyber-dragon claw” lighting signature gives it a recognisable face day or night, while the strong profile, crisp lines, and 19-inch alloys give it a planted, confident stance. Aerodynamics have been taken seriously too. The body has been shaped in one of China’s most advanced wind tunnels, resulting in a slippery 0.28 Cd drag coefficient to make the most of the battery power. Even the door handles are flush to the body, adding to the clean, modern look.

Six paint colours are available, with Wilderness Sand and Arctic White included as standard, and a selection of metallic finishes offered for those who want something a little more expressive and a little shinier.

Step inside the business-class interior and the Aion V feels more like a premium lounge than a mid-size SUV.

The long 2,775 mm wheelbase creates a genuinely airy cabin, helped by a full-length panoramic roof that floods the interior with light. Soft-touch materials, quilted door panels, and a minimalist dashboard set the tone, while double-glazed front windows keep things impressively quiet on the move.

The Aion V is also one of the most practical EVs in its class. It features generous boot space and a three-tier boot floor that allows for hidden storage, as well as creating a flat loading area or maximum depth depending on your needs. There are also 30 storage compartments dotted around the cabin, from deep door bins to a six-litre centre box.

The seats are a highlight, with the front pair boasting an enveloping “Butterfly” design and coming heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable, with memory settings for the driver. Rear passengers aren’t forgotten either. They get heated seats that recline, plus a wide-opening rear door that makes access easy for adults, kids, and child seats alike.

The centrepiece of the cabin is a 14.6-inch touchscreen which delivers fast responses and clean graphics, and a permanent row of physical-style soft keys for climate, seat controls, and volume that are a welcome touch for anyone tired of digging through touchscreen menus. Wireless smartphone connectivity is standard, alongside a nine-speaker, 360W audio system.

A virtual assistant will react to your voice commands

A particularly clever touch is the virtual assistant that supports zonal voice control. Just tell it to “open my window” and it will figure out which seat you’re sitting and exactly which window you want opened all by itself.

And if that’s not enough premium features for your liking, Aion’s optional Premium Pack adds leather upholstery, massage seats, and something called a “CoolHot Box”, which is a 6.6-litre temperature-controlled storage compartment that can chill drinks, keep food warm, or even freeze ice creams. It’s the kind of feature you’d expect in a luxury SUV, not a newcomer to the mid-size EV segment.

Long range, fast charging, and world-leading battery safety also come as standard with the brand-new Aion V.

Aion’s “Magazine Battery 2.0” is the first production EV battery to pass both nail-penetration and bullet-impact tests without thermal runaway, making it one of the safest battery systems currently on sale. The battery powers a 150kW (200bhp) motor driving the front wheels, delivering smooth, quiet performance with three drive modes and multiple regenerative braking settings.

The Aion V uses a 75.3 kWh battery delivering up to 317 miles of range. A highly efficient heat pump is standard equipment too, helping maintain range in cold weather, as is the vehicle-to-load capability to power external devices up to 3.3 kW.

Charging is equally impressive, jumping from 30–80% in just 18 minutes at a suitable DC charger. The Aion V even has two clever cabin modes for whiling away those minutes: Rest Mode reclines the front seats, closes the sunblind, and sets a calming ambience for a quick break on long journeys. Alternatively, Lounge Mode turns the rear seat into a chaise longue, ideal for relaxing properly while you top up the battery before continuing your journey.

The Aion V arrives in the UK as a well-engineered and genuinely impressive family EV with a lot to offer.

With its spacious cabin, long range, fast charging, and premium-feel interior, it’s a car designed to make an immediate impact in the UK market. If this is the opening move from Aion, the next few years could get very interesting indeed.