I didn’t expect an EV SUV this spacious to feel so luxurious

The Tesla Model Y has grow to be the benchmark within the EV SUV area, and for good motive. It constantly leads sales and units expectations for vary, expertise, and on a regular basis usability.

It’s additionally the default selection for lots of consumers on this section, with few mainstream rivals managing to meaningfully disrupt its place thus far. However that doesn’t imply the competitors is standing nonetheless.

I lately drove a brand new EV SUV that instantly challenged that benchmark. From the second I obtained inside, it felt extra spacious and extra luxurious than the Mannequin Y, with a degree of cabin consolation that stood out right away.

The place the AION V EV SUV comes from and who builds it

What it’s good to find out about its mother or father firm

Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek

Right here within the UK, a rising variety of Chinese language automakers are getting into the EV market with more and more aggressive choices. The AION V is produced by GAC Group, a serious state-owned Chinese language automaker.

AION has additionally grown rapidly inside that ecosystem and is regularly ranked among the many world’s largest EV producers, alongside Tesla and BYD.

A take a look at the AION V EV SUV’s exterior styling

Early ideas on its proportions and highway presence

As somebody who will get to check a spread of the newest Chinese EVs, one factor has grow to be more and more clear. Should you eliminated the badges, it might usually 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’d 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. Nevertheless, the pronounced wheel arches and roof rails assist reinforce its SUV stance and provides it a extra purposeful highway presence.

Contained in the AION V and its inside design

A deal with area, supplies, and format

A lot as you may anticipate from most trendy EVs, the AION V’s cabin is dominated by a large central touchscreen, supported by a slim driver show. Beneath it are two storage slots to your cellphone, one among which presents wi-fi charging.

The place the AION V actually stunned 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 aimed toward engaged on the transfer, assuming you could have another person doing the driving.

Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek

The touchscreen itself is vivid, 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 a substitute 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 accessible. There aren’t any conventional trim ranges as such, though the £1,450 (~$1,974) Premium Pack that provides a big quantity of additional gear.

As customary, the AION V comes well-equipped with power-adjustable entrance seats which might be 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 consists of 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.

How the AION V drives on the highway

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 position on the highway 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 nicely with bigger bumps and potholes, smaller sharp imperfections can nonetheless trigger noticeable cabin motion.

On paper, 204 horsepower doesn’t sound particularly excessive by trendy EV SUV requirements, however in apply there’s nonetheless loads of efficiency for on a regular basis driving. Merging onto sooner roads or overtaking is dealt with with ease, and as soon as on top of things, the AION V settles right into a quiet and relaxed cruising character.

Nevertheless, it’s a really completely different story when the highway turns into extra demanding. The AION V’s measurement turns into extra noticeable in corners, the place it might really feel heavy if pushed. It’s not a performance-focused SUV, and physique lean is obvious by bends, whereas the sunshine steering presents restricted suggestions about what the entrance wheels are doing.

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 car, I noticed effectivity of round 3.2 miles per kWh, although with a heavier driving type, 3.5 miles per kWh feels extra lifelike, which might translate to only over 260 miles of real-world vary.

In relation to charging, the AION V helps a most charge of 180kW. That permits it to cost from 10–80 % in round 24 minutes, which is aggressive sufficient for this section and makes longer journeys pretty easy.

Ultimate verdict on the AION V

Sturdy on consolation and area, much less convincing on driving really feel

Credit score: Adam Grey | How-To Geek

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 package deal included — overlaying guarantee, servicing, and roadside help — it presents itself as a robust all-in possession proposition.

Nevertheless, it isn’t with out its compromises. Whereas consolation and area are clear strengths, the driving expertise and software program quirks could go away some consumers wanting extra refinement in day-to-day use.

In consequence, 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.