AION V review: New name, proper family SUV

Join us as we take a closer look at the AION V, a family SUV promising premium touches without the premium badge

AION V is the first model to hit the UK market from the Chinese brand.

Brand new nameplate, not-so-new company.

AION is the electrified arm of GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group), a Chinese manufacturer with decades of experience — including building cars for Honda and Toyota. So, they've got the experience to back their first EV.

The AION V is positioned as a family SUV, and it looks the part, with the space and safety credentials to back it up.

But is that enough to win over UK families? Let's find out.

What we drove

Model: AION V Advanced Premium, 201 Electric 75.26kWh Auto (Premium Pack)

Body style: SUV

Power: Electric, 204PS/150kW, 210Nm torque

Battery: 75.3kWh (Lithium Ferrophosphate)

Range: Up to 317 miles (WLTP Comb)

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds

Boot space: 500 litres

Colour: Arctic White, Noir Black interior

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Big, boxy, and built for the family

The AION V is big, boxy, and every inch a proper SUV.

Despite its large proportions, it fared well on Dartmoor's winding lanes.

The door handles are flush, similar in style to Tesla's. Minimalist, yes, but occasionally awkward to open.

The 19-inch alloys add to that boxy, capable SUV stance.

And believe it or not, the AION V was designed in Milan. It's not showy — it just looks like a genuine, proper SUV, and we love it for that.

A cabin built around family life

Step inside, and family life is etched into the very being of the AION V.

It’s very spacious, and the quality is evident — soft-touch materials throughout. There’s no conventional glovebox, but a handy bag hook in the passenger footwell picks up the slack.

And on the back of the passenger seat? A tray table. That feature every kid loved growing up, brought back as part of the Premium Pack.

It isn’t just the kids who are treated either — the middle rear seat folds down to reveal cupholders. No more spilled drinks on the school run.

The dashboard is dominated by a 14.6-inch touchscreen, and buried within it, rest mode.

This lays the front seats back, dims the screen, and sets a 30-minute timer to wake you up. Perfect for a lunchtime nap when you’re parked up; just make sure nobody's still buckled in the back or they'll get rather squashed.

Above, a panoramic roof floods the cabin with light. The trade-off is a lack of physical buttons, with most controls tucked into the infotainment system instead.

In the boot, 500 litres is on offer, on top of a genuinely spacious cabin throughout.

Every inch of the AION V feels considered for real family life.

Measured power, maximum composure

Put your foot down and the AION V delivers smooth, measured power — not the kind that pins you back in your seat.

With a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, it isn’t  the quickest in its class, but that's not really what a capable family SUV needs to prioritise. It feels nippy enough for easy motorway joins, and everyday driving is  a breeze. Which is ultimately exactly what this car is  designed for.

It also handled Dartmoor's tighter lanes with ease, despite its size.

Plenty of range for daily life

The AION V offers plenty of range for everyday driving, with up to 317 miles (WLTP Comb).

Power comes from a 75.3kWh Lithium Ferrophosphate (LFP) battery. LFP cells are known for their safety and longevity, meaning regular charging shouldn't take much of a toll on battery health over time.

DC fast charging (180kW) takes the AION V from 10-80% in just 24 minutes, while a full charge via AC (11kW) takes around 8.5 hours.

Real-world testing puts the range at around 270 miles — about 15% below the claimed WLTP figure. Still a decent result, and enough for most weekly driving habits.

Safety and warranties

The AION V backs up its family-friendly credentials with a genuinely reassuring safety and warranty package. It achieves a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with strong scores across the board:

• Adult occupant protection: 88%
• Child occupant protection: 85%
• Vulnerable road user protection: 79%
• Safety assist: 78%

That's a properly comprehensive result, and one that matches five-star ratings from established rivals like the SKODA Elroq and Kia EV3.

Onboard safety tech is extensive too, including:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• 360-degree surround view camera system

Beyond the safety kit, AION backs the V with its Great 8 ownership package, designed to reassure buyers taking a chance on a brand-new name. This includes:

• Eight-year vehicle and battery warranty
• Eight years of roadside assistance
• Eight years of servicing
• Eight years of MOTs (six included, running from year three to year eight)

The Great 8 package is also transferable, carrying over to used buyers rather than expiring with the first owner.

Between the five-star NCAP rating and the scale of that warranty, the AION V makes a genuinely strong case for itself as a safe, low-risk choice for an unfamiliar badge.

What's good, and what's not

The good bits:

• Family-friendly practicality: Rear tray table, rear cupholders, rest mode
• Five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Eight-year Great 8 warranty, servicing, and roadside package
• Strong DC charging speed (180kW)
• Decades of GAC manufacturing pedigree behind an unfamiliar badge

The not-so-good bits:

• No conventional glovebox
• Real-world range noticeably below the claimed WLTP figure
• New brand (to us) with no UK track record yet

What's the verdict?

Overall rating: 8.5

The AION V made a strong first impression for a brand-new name in the UK.

It arrived facing stiff competition, with a wave of Chinese brands now landing on UK shores.

But GAC's decades of manufacturing experience, paired with the Great 8 package, offers real reassurance to anyone considering taking a chance on it.

The AION V isn’t trying to be something it’s not — it’s a proper SUV with genuine space and practicality, all at a price point considerably lower than many of its German rivals.

Top five reasons to consider the AION V:

1. Genuinely spacious interior built for family life
2. Decades of GAC manufacturing pedigree behind a new name
3. Five-star Euro NCAP rating for peace of mind
4. Eight-year Great 8 warranty, servicing, and roadside package
5. Competitive 317-mile range (WLTP Comb) with rapid 180kW DC charging

Would we recommend leasing an AION V?

Yes — especially if you're after a family SUV with genuine space, safety, and reassurance from a brand-new name.

The 317-mile range (WLTP Comb) covers most weekly driving with ease, the five-star Euro NCAP rating offers real peace of mind, and the eight-year Great 8 warranty package takes away much of the risk that comes with trying an unfamiliar badge.

Yes, real-world range falls a little short of the claimed figure. And yes, this is still a genuinely new name on UK roads.

But for families wanting proper space and practicality without the premium price tag, the AION V makes a compelling option.