New Aion UT: Chinese EV beats the Renault 5 on space and range, but not price
Electric hatchback is set to go on sale in September, and will compete with a host of superminis and big sellers
China once again has the Renault 5 in its sights, with the Aion UT set to arrive in the UK in September. It’s an electric hatchback that majors on space, while also promising premium appeal, strong range and a starting price of under £30,000.
We wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Aion – the firm’s first model, the Aion V SUV, only went on sale here at the beginning of this year – but it’s actually part of GAC Group, one of China's largest vehicle manufacturers.
The Aion UT is being pitched as a competitor in one of the hottest segments in the EV market right now, rubbing shoulders with the likes of the aforementioned R5, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Volkswagen ID. Polo and Auto Express’ Supermini of the Year, the Cupra Raval.
Yet at almost 4.3 metres long, the UT is quite a lot larger than those cars. In fact, it’s more similar in size to the likes of the Renault 4, MINI Aceman, Ford Puma Gen-E, MG4 Urban and new Geely EX2 – with the last of these undoubtedly the Aion’s biggest competitor. The UT’s boot capacity of 440 litres is significantly larger than that of the R5 and only cements the Aion’s position in the class above, despite how the firm attempts to position it.
What range does the Aion UT have?
While the UT can’t quite match the 289 miles promised by the ID. Polo, it at least looks competitive on paper. There’s only one battery option (60kWh) which, according to Aion, will return up to 268 miles on a single charge. The firm is yet to quote maximum charging rates, although it has stated that a 30-80 per cent top-up is possible in 24 minutes.
Powering the front wheels is a 201bhp electric motor which will allow the UT to scamper from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. Top speed figures are yet to be announced, although it’s worth bearing in mind that Aion hasn’t designed its hatchback for blasts down the autobahn.
However, the UT has been optimised for UK roads. While the hatch has been on sale in China for over a year now, the firm’s European development centre in Milan has spent some time upgrading it with revised springs, dampers, bump stops and anti-roll bars to deal with treacherous and twisty British tarmac.
What does the Aion UT look like?
Design-wise, the Aion UT conjures up the image of a photograph of a Volkswagen ID.3 that’s been taken by camera with its lens smeared in Vaseline. It shares that car’s aerodynamic shape, while top models even get a two-tone roof, much like the VW. Aion says the headlights are designed to look like an owl’s eyebrows, while the rear adopts a minimalist design that’s flanked by a pair of square tail-lights.
The UT’s interior illustrates Aion’s desire to provide a premium experience at a penny-pinching price point. The design of the cabin itself is somewhat restrained, besides the curved surfaces and metal-effect trim, but generous usage of leatherette upholstery and soft-touch plastics should help the UT feel a tad posher than many rivals – on the surface, anyway.
Mounted above the floating centre console is a 14.6-inch touchscreen which comes as standard on all models. Unlike models from Aion’s Chinese compatriots, the UT’s infotainment system doesn’t slide or rotate, but it is paired with a digital instrument cluster which we expect will be able to display live mapping, alongside the usual speedometer info.
Building on the premium focus is a long list of standard equipment which includes a heated steering wheel and seats, a 360-degree camera system and 17-inch alloy wheels. An optional Premium Pack adds a wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats, power-folding mirrors, a powered bootlid and a panoramic sunroof for around £1,300-1,400.
How much will the Aion UT cost?
Aion is yet to release exact pricing for the UT, nor has it confirmed a specific date in September for sales to start. We are told, however, that pricing will get underway for less than £30,000 – which will make it more expensive than its supermini rivals, but keenly priced against the likes of the Ford Puma Gen-E. First deliveries will arrive in October.
To sweeten the deal, Aion is offering the UT with its ‘Great 8 Promise’ cover. This includes eight years’ worth of warranty, servicing, roadside assistance and MoTs. Aion says the coverage is tied to the car, rather than the original buyer, meaning the benefits continue if the vehicle is sold on within the stated period. Aion also plans to have 25 dealers across the UK by the end of this year, meaning there should be plenty of locations to take one's car in for a service.
Tell us which new car you’re interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let’s go…
