The Aion V is so well equipped, it has just about everything, including the kitchen sink… well, almost. It is what we term “The Middle Class Fighter”.
Singapore – I have this belief that our high COEs have helped Chinese EVs take their place in our landscape. Just over a decade ago, most of us would not have thought that Chinese cars would leave even a dent on our automotive landscape.
But with a domestic environment of relatively low-cost manufacturing, a huge pool of tech boffins and engineers, and buoyed by a massive emerging middle class, it is to no surprise why Chinese automakers have come this far. By 2026, there will be easily more than fifteen Chinese automotive brands in Singapore. To bring this into context, that would be the equivalent of half the number of legacy car brands in the country. The bit I mentioned about low-cost manufacturing plays to their biggest advantage when it comes to export markets.
Aion is just one of the many brands to appear here. Part of Guangzhou Automobile Group, the V is one of three electric SUV offerings by Aion, and in my opinion, probably their best.
It’s not their flagship SUV, so is it really their best?
Well, actually yes I feel. Especially from a cost and features standpoint. Visually, the Aion V SUV’s exterior is easy on the eyes, and so are the seven-and-a-half colours it’s offered in.
At 4,605mm long, it is in direct competition with the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson. The Korean SUV is the most expensive here, since it has a full-on hybrid drivetrain and AWD. On its electric home turf, the Jaecoo J6 offers Land Rover Defender vibes, and they have recently unveiled a more affordable RWD Category A variant.
It also comes with an interior…
Well, of course it does, don’t be ridiculous. But a pretty comprehensive one I should say; with features on this Luxury variant, which could easily put a similar-size premium compact SUV to shame. Interior quality is miles away from the smaller Aion Y Plus, with only a few creaks between panels. Perhaps, if I were to go through the car with a fine toothed comb, I would say that the knobs on the side air-conditioning vents up-front are a little too wobbly for my liking, and they reduce some of that high-praise I have for the electric SUV.
The 14.6-inch infotainment, like in many Chinese marques, houses the controls for almost all of the V’s interior functions. While the more often-used functions are docked at the base of the screen, it will take a while for you to work out what else is where else. But once past the tiny learning curve, and a few mis-translations, you’d be quite the happy camper here. We received the car just after Aion actioned an OTA update for the infotainment system. With this, they have added-on wireless Apple Carplay connectivity; which is a big plus for iPhone users.
This Luxury variant, which will set you back about $7,000 over the base car, includes leather seats, with ventilation and massage up-front. I am also pleasantly surprised that at its $174,988* price point, Aion also threw in a fridge, which is located within the centre console box.
The Aion V’s generous 2,750mm wheelbase (approximately 70mm more than the Tiguan and Tucson) translates to added legroom, which is most evident at the rear. The 60:40 split seats can also recline up to 137 degrees for more comfort – great when your kids need a bit of rest after a long activity-filled day at school. I also like that the rear seatbacks yield easily enough that a preadolescent can make them recline without much effort. If your child has a habit of last-minute homework, there is also a table behind the front passenger seat, which unfolds, and sets with reassuring sturdiness.
The boot is a double-floored affair, offering a decent 427 litres of cargo room, and up to 978 litres with the rear seats folded. In comparison, the Jaecoo J6 offers 450 litres, while the Tiguan and Tucson are 557 litres and 620 litres respectively.
A confident drive
Drive comes from a front-mounted motor, delivering 132hp and 240Nm, which gets the Aion V to 100km/h in a leisurely 9.8 seconds. Power comes from GAC’s Magazine Battery 2.0, which is good for 75.3kWh. Interestingly, the simpler Premium variant “makes do” with a 64.5kWh battery.
Back in the Luxury trim car, the battery is rated to deliver 485km (WLTP) of range, with consumption at 17.2kWh/100km. I managed a close 17.4kWh/100km, which is quite spot-on.
I must stress that the Aion V’s insulation is also pretty decent for its class. It is actually quieter in the cabin than the XPeng G6 SUV, which is one of the many rivals to the Aion V’s larger sibling, the Hyptec HT.
To my surprise, the Aion V has decent road manners, and I dare say that it can out-corner the popular BYD ATTO 3 with ease. On more uneven surfaces, and even with that rear torsion beam setup, the Aion V is not unwieldy, and relatively easy to keep in a straight line.
While it is right that the suspension is tuned for comfort, you cannot get away from that unpleasant rebound over humps; which is my constant bugbear with many EVs with fixed suspensions… Then again, this can’t be easily solved on the cheap, since these suspensions have the tough job of mitigating the weight of a large battery.
Talk so much… any good?
Actually, yes. Plenty. If you are looking for a spacious-yet-compact EV for the family, you could simply go for the base car.
But the star of the show here is the one with the Luxury badge, as it is decked-out in equipment which could rival a luxury SUV.
Sure, it is not a luxury car, but you could call the Aion V “The Middle Class Fighter”.
*correct at time of publication
Photos & Text: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heavy on features | Could use more buttons |
| Drives surprisingly well | Quality of some bits could be better |
| Attractive price (given today’s COEs) |
2025 Aion V Electric Luxury 75.3kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Single Motor, Front-wheel Drive |
| Motor power / torque | 132hp / 240Nm |
| Battery capacity | 75.3kWh |
| Efficiency | 17.2kWh/100km |
| Electric Range | 485km |
| 0-100km/h | 9.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 160km/h |
| VES Band | A1 |
| Dealer | EV Hub |
| Price | S$174,988 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | The Aion V Luxury has plenty going for it. Well-equipped, with a competitive price tag. It could well redefine what is a luxury car. |
