Aion UT Electric Premium 60kWh Review: A happy little hatchback

Aion’s smallest offering is surprisingly big on features and space. We also think that it is simply cute

Singapore – We were rather surprised that Aion’s smallest offering, the UT hatchback was actually quite large in real life. The C Segment hatch arrives in a time where Category A COEs, or all COEs for that matter have gone sky high. Also, as lines are blurred between what is seen as an SUV and what is a hatchback (of-course many would conveniently pivot to the term ‘Crossover’), competition in this loose segment is rather stiff.

But back to this chic hatchback, one can appreciate that it looks genuinely friendly and easy on the eyes. There is even that effort from the carmaker to amp up the look with two-tone paint treatment.

The UT’s wheelbase at 2,750mm, which is the same as sibling, the Aion Y, and is also identical to the MG 4 Urban, which it directly competes with, and larger than the rest of the competition in the field, which also includes the BYD Dolphin and Atto 2, Dongfeng Box and Vigo, and the newly-launched Proton e.MAS 5. I am including SUVs here, because like I mentioned earlier on, many of the lines have been blurred.

Decent on the inside too

The interior build quality is identical to the larger Aion V SUV. If you’ve been spoiled by legacy brand interiors, you may need to adjust your expectations a little, but I dare say that it is pretty decent.

The dashboard is dominated by a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, which connects to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wirelessly. Like many Chinese cars, the Aion UT lacks buttons for you to toggle functions. There is a bit of a learning curve for here, but overall, the experience is rather intuitive. There is voice recognition, though functions at the moment are rather limited. It also can get amusingly unsettling when using the activation phrase “Hello Baby”.

For front occupants, the UT comes equipped with electric ventilated seats, though there is no memory setting. With that long wheelbase, the UT offers plenty of legroom for both front and rear occupants, and easily trumps the bulk of the competition. I like that aside from the glove box and the compartment in the centre console, there is an additional covered storage compartment just below the middle air-conditioning vents.

The generous 440 litre double-floored boot expands to 1,600 litres by folding down the 60:40 rear seats. However, the Aion UT doesn’t have a cargo cover, to hide your cargo from prying eyes.

An easy drive

The Aion UT is available here in two versions. The Standard variant is powered by a 44.12 kWh battery, while the Premium variant we are driving, benefits from a larger 60 kWh unit, which gives it a range of 410km.

While the UT is Category A COE-friendly with its motor rated at 134hp and 210Nm, at the time of writing, Category A COEs have shot through the roof settling at $129,000 – which is about $1,800 short of the Category B COE. Therefore it does get harder to justify a Category A COE car at the moment.

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Though the UT has “Cat A” performance, it hardly feels inadequate on our roads. The suspension is set for comfort, so there is quite a bit of roll as you pitch the electric hatchback into a turn, and it does wallow a little. However, I have little complaint here, as Aion has definitely checked the boxes on the brief. Over here, you’d best enjoy the UT taking things a little easier, rather than driving the car briskly.

There is a whole suite of driver assistance systems which include adaptive cruise control. For me, the most useful feature is the 360-degree parking camera.

Not overly pricy, especially given our COEs

Our high COEs have definitely driven prices up to unreasonable levels. At the time of writing, the Aion UT Premium retails at $168,988, which is among the more affordable offerings. It also has plenty of creature spoils to help soothe some of that pain you get from parting with so much money.

Text & Photos: Clifford Chow

Pros	Cons
Well-executed design	No cargo cover
Well equipped and spacious interior	Needs buttons
Comfortable drive	No memory seats

Aion UT Electric Premium 60kWh

Drivetrain	Full Electric
Layout	Single Motor, Front-wheel Drive
Motor power / torque	134hp / 210Nm
Battery capacity	60kWh
Efficiency	5.7 km/kWh
Electric Range	410km
0-100km/h	10 seconds
Top Speed	160km/h
VES Band	A1
Dealer	EV Hub
Price	S$168,988 with COE and VES
Verdict	Well equipped friendly hatchback. No fuss