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Once upon a time, little hatches dominated our metropolis streets. You’d see them in every single place, whether or not it’s a Toyota Yaris/Corolla, Mazda 2/3 or Suzuki Swift.
Now, not a lot – the small metropolis automotive has fallen out of style over the previous decade and, till not too long ago, the checklist of fashions nonetheless available for purchase was dwindling.
However, there’s absolutely nonetheless a spot for compact, frugal motoring. After all, cities don’t get any smaller. That’s very true in China.
So, it ought to come as little shock that Chinese automakers are driving a revival of the town automotive, albeit with an electrified twist.
First got here the GWM Ora, BYD Dolphin, and MG 4 – all EVs, after all. Then got here the BYD Atto 1, a less expensive, battery-powered different to the Japanese buying karts all of us grew up with.
But wait, there’s extra! MG is having one other crack with the MG 4 EV Urban, and Geely needs a chunk of the motion with its upcoming EX2. And, in case that wasn’t sufficient selection, newcomer GAC will promote you this – the Aion UT.
GAC’s fourth mannequin to launch Down Under is similar to a Corolla in each measurement and worth, however options a complete lot extra normal gear. Oh, and it is totally electrical, which is useful throughout a gasoline disaster.
None of the above promoting factors are prone to sway the SUV crowd, however maybe this may: the Aion UT will seat in 5 adults in consolation, and does not really feel like a bucket of bolts on the highway.
That’s to not say this can be a small automotive to finish our obsession with large vehicles, and you will find out why on this assessment.
How a lot does the GAC Aion UT value?
Until April 9 this 12 months, GAC will provide the Premium variant for $30,990 drive-away and the Luxury flagship for $35,990 drive-away. This is restricted to the primary 600 models.
| Model | Price earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
|
2026 GAC Aion UT Premium |
$31,990 |
|
2026 GAC Aion UT Luxury |
$35,990 |
It’s unclear whether or not GAC will then select to increase the provide – as many automakers do – but when not, pricing will revert to the values listed within the above desk.
While it is not the most affordable EV in Australia, the Aion UT actually is not far off. The smaller, extra fundamental BYD Atto 1 begins from simply $23,990 plus ORCs, whereas the brand-new MG 4 EV Urban will open at $31,990 drive-away when it arrives in showrooms someday this month.
Other direct rivals embody the GWM Ora (presently priced from $33,990 drive-away), BYD Dolphin (from $29,990 earlier than on-roads), and to a lesser extent electrical variations of the Mini Cooper.
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
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What is the GAC Aion UT like on the within?
The inside of the Aion UT feels very beneficiant in lots of regards… until you want buttons.
Measuring in at 4270mm lengthy, 1850mm extensive and 1575mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, it is 105mm shorter than a Toyota Corolla hatch however 60mm wider and rides on a 110mm longer wheelbase.
As such, the cabin feels correctly spacious, each up entrance and within the second row. There’s loads of separation between driver and passenger, whereas 5 adults can occupy the automotive with out problem.
Beyond an abundance of house, the Aion UT additionally impresses with its excessive degree of ordinary gear. Our top-spec take a look at car introduced with all of the fruit of a way more costly car – I’m speaking a heated and ventilated driver’s seat, heated passenger’s seat, panoramic sunroof with energy sunshade, and an influence tailgate.
So, how is it so low cost? Well, there are a pair giveaways.
For one, scattered laborious inside plastic finishes and pretend stitching give away the Aion UT’s funds origins. With that stated, the supplies aren’t all that dangerous general – padded leatherette wraps across the mid-section of the cabin, together with the place your elbows naturally relaxation.
You can even select from quite a lot of completely different inside colourways, one in all which is pink to match the Midnight Lavender exterior paint choice – far more fascinating than the same old 50 shades of black.
The seats are nice, too. Trimmed in perforated leatherette, each entrance pews provide pronounced bolstering for each thighs and torso, plus a variety of electrical adjustment.
The similar cannot be stated of the steering wheel, which tilts however does not telescope, limiting your means to get actually snug.
I used to be additionally shocked to seek out flaws within the local weather management system – an equally vital contributor to driving consolation. Not solely are the local weather controls screen-based (extra on that quickly), however the system itself struggles to really cool the cabin down in a well timed method, at the least in my expertise of driving the Aion UT on a heat autumn day in Sydney. Adequate air-conditioning looks like a fundamental elementary that every one new vehicles ought to nail, so GAC has some work to do on this regard.
Coming again to the subject of screens, that is one more new mannequin that prioritises minimalist design over a user-friendly format.
Like a lot of its rivals, the Aion UT options an enormous central infotainment touchscreen, smaller digital instrument show, and subsequent to no bodily controls. As a outcome, easy duties like switching on seat heating, retracting the overhead sunshade or adjusting A/C fan pace require extra effort than is critical.
However, the GAC interface remains to be extra user-friendly than many. A shortcut bar alongside the bottom of the center show gives fast entry to standard capabilities, and the display is fast to reply to contact and swipe inputs.
Alternatively, voice instructions work fairly properly, which is a bit of stunning contemplating you may discover a couple of tough Chinese-to-English translations littered all through the infotainment sub-menus.
But, as beforehand talked about, the Aion UT makes up for a slight lack of polish with a robust set of options. On the expertise entrance, you get native navigation with reside visitors information, linked providers, an built-in app retailer, and over-the-air software program updates.
There’s additionally the choice to disregard GAC’s toys altogether and make the most of wi-fi smartphone mirroring. You needn’t fear about working out of cost, as a wi-fi telephone charging pad could be discovered atop the floating centre console, whereas USB-A, USB-C and 12V energy shops are additionally inside attain.
Moving throughout, the steering column-mounted driver’s show is visually sharp and extremely useful, with the potential to modify between maps, media, effectivity and ADAS data. Such changes could be made utilizing buttons and rollers on the steering wheel, though these are poorly labelled.
While the tech feels a bit unfinished in some methods, there’s nothing missing within the cabin storage division. Top storage choices embody a large decrease tray, deep centre console bin and roomy glovebox. Sure, yow will discover these in different small vehicles, however the Aion UT has extra tips up its sleeve – an extra semi-hidden compartment underneath the primary air vents, plus telephone ‘slots’ in every door card.
Practicality is likewise a standout power of the second row.
The rear doorways open extensive to disclose a extremely inviting set of again seats boasting extra legroom and headroom than simply about any compact hatch on sale at the moment. Light-coloured supplies and a panoramic glass roof additionally allay any fears surrounding claustrophobia.
Unlike some EVs, the Aion UT does not drive a ‘knees-up’ rear seating place, both. Rather, there is a slight incline to the seat base and a delicate recline to the backrest – in different phrases, it feels pure.
In phrases of second-row facilities, the Aion UT presents a fold-down centre armrest with two massive cupholders, map pockets behind each entrance seats, twin air vents, storage within the doorways, and a single USB-A outlet – greater than most rivals at this worth level, though USB-C connectivity is preferable.
Boot house is much less of a power, however hardly a weak spot. GAC quotes 321 litres of capability – greater than a Corolla, Mazda 3 or GWM Ora, however lower than the Dolphin and MG 4 EV Urban.
Charging cables have a house underneath the boot ground, as does the tyre restore package.
You can enlarge the cargo space by folding the rear bench, although there’s fairly a noticeable step up from the boot ground to this flat house.
| Dimensions | GAC Aion UT |
|---|---|
| Length |
4270mm |
| Width |
1850mm |
| Height |
1575mm |
| Wheelbase |
2750mm |
| Cargo capability |
321L (rear seats up) 689L (rear seats folded) |
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
What’s underneath the bonnet?
All variations of the Aion UT share the identical single, front-mounted electrical motor and 60kWh battery, the latter of which is nice for 430km of driving vary – a segment-leading determine.
| Specifications | GAC Aion UT |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain |
Single-motor electrical |
| Battery |
60kWh LFP |
| Power |
150kW |
| Torque |
210Nm |
| Drive kind |
Front-wheel drive |
| Weight |
1670-1700kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) |
7.3 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) |
16.4kWh/100km |
| Energy consumption (as examined) |
16.1kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary (WLTP) |
430km |
| Max AC cost price |
11kW |
| Max DC cost price |
87kW |
The Aion UT is front-wheel drive, just like the GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin, in addition to the upcoming MG 4 EV Urban. The MG 4 and upcoming Geely EX2, in distinction, are rear-wheel drive.
Its motor produces 150kW of energy and 210Nm of torque, outperforming the bottom Dolphin (70kW/180Nm) and beating the Ora on energy however not on torque (126kW/250Nm).
As for charging speeds, the Aion UT maxes out at 87kW on a DC fast-charger – higher than most opponents bar the MG 4 EV Urban (150kW).
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
How does the GAC Aion UT drive?
I’d be capable of inform you… if I wasn’t consistently distracted by a not-so-merry-go-round of warning chimes from the security programs.
In all seriousness, the Aion UT did afford me simply sufficient peace and quiet to type some ideas about the way it drove, however solely simply.
That’s as a result of the superior driver help programs (ADAS) are unrelenting of their mission to unnecessarily scold the motive force for faulty errors they’re allegedly making.
Whether it’s the motive force monitoring digital camera, overspeed warning, ahead collision alert or lane-keep help system, there’s at all times one thing beeping at you. Heck, the UT even threw up warnings for my seatbelt being undone (it wasn’t) and the passenger placing their ft on the sprint (they weren’t).
The extent of the pointless intrusions is not merely inconvenient, it is infuriating.
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To make issues worse, the security tech you actively search help from does not even work. Switch on the semi-autonomous freeway driving perform and the Aion UT will drift to the left aspect of its lane, cross the markings, after which surrender totally. It did this persistently, too.
The icing on the cake – there isn’t any straightforward strategy to disable all of the damaged nannies. Instead, you need to alter the security settings every time you drive.
Fortunately, these points can in all probability be resolved with a software program replace or two.
Still, speak about an Achilles heel, as a result of this electrical hatch is in any other case an honest, albeit not nice, steer.
The front-mounted electrical motor is punchy, and the Aion UT has a real flip of tempo, which makes for loads of enjoyable round city. Despite the fitment of sub-par tyres (I’ll broaden on this later), traction isn’t a problem at decrease speeds, both.
Progress to sooner open roads and there is little drop-off – a claimed 0-100km/h time of seven.3 seconds feels about proper in the true world. Those are licensed ‘heat hatch’ numbers.
Don’t count on heat hatch ranges of driving engagement, although. The steering feels a bit useless round centre, whereas the brake pedal behaves like an on/off swap.
There are a number of drive modes – Comfort, Sport and Power Save – which alter the automotive’s behaviour, although the variations aren’t at all times as helpful as you’d hope.
For instance, in each Comfort and Sport modes, regenerative braking may be very weak (even in its highest setting). For stronger regen you want to swap to Power Save, however doing so considerably reduces throttle response and general efficiency. So, as somebody who likes to drive EVs on the fitting pedal as a lot as attainable, it was tough to seek out an optimum setup.
Steering weight can be adjusted by the infotainment display, and it is price switching to the agency setting for a higher sense of management.
There’s not a lot the motive force can do to deal with the Aion UT’s underlying dealing with deficiencies, although.
We spent a little bit of time carving up some nation roads, and it rapidly turned evident that this soft-edged EV has a low dynamic ceiling, largely attributable to restricted grip from its 215mm-wide Chaoyang tyres.
Corners taken at a average velocity draw squeals of protest from the Aion UT’s rubber, often accompanied by physique roll. Indeed, at occasions it appears like the within wheels get fairly gentle.
That’s hardly confidence-inspiring, particularly contemplating we drove on dry roads. I can solely think about the Aion UT would really feel a bit of skittish within the moist.
On a brighter be aware, this whimsical little hatch rides higher than it handles. Neither Sydney’s rollercoaster thoroughfares nor the pothole-ridden roads of rural New South Wales might disrupt its spectacular means to soak up harsh impacts with out trampolining on rebound. And that is with a torsion beam on the rear.
With that stated, the Aion UT does its finest work within the metropolis, the place the tarmac is mostly easy. Compact dimensions and wonderful ahead visibility make it straightforward to put by tight streets and buying precincts, whereas a complete set of cameras (together with kerb view and clear chassis) takes the stress out of tough parking manoeuvres.
Rearward visibility is not fairly nearly as good, as there is a sizeable blind spot at every again nook. Perhaps that is why the infotainment system robotically shows a view of the aforementioned blind spots each time you point out, limiting entry to display capabilities within the course of.
Nevertheless, the Aion UT can be a enjoyable little factor to zip round in, offered the security tech behaves.
Highway driving additionally has the potential to be nice, offered the lane-centring system is not concerned in any respect.
With that wayward system disabled, the Aion UT feels comparatively at house on the extensive open highway, providing the form of quiet refinement you count on from larger, extra substantial vehicles.
Strong motor outputs guarantee it could maintain triple-figure speeds higher than most funds EVs. Yet, on the similar time, it is nearly disconcertingly quiet within the cabin – there isn’t any electrical motor whine, nor a synthetic soundtrack. Noise from the surface world solely seeps into the cabin to a restricted extent.
Meanwhile, the suspension stays compliant, making certain consolation all through lengthy highway journeys.
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
What do you get?
The Aion UT serves as proof that you could get a complete lotta automotive for $35k in 2026.
2026 GAC Aion UT Premium gear highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights with computerized high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- In-car Wi-Fi hotspot
- 6-speaker sound system
- Heated, leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- PVC seat upholstery
- 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with heating
- Remote management of car capabilities by way of cellular app
- Heat pump
- Rear air vents
- Adaptive cruise management
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Surround-view digital camera
Aion UT Luxury provides:
- Power tailgate
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Panoramic sunroof with energy sunshade
- Wireless telephone charger
- Ventilated driver’s seat
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
Is the GAC Aion UT secure?
GAC hasn’t submitted the Aion UT for ANCAP or Euro NCAP testing on the time of writing. However, native boss Kevin Shu says it is the most secure small automotive you should purchase.
Standard security gear highlights:
- 7 airbags, together with entrance, entrance aspect, aspect curtain, and centre
- Autonomous emergency braking
- eCall
- Adaptive cruise management with lane-centring
- Automatic high-beam
- Lane-keep help
- Traffic signal recognition
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Surround-view digital camera
- Driver monitoring system
- Tyre strain monitoring
Official security testing will happen later this 12 months after GAC brings the Aion UT’s eCall system on-line. Now a key ingredient of ANCAP’s evaluation standards, eCall is an in-car expertise designed to robotically join occupants with emergency providers following a crash.
GAC representatives are assured that after the eCall function is lively, the Aion UT will obtain a full five-star ANCAP ranking.
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
How a lot does the GAC Aion UT value to run?
GAC backs its automobiles with an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre car guarantee and an eight-year, 200,000km battery guarantee. Also included is 5 years of roadside help, offered you service inside the GAC seller community, and 2GB of free information per 30 days for the primary two years.
| Servicing and Warranty |
GAC Aion UT |
|---|---|
| Warranty |
8 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help |
5 years |
| Service intervals |
12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing |
N/A |
| Recommended complete service value (5 years) |
$1607 |
Maintenance is required each 12 months or 15,000km, though service pricing is not capped by GAC, which means sellers can resolve what they cost. Having stated that, GAC has printed ‘beneficial’ pricing on-line.
To see how the GAC Aion UT traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
CarExpert’s Take on the GAC Aion UT
There is not a complete lot fallacious with the Aion UT; it is simply unlucky that the problems it does have are vital in nature.
Unbearable security programs and questionable tyres severely undermine an in any other case agreeable driving expertise.
Similarly, touchscreen foibles and a seemingly burdened air-con system take a number of the shine off an inside house that is in any other case snug, sensible, and well-equipped.
As such, the Aion UT appears like a automotive with numerous potential, however one that also wants refinement to completely ship on it.
In the meantime, it is price contemplating alternate options. The MG 4 is like-for-like and has had a few of its kinks ironed out, when you can belief the Corolla and Kia K4 to ship on their easy transient.
Interested in shopping for a GAC Aion UT? Let CarExpert discover you the perfect deal right here
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