GAC AION V: Versatile family transport

What is it?

The AION V is a mid‑size electric SUV from GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group), a 70‑year‑old Chinese manufacturer that’s the fifth‑largest carmaker in China but still largely unknown in Australia.

GAC has long‑standing joint ventures with Honda and Toyota, building vehicles for the Chinese market, and this is the second GAC‑branded model reviewed, following the conventionally‑powered Emzoom compact SUV.

Sitting under the larger, plug‑in hybrid M8 people mover in GAC’s current Australian lineup, AION V complements the AION UT hatch and Emzoom.

Branding is simplified on‑road: many owners and reviewers drop the leading “A” and just call it “ION”.

GAC has ambitious Australian plans, including future PHEV large SUV and dual‑cab utility models, positioning the AION V as a key mid‑range EV.

In Australia, the AION V competes with mid‑size electric SUVs such as the closely related Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra (which share platform DNA), plus the Kia EV3, MG S5, Leapmotor C10, BYD Atto 3 and the upcoming GWM Ora 5.

What’s it cost?

AION V is offered in two grades: Premium at $42,590 and Luxury at $44,590, both before on‑road costs.

Both variants come well equipped with 19‑inch alloy wheels, heated and cooled front seats, a panoramic glass roof, wireless smartphone charging, a powered tailgate, 14.6‑inch central infotainment touchscreen and an 8.8‑inch digital instrument cluster.

The Luxury grade adds a $2000 surcharge for leather seats with massage function, refrigeration (or heating) in the large central storage box and larger illuminated sun‑visor vanity mirrors for front passengers.

Infotainment and audio are handled through the 14.6‑inch screen and 8.0‑inch instrument panel, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, embedded satellite navigation, and a nine‑speaker ADiGO sound system including an 8.0‑inch subwoofer.

Safety is strong: the AION V was rated by ANCAP before its November 2025 Australian release and achieved a five‑star rating.

Standard safety equipment across both grades includes dual front, side and curtain airbags plus a front centre airbag, adaptive cruise control, forward and rear collision warning, rear cross‑traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and emergency lane keeping, blind spot detection, traffic sign recognition, enhanced i‑Size ISOFix child seat anchors, front and rear parking sensors and a surround‑view camera.

Warranty and service details were not specified in the provided text, so GAC’s Australian dealer network and capped‑price service plans would need to be confirmed with local dealers or the official website.

What’s it go like?

AION V returns to a traditional, boxy SUV shape rather than the current coupe‑like trend, but with a cleanly moulded, seamless finish that avoids looking bland.

It features a short bonnet with twin split headlights, an active grille that opens for battery cooling and closes for aerodynamics, bold wheel arches and eye‑catching 19‑inch alloy wheels, piano black rear trim that looks premium when clean but needs regular care, and flush door handles that are attractive but awkward to use.

Six colours are available: Arctic White, Galaxy Blue (also with white roof), Holographic Silver, Night Shadow Black, Sea Fluorescent Gray and Wilderness Sand.

The interior feels premium with soft‑touch materials and a largely button‑free dashboard dominated by the 14.6‑inch touchscreen.

Both front seats can fully recline and there is a standout 6.6‑litre multi‑purpose storage compartment in the centre console that can act as a fridge or heater, adjustable from –15 to 50 degrees and usable even when the vehicle is off.

Rear doors open almost 90 degrees, making entry and exit very easy, and there is excellent rear leg and shoulder room although the panoramic glass roof may inconvenience very tall occupants.

Rear leather seats are heated, ventilated and can recline up to 137 degrees and the Luxury trim adds a solid, drop‑down folding table for the left‑hand rear passenger that is large enough for a laptop.

Unfortunately there is only a single USB‑A port in the rear, which limits device charging for multiple passengers.

Boot space is 427 litres with rear seats up and 978 litres with them folded, with underfloor storage for charging cables and a space‑saver wheel available as a cost option.

Both variants are mechanically identical, with a front‑mounted electric motor producing 150kW and 210Nm, a 75.3 kWh LFP battery, WLTP driving range of 510km and listed energy consumption of 16.7 kWh/100km.

AC charging via an 11kW wallbox can go from zero to 100 per cent in around eight hours, while a commercial DC fast‑charging unit rated at up to 180kW can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 14 minutes.

There is no mention of different drive layouts, so it is effectively a front‑motor, single‑speed electric drivetrain.

AION V is a smooth, comfortable city and motorway cruiser rather than a performance EV, with steady and refined acceleration typical of electric vehicles and without the whiplash of performance models.

It manages 0–100 km/h in 8.0 seconds, which is sharp enough for quick lane changes when needed.

Steering, ride and handling are geared for comfort and ease, with good stability for long‑distance travel, and the large battery and 500km plus range make it viable for East Coast capital‑to‑capital trips with one charging stop.

Overall it feels versatile: spacious, comfortable, and capable in both urban and highway conditions.

What we like?

• Strong, traditional SUV shape that looks premium without being bland 
• Exceptional interior comfort and rear‑seat pampering with reclining, heated and ventilated seats plus a folding table
• Versatile 6.6‑litre centre console fridge/heater that remains active when the car is off
• Five‑star ANCAP safety rating with comprehensive standard safety tech across both grades

See also

Test drive

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What we don’t like?

• Flush door handles require two hands to open and feel awkward in daily use
• No physical side‑mirror controls, with adjustment only via touchscreen and steering‑wheel rollers
• Rear cabin has only a single USB‑A port, limiting device charging for multiple passengers
• Touchscreen‑only interface means drivers must scroll through many menus to find settings, which can be frustrating at first

The bottom line?

The AION V is more than the sum of its parts: it combines a credible, spacious family SUV body with a comfortable, tech‑rich interior and a practical, long‑range electric drivetrain.

GAC has clearly got the big things right with safety, comfort, range and charging speed, while missing some smaller but important details like usable door handles, physical mirror controls and better rear USB provisioning.

For buyers comfortable exploring a new brand with the reassurance of GAC’s Toyota/Honda joint‑venture background and a five‑star ANCAP rating, the AION V is a strong contender.

It may not have the performance thrills of some EVs, but it does a very good job as a versatile, long‑distance family transporter.

If you value practicality and comfort over sporty dynamics, the AION V is worth buying, whereas if you want quicker access to controls and more rear charging options — competitors like the Kia EV3 or MG S5 may be slightly better matched.

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