AION UT
New from £28,940
How long will it take to charge?
Results based on 60.00kWh AION UT battery
0
For a part charge (up to 0 miles)
0
For an 0% charge 0
You can charge this vehicle in 36 minutes at its fastest charging speed of 100 kW
* We have used data from the manufacturer to estimate these charging times, they are only a guide. Charging times for some speeds may not have been provided.
Is the AION UT Hatchback a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Dan Trent
"Another Chinese brand looking to establish a presence in the European market, Aion is going in hard with a signature eight-year care package bundling warranty, servicing and roadside assistance with a generous standard spec. None of which is enough to make this UT stand out as an appealing alternative to increasingly competitive mainstream alternatives ranging from the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Renault 4 to the Peugeot E-208 or Fiat Grande Pandato name but a few. True, the UT is more spacious inside than many of them, and more family-friendly as a result. Indeed, while it officially competes with the above the UT is arguably big enough to be compared against cars from a segment up, like the VW ID.3 or MG4 where price comparisons look more palatable. Bottom-line it still feels cheap, though, and the annoying driver assist systems and screen-based interface infuriate in day-to-day driving."
Read the review by category
Running costs for an AION UT
If the Aion UT were as cheap as it feels it would be off to a good start, but neither bottom-line price nor monthly finance figures look competitive against the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-208, Fiat Grande Panda Electric or others you might also be considering. True, Aion’s amazing eight-year aftercare package of servicing, MoT tests and roadside assistance helps on running costs but those mainstream rivals all look a lot more appealing to live with. More broadly, the UT benefits from the usual electric car savings for those with facility to charge at home on cheap off-peak power, and tax incentives still for company car buyers. But same applies to those rivals, and the Aion struggles to make a favourable impression against them.
Reliability of an AION UT
Call this a holding score for the fact Aion is too new to British roads to have much sense for its reliability as a brand, though it is already established elsewhere and, like many Chinese manufacturers, has formidable manufacturing resources and scale. All of which explains the headline-grabbing care package, bundling warranty, servicing, MoTs (when they become necessary) and roadside assistance for a whole eight years from first registration. This is fully transferrable so second and perhaps even third owners still benefit from the same level of reassurance.
Safety for an AION UT
The UT’s five-star score from testing body Euro NCAP shows what a blunt tool these ratings can be, and how they’re not always reflective of how safe a car feels out in the real world. Sure, the UT comes packed with the technology to tick those regulatory boxes, and more besides. But we’d argue much of it is at best annoying, some of it at worst genuinely distracting. Nor are we convinced the UT has been tested and calibrated with the rigour you’d expect, as demonstrated by the amount of wheelspin unleashed by even moderate throttle inputs. Given the way the car pushes wide on wet roundabouts we’d venture the Chao Yang tyres aren’t up to much, which doesn’t bode well for stopping distances in an emergency, either. Speed limit warnings that are both frequently wrong and intrusive enough that the car silences the infotainment when they’re triggered and constant false alarms from the driver distraction monitoring, lane-keeping and forward collision systems hardly build confidence the tech designed to keep you safe is actually up to the job of doing so.
How comfortable is the AION UT
True, it feels a bit cheap and tinny. But the UT does at least offer a lot of space for a car of this class, the long wheelbase meaning plenty of room inside for those up front and in the back alike, the flat floor good news for the latter. It certainly feels a lot more roomy than a Renault 5 or Peugeot E-208 back there. The doors open nice and wide as well, which is good news for parents battling with kids and childseats, so long as you can score a suitably wide parking space at the supermarket or school drop-off of course. A variable-height boot floor helps make flexible use of the luggage space, which is at least bigger than many in the class. On the road Aion says the suspension has been tuned to the tastes of British drivers for a driving style that is both ‘playful and composed’, though we didn’t feel a whole lot of encouragement to test the theory. Silent electric power does, at least, make it smooth, quiet and relaxing to drive.
Features of the AION UT
We’re so used to Chinese manufacturers chucking everything in as standard it’s a surprise to see some of the UT’s more desirable features reserved for the cost option Premium Pack, these including the panoramic roof, power mirrors, power tailgate and ventilated driver’s seat. Disappointing you have to pay for this to get a wireless charging pad for your phone, and only then ‘unlock’ the optional glitzier ‘French Cream’ interior trim pictured. Which adds more to the cost. Other than that, the standard specification is reasonably generous, but you’d hope so given the starting price. Power adjustable and heated front seats are standard, ditto a heated steering wheel and reclining rear seats, a heat pump also included to the benefit of range. It’s a predictable moan but ditching buttons for touch-control via the central screen is as frustrating as it is distracting on the move, especially given how tiny some of the icons are. Nor did it seem the most responsive, whether running the ‘native’ system or CarPlay. Android Auto is also supported, both wirelessly, and we appreciated some of the on-screen shortcuts for disabling some of the more annoying safety alerts. Or would have done if this actually silenced them. We also found the screen dazzling when trying to park in the dark, the supposedly helpful cameras actually less useful in situations like this than the mirrors. Which you can only adjust via the screen if you want to check your distance to the kerb. Bringing us full circle…
Power for an AION UT
Aion boasts of the UT’s power advantage and faster on-paper acceleration over direct rivals, but this is of little practical use given the tyres struggle to put it to the road effectively and even modest throttle inputs unleash squeals from front wheels and passengers alike. With a lighter foot on the accelerator you can appreciate the smooth and silent power delivery, and the UT covers ground with impressive ease. But there’s none of the fun of a Peugeot e-208 or similar. Official range of 268 miles is meanwhile competitive for the class, and plenty for a car of this size while charging speeds are, again, average for electric cars of this type.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your AION UT Hatchback. This may vary between trim levels.
- 14.6in Touch Control Central Screen
- 6-Speaker Audio System
- Bluetooth for Phone & Audio
- Boot 12V Power Supply
- Connected AION App
- DAB Digital Radio
- E-Call (Emergency Call System)
- FM Radio
- Front - 1 USB-A port and 1 USB-C port
- Front 12V Power Supply
- In-Car WiFi Hotspot
- Online Music Streaming Functionality
- Online Navigation
- Wireless Android Auto
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- 17in Alloy Wheel - Aluminium
- 215/55 R17 94V Tyres
- Automatic Front Wipers
- Front and Second-Row One-Touch Up and Down Power Windows
- Gloss Black Door Mirrors with Electric Adjustment, Heating and Position Memory
- Gloss Black Lower Body Highlights
- Heated Rear Screen
- Laminated Windshield
- Rear Wiper with Wash Function
- Tyre Repair Kit
- 2-Mode Regenerative Braking System
- Advanced Heat Pump System
- Electric Power Steering (EPS)
- I-Pedal
- Vehicle-to-Load System (V2L)
- 2-Way Manually Adjustable Steering Column
- 3-Stage Smart Heated Front Seats
- 4-Way Power Adjustable Front Passenger Seat
- 6-Way Power Adjustable Driver Seat
- 8.88in LCD Instrument
- Automatic Air-Recirculation System
- Bright Aluminium Interior Trim Highlight Package
- Carpet Floor Mats
- Centre Console Storage Compartment
- Damped Interior Door Handles
- Damped Passenger Grab Handles
- Dynamic Wing Quilted Door Panels
- Glove Compartment
- Heated Steering Wheel
- LED Interior Lighting System
- Leatherette-Trimmed Steering Wheel
- Pm 2.5 Filter
- Rear A/C Outlet
- Rear Load Cover
- Rear Seat Centre Headrest
- Reclining Second-Row Seats
- Single-Zone Climate Control System
- Small Item Central Storage Compartment
- Split Folding Rear Seats
- Sun Visor
- 360° Surround View Camera System
- Adaptive Cruise Control System (ACC)
- Adjustable Brake Response Setting
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- Door Open Warning (DOW)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Front & Rear Parking Sensors
- Front Seatbelts with Unfastened Reminders (Warning)
- Integrated Cruise Assistance (ICA)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
- Second-Row Seatbelts with Unfastened Reminders (Warning)
- Selectable Driving Modes
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Two-Zone Voice Control
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Advanced Front Centre Airbag
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Anti-Theft Alarm System with Powertrain Immobilization
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Child Presence Detection (CPD)
- Child Safety Door Locking System
- Driver Monitoring System (DMS)
- Dual Front Airbags
- Dual Front Side Airbags
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) + Autohold
- Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
- Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA)
- Front Seatbelts with Single-Stage Pretensioners and Force Limiters
- Full Length Side Curtain Airbags
- Hill-Hold Assist Control System (HHC)
- Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
- ISOFIX/i-Size Child Safety Seat Fixtures
- Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
- Passenger Seat Airbag Deactivation
- Rear Crossing Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Second-Row Middle Seat 3-point Safety Belt
- Second-Row Seatbelts with Single-Stage Pretensioners and Force Limiters
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
- Automatic Headlights
- Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC)
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- LED Headlights
- LED Taillights Including Tail - Brake & Indicator
- Rear LED Fog Light Incorporating LED Reverse Light
- See-You-Home Lighting
Related articles and reviews
AION UT Hatchback (2026 - ) review
Newcomer Aion attempts to stand out in a crowded small electric car sector but the UT falls some way short
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
Autotrader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Autotrader Limited introduces you to Autotrader Leasing Limited, which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autotrader Leasing Limited, No.3 Circle Square, 3 Hawkshaw Street, Manchester, M1 7BL (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of leasing companies. Autotrader Leasing Limited will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the leasing company as a result of this introduction.
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