2026 GAC Aion UT Review: The Budget EV With a Premium Feel
The GAC Aion UT is a compact electric hatchback from GAC, a new Chinese brand which launched in Australia last year. We tested the Luxury grade ($37,990 driveaway) and came away genuinely impressed for the money although there is a glaring issue.
The good:
- Interior quality that feels well above the price point, soft-touch surfaces, padded dash, comfortable seats
- 430km WLTP range from a 60kWh LFP battery, with real-world mixed driving closer to 400km
- 150kW / 210Nm motor, 7.3 sec 0-100, genuinely punchy and fun around town
- Rear passenger space suprisingly ample for a small car
- Feature packed: 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, 360-degree camera, heated and ventilated seats, panoramic roof, V2L all standard on Luxury
- 8-year unlimited km vehicle warranty and 8-year / 200,000km battery warranty
- Average $322 per service, $1,607 over five years
The not so good:
- ADAS is a glaring issue: phantom braking, constant driver attention warnings, speed alerts that trigger at the slightest creep. Disabling requires navigating the touchscreen on every start. GAC needs to prioritise an OTA fix here.
- Almost no physical controls, climate and most settings are touchscreen only
- DC charging peaks at 87kW (10-80% in 34 min), which is on the slower side for a 2026 model.
Verdict:
Based on specs and features, it is the best value FWD electric hatch on sale in Australia right now. Suits first-time EV buyers and urban commuters. The interior, driving character and warranty package all punch above the price. The ADAS issues however need to be fixed in order for the Aion UT to provide a good ownership experience for its future customers.
u/zecar_ — 1 day ago