AION Delivers Value to the U.K. Market

AION is a new entry into the U.K. market bringing it’s mid-sized SUV from China into a crowded space, so what sets AION apart from other manufacturers?

It actually pivots around the number eight. But before we dive into that, what is AION?

The AION V SUV arrives with one trim, and is a mid-sized SUV that is said to come with “a spacious and luxurious interior fully loaded with comfort and convenience features, and class-leading range and charging speed.”

Whilst the former may have merit, the range of 317 miles with a 30% - 80% charging speed is certainly decent, just not class leading, but there’s a caveat to that which you can read later on.

Value

Despite starting from £36,450 OTR, AION offers flexible PCP deals over 18 to 48 months with a starting point of £379 per month, all at 2.9 % APR via the AION Financial Services.

The ‘AION Great 8 Promise’ adds eight years of vehicle warranty, servicing, AA roadside assistance and MOT, so there are very few ongoing maintenance costs to consider. This is particularly useful for customers who look to buy new, and keep for a long time, but it should also help keep residual values elevated.

There’s also a concierge team available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm to answer customer queries, discuss finance options, and share customised finance quotes, adding in a vital element of human contact to help buyers navigate their way through the purchase process.

Exterior

The AION V features a distinctive design that stands out in a crowded market from many generic looking SUVs. However, that distinctive design may appeal, or repel customers. It isn’t unattractive, but it is different enough for curious heads to be turned trying to understand what manufacturer the badge represents.

Standard features are 19-inch alloy wheels, plus customers can choose from free Wilderness Sand metallic or Arctic White pearlescent paint, or pay £675 for three additional metallic colours: Galaxy Blue, Night Shadow Black and Sea Fluorescent Grey.

Interior

AION says that it has provided a spacious and refined business-class interior with features such as luxury-grade soft-touch surfaces. It also has a high spec-list including a complimentary full-length panoramic roof, double-glazed front windows, ambient lighting, electrically-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and heated reclining rear seats, wireless smartphone charging and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by the latest ultra-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a virtual assistant offering voice control of key features and functions, and a nine-speaker 360-watt premium audio system. That’s quite a generous list.

A Premium Pack can be added for £1,495 that adds leather seating, a 6.6-litre CoolHot Box, massage front seats, and a sturdy rear seatback tray table, plus one of two additional interior colour themes for £195; French Cream or Bright Tan.

And this is where the AION shines because it provides one trim line adding luxury features that are alone high-cost options in premium cars that can be added for a relatively modest fee in the AION.

Around the back of the car features a smart tailgate opening, although I’m unsure what that means, but the boot can swallow up to 472 litres of cargo, and there’s a clever trick for rear seat passengers because it has a Lounge mode for chaise-longue seating. This may impact boot space a little, but for a modest mid-sized SUV, this is another luxury feature that simply does not exist in this segment at that price.

Battery and Charging

The AION packs a 75.3kWh LFP battery, meaning a 100% daily charge is advisable if using the car regularly. The impact of that is drivers will start their journey with effectively a “full tank” that provides an up to 317 miles of range. AION claims this is class leading, but it might just be the case for LFP technology, albeit outright range is not class leading.

Rapid charging from 30% to 80% percent takes 18 minutes, but expect up to 30 minutes for a 10% to 80% charge, which is what most manufacturers typically quote.

The AION V comes with a heat pump that doubles as a cabin heater and keeps the battery at optimal operating temperature. This means there is less range drop-off in winter. A Heat pump is an important piece of equipment in any EV, yet not many manufacturers include it as standard equipment, as AION does.

AION’s Comments

Jon Wakefield, Managing Director of AION Auto UK said “We have spent the past 18 months optimising the AION V for UK customers, roads and driving habits, and have worked incredibly hard to develop a compelling ownership proposition with the AION Great 8 Promise.To now see the first customer handover take place is an incredibly proud moment for the whole AION team. From the exceptional product itself to the comprehensive supporting ecosystem around it, our Effortless Electrification mantra makes it easy to switch to an EV. I look forward to seeing the AION V becoming a familiar sight on UK roads.”

First deliveries have already started and so far there are eight AION retail sites that opened their doors to customers on 1st June, expanding to 15 sites by the end of June with the goal to have 30 sites open by the end of 2026.

Conclusion

As well as an expanding nationwide dealership network, customers also access to AION’s UK-based concierge contact centre, talking to a real person in real-time and on hand to answer any question, respond to any concerns or even to discuss how to order as well as offering guidance for the ownership and charging, too.
By demonstrating and working hard for customers, ensuring that are equipped with all the necessary information, this sets AION apart from almost every other manufacturer out there.

Additionally with the AION Great 8 Promise, not only does it provide peace-of-mind for eight years, but it covers all the ongoing maintenance costs with owning a car, excluding fuel and tyres.

And this is where AION excels by offering true, great value. Sometimes it’s not just about the selling price, it’s also about the after sales value, where AION adds in care and works hard to look after not just the ongoing costs, but also their customers.
This could also be part of AION’s investment strategy with some long-term thinking by creating an environment that’s attractive to returning customers, but that also attracts new customers, too. And it’s a strategy that might work with some good marketing behind it.

AION will launch a second model, called the UT family hatchback by the end of 2026, and they will introduce a further two further models in 2027.

Author

Graeme Cobb is a car enthusiast who loves writing about cars, EVs and the automotive industry. 100% Amateur.

You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb