Among the enormous number of Chinese brands that have arrived in Europe in recent months, there is one that isn’t making as much noise as others: GAC. It is likely that its name won’t sound as familiar as that of other Chinese firms, but this manufacturer, with several decades of history, already has two models on sale in our market.
The first is the GAC AION V, a compact fully electric SUV, and the second is the GAC AION UT, a 100% electric compact that I have just learned about.
Produced in Europe, at the same site as the Mercedes G-Class
In an era when SUVs dominate almost everything and there seems to be little room for anything else, discussing the launch of a compact from this brand group feels a bit odd.
With some best-sellers in this category having disappeared, such as the Ford Focus, and with more brands betting on crossovers or SUVs, fewer traditional compact cars remain, but this type of vehicle has always made sense, and that hasn’t changed just because SUVs are popular.
Chinese brands had to reach Europe to remind us, with models like the Leapmotor B05 produced in Zaragoza or the GAC AION UT which has been manufactured for weeks at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz, Austria.
This factory has decades of experience building cars for various manufacturers, such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the Jeep Grand Cherokee in its day, the extinct Chrysler Voyager and 300 C, the first generation of the BMW X3, the iconic Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, or the latest BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra.
But times are changing, and Magna Steyr has now opened its doors to Chinese brands. For months, several XPeng models have come to life in this Austrian plant, and now the two models that GAC sells in Europe as well.
Magna Steyr benefits from Chinese brands giving it work, and Chinese brands benefit from manufacturing in Europe because it offers tariff advantages, and, for customers, it is positive that a Chinese car is produced on our continent. The GAC AION UT, moreover, comes with a double dose of “European-ness” because GAC claims it has been designed in Milan, Italy.
Beyond its origins, what matters is that it has the design of a conventional compact, with very few SUV-derived details (only the wheel arches and the lower part of the body) and compact dimensions, at least for what is common in the segment because it measures 4.27 meters long.
To give you an idea, it is slightly smaller than the king of compacts, the Volkswagen Golf, which measures 4.28 meters, and well short of the 4.43 meters of the Leapmotor B05.
It is a very practical length for city maneuvering because it isn’t a giant car, so parking is relatively easy, and above all, it can navigate narrow streets and even tight parking garages full of columns.
GAC AION UT: inside look
The good news is that it isn’t as small as a city car and that makes it considerably more versatile. Returning to the Golf and the Leapmotor B05, the GAC AION UT, despite being shorter than both, has a boot capacity of 440 liters, which is significantly larger than the Golf’s 381 liters and the Leapmotor’s 345 liters.
It also outperforms most of its rivals in this area, such as the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo (385 liters) or the MG4 Electric (363 liters), though not the MG4 Urban, which reaches up to 480 liters (also 4.40 meters long).
Being a car with a fairly restrained exterior size, it makes very good use of space and is roomy inside. Not only in the boot, but also in the rear seats. In front, the design of the central console helps to increase the sense of openness because there is a very large gap between the two seats.
The design, in general, is minimalist, like any contemporary car, with a completely horizontal dashboard, a small digital instrument cluster with an 8.8-inch screen, a generous 14.6-inch central touchscreen, and almost no physical buttons. The central armrest extends and includes two cup holders and a wireless charging tray for mobile phones (only in the highest trim).
It would be nice to have a few more buttons because almost everything has to be done through the central screen. The good news is that the multimedia system is fast, easy to understand, and has a very intuitive design, so you quickly get used to operating all functions quickly and simply.
I’ve also come away with a good impression in the area of build quality, not so much for premium materials (which are decent but not standout) but for how well the car is put together in terms of fit and finish.
Everything is very cohesive and well finished: in this respect, it has nothing to envy its European rivals; in fact, several of its Chinese rivals could learn a thing or two from how this is done.
Nor should it be too hard to meet: space, numerous storage pockets, solid quality, and good multimedia. And the icing on the cake is a good driving position, both in terms of seat and posture, as well as good visibility in all directions.
Admittedly, the design isn’t particularly striking or groundbreaking, but it delivers what you expect from a compact. It is well equipped in both trim levels available in Spain: Premium and Luxury. If GAC were to add a button, we would have one of the better interiors in the compact electric segment.
Thus goes the GAC AION UT
And what happens when it’s time to move it? I can tell you that the good sensations continue. It is offered only with a front-mounted electric motor delivering 204 hp and 210 Nm to the front wheels, enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 km/h.
Power comes from a 60 kWh net capacity LFP battery, which allows a WLTP combined-range rating of 430 km, and it can charge at up to 87 kW in DC (11 kW in AC).
Until here, that is the theory. In practice, what it offers is plenty of comfort and reliability well beyond what you need to move around with total agility in any scenario. The tuning priority has clearly been comfort, and it shows from the first moment.
On one hand, the steering, although it can feel firm in sport mode, isn’t particularly communicative or direct. The good news is that this calibration makes it especially pleasant in city driving.
On the other hand, the suspension is soft. It cushions potholes, lumps, and rough roads very well, at the expense of not delivering the best handling when you want to drive a bit more quickly. The point is not to push it hard, but to be comfortable and go along at a relaxed pace: it isn’t sporty, nor does it pretend to be.
Does that mean it’s slow? Not at all. We’ve seen that on paper its performance is more than decent, and behind the wheel a quick jab of the right foot is enough to overtake in the blink of an eye or merge onto the highway without any problem.
It has plenty of power to spare and it delivers it instantly when needed, unlike some electric cars that feel more linear and don’t entice you to floor the accelerator.
Anyone seeking driving fun and a spicy, go-fast car should look elsewhere. For the rest of drivers, who make up the majority, the GAC AION UT is a very logical car for daily use, even suitable for trips, as long as you plan charging stops carefully.
The initial contact hasn’t been long enough to draw conclusions about real-world consumption and range. I got the impression it uses little energy (13.4 kWh/100 km) on a route that mixed city with secondary roads, but I still need to rack up more highway kilometers to see if it truly delivers low consumption and meets the 430 km range promised.
If that holds true, long trips shouldn’t be an issue; it is well insulated and, as I said, thanks to its power and comfort, it is perfectly suited for travel, as any compact should be.
That said, the charging power of 87 kW (it takes about 32 minutes to go from 10% to 80%) is clearly improvable; in daily use it isn’t as relevant, but it does matter when you’re on a long journey.
Price of the GAC AION UT
The last topic to address is the price. The starting price of the GAC AION UT is 30,995 euros (MSRP) for the base trim, called Premium.
The Luxury is the top of the range and costs 1,000 euros more, i.e. 31,995 euros. With discounts and incentives, of course, these figures drop.
The Premium already includes, among other features, 17″ alloy wheels, Full LED headlights, power-adjustable and heated front seats, automatic climate control, a heat pump, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, keyless entry and start, a 360-degree camera, and adaptive cruise control, among other things.
The Luxury adds electrically folding mirrors, power tailgate, a panoramic roof with electric shade, and wireless charging.
The GAC AION UT comes with an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty, maintenance due every 30,000 km or 24 months, and the brand’s distribution and after-sales network in Spain is handled by Grupo Invicta; there are currently more than 40 sales points in the country, plus a warehouse guaranteeing parts within 24 to 72 hours.
