Electric MPVs Are Coming - GAC AION Y Review

GAC's AION brand is one of the best-selling electric car producers in China, and the Y is their smart and spacious entry-level MPV model. Boasting sharp looks, zippy performance, and a cavernous interior, the AION Y is compact in dimensions but big on value and space. It's all-electric, offers up to 600km of range, and is capable of level 2 autonomous driving? Quite frankly, it's a bit of a treat! Join us as we put it through its paces near Xi'an.
#electriccar #evs #electric #electriccars #electriccars2024 #chinacar #chinesecar #chinesecars #luxurycars #china #carsofyoutube #chineseelectriccar #performancecars #cartech #GAC #aion ‪@GACMotorOfficial‬

[@jman8128]

I bought it as my second EV after 2 years of driving model 3. Aion Y meets all I need plus huge space inside, I m quite satisfied with this car for half of the price from Tesla, what a bargin!

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Awesome, glad you're enjoying it. Always nice to hear from those who are living with the cars day to to day.

[@advancedagriinfo7480]

Do u experience any discomfort or range issue with this car...what is it's real world range actually??

[@jman8128]

@@advancedagriinfo7480 The Acceleration is very good; Real world range: half range in winter, 90% + in summer; Tyres are bad, I replaced all tyres the second month with Michelin EV Tyres.

[@seanrobin6573]

“Absolutely Magnificent Review, Quite Futuristic Looking Vehicle

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Thank you so much! Glad you like it. The car has actually been updated further since this so we're looking forward to a second ride at some point.

[@markuc]

Nice to see more shapes coming out for EVs. People movers uses more fuel so replacing them with electric versions will be wonders with reducing carbon emissions. Hope these will come to Australia soon!

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Would be good to see these start to go abroad. GAC have a design studio in Milan now so hopefully that means they're looking at expanding beyond their current territories into the more established car markets. I like MPVs too. I think we need more of these rather than always SUVs.

[@jellyd4889]

Actually looks quite good. MPV form... Very practical.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

It is a very funky design, the DRLs are especially good. I think MPVs are due a comeback.

[@julianlee2]

If it had 2 more seats it would be perfect

[@daviddogon3277]

Very good video, on the market to buy a car here in Guangzhou and I think that’s what I will go for! I wish we had some info about charging and battery type, can’t find any info in the official website

[@InsideChinaAuto]

They've got an updated version now called Plus which is an improvement on this. Highly recommend you go check one out first of course, make sure it's right for you. They've got 430, 510 and 610km range versions, the 70s have a lithium iron phosphate battery, 80s have a ternary lithium battery. Can't find any charging times info I'm afraid but I can ask if you want to know.

[@sssbbb688]

Wow!!!! With Honda s quality, it s worth buying! 🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😊😊😊

[@InsideChinaAuto]

It's a cool little car and the newer version is even better.

[@CT37BN]

Liking a lot the compact size and of this EV MPV. Aggressively planted styling without being vulgar. I'd rather have this than a compact SUV. Very nice colourway scheme exterior and cabin but also a bit of an irony with it's Gulf oil connection.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Haha, it really does have an interesting look, you're right. I like it a lot, reminds me of the old Renault Scenic my family had when I was young. Updated version is even better. We need more like this.

[@somosticos]

This car it's great, we have had the same car for the past 11 months and it's incredible! Cheers from Costa Rica

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Glad you're enjoying it. I thought it was very cool, looks awesome, and spacious too. Cheers.

[@clacton17]

I have a C3 Picasso, and I think it would make a good EV, think Citroen missed this opportunity. Nice to see MPV lets have some more, maybe a slightly smaller one than this one. Is it coming to UK, and how much?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

I'm also personally hoping for an MPV comeback, especially smaller ones that make great use of the space EV architecture affords. Sadly I don't expect to see this one in the UK for a while but never say never. GAC haven't yet given any suggestions of going to Europe but a load of other Chinese brands did in 2022 and more will in 2023 so we live in hope.

[@jwickerszh]

Cool but they just had a refresh with the Aion Y Plus, slightly longer as well.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Yeah, I've seen the updated one in Guangzhou, though unfortunately I reviewed this in July/August before it was out. Might ask them for a second go. The new version looks much softer with rounded edges, though I think it'll exist alongside this one.

[@jwickerszh]

@@InsideChinaAuto Not according to the Aion website, the V and LX were also upgraded before into "plus". I agree the styling is a bit more rounded but also improved a few points in the interior like removing the gross glossy black bits you had on yours here, redeisgned central console ergonomic, better infotainment hardware and more importantly 10cm more boot space. Otherwise it's very much the same car and the old one is obsolete. In fact I'm seeing a few being put on sales in the 2nd hand market, so it's still useful to know the old model if one wants to get a good deal on one of those.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@@jwickerszh Oh well that definitely makes it worth revisiting. I'd only glanced it in Guangzhou and saw it was a Y Plus, which I don't think they had in the old version, but it sounds like a pretty comprehensive revamp. Thanks for the pointer.

[@MansaKimani]

Good Ride.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Yup, cool car, and it's been updated quite a bit since the model we drove.

[@MansaKimani]

@@InsideChinaAuto Is the Software Language Customizable?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@@MansaKimani I think they have English in other markets so it should be possible.

[@MansaKimani]

@@InsideChinaAuto right, Thank you Good Sir

[@KFG1978]

Thanx for video. Do you think this model may be useful for green taxi issues? Does it look endurable?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

These are used as taxis everywhere in China, it's the primary reason people buy them. They're solid, some harder-wearing plastics about, some nicer ones, and bear in mind it's been updated since this video too. So yes, I'd say ideal indeed for a green taxi business. Passengers will love the space too.

[@KFG1978]

@@InsideChinaAuto updated to 2023 you mean? I am mixed up with only 1 issue that you kindly may help me with. An average a taxi driver makes a day is 340-360 km, which seems ok for 410 Basic version. But I am not sure if the battery is enough to maintain its announced km range. Let me have your comments on that bearing in mind that I plan to use them for 7-8 years before changing to new ones. Do you think they can make 350 km a day within that period?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@KFG1978 So you mean can it maintain 350km per day for the next 8 years? That's hard to say since GAC nor AION has been selling EVs for that length of time, but electric cars from other brands that have been around that long tend to report pretty good maintenance of range over that same period and batteries have only got better since then with new chemistries, so I can't say for sure. I suspect you'd be fine but you might be best checking some videos of channels who have run EV taxis for many years to tally up their experiences.

[@KFG1978]

@@InsideChinaAutoThanx a lot. The key word was "batteries have only got better", so from one point that gives me sign of optimism, from another look - those who operated EV taxi for 8 years used older version batteries. Kinda hard to find what to compare with. Anyway, you were helpfull. Best of luck!

[@zodiacfml]

wow, isn't that price the same as a BYD Dolphin? if that is the case, this is good value!

[@InsideChinaAuto]

It's pretty much in the same ballpark. Slightly higher starting point but a lot of crossover in the middle, so yeah, really good value and a big car for the money.

[@CountR2]

Any idea if GAC has plans to translate the infotainment system on this car?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

If the car goes outside of China I'd fully expect them to. GAC are present in many other countries across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, and I believe they have systems to suit those countries so they'd most likely do the same if this is exported. Or did you mean within China?

[@CountR2]

@@InsideChinaAuto I was thinking more for the international market. I know some folks who bought a GAC Aion V in Costa Rica, and the system on their car hasn't been translated yet.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@CountR2 That's interesting. Can't imagine selling a car in any other country with Chinese in the system still. You'd think they'd have done this in other Spanish speaking countries they operate in. Hopefully an OTA comes soon for your friend.

[@CountR2]

@@InsideChinaAuto A quick update: they're beta testing translations for english, spanish, portuguese and arabic (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipuqkGqjr7N4rJo)

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@@CountR2 Awesome, thanks for the update. Sounds like they'll continue to target Latin America and the Middle East for a while then. Great news.

[@1jay288]

Сейчас продается начальная версия с аккумулятором 52кВтч аккумулятором и 100кВт электродвигателем по цене 17 тысяч $👍👍👍

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Bargain

[@1jay288]

У GAC есть lx+ с 144кВтч аккумулятором, на него очень мало реальных обзоров. 😉

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Yup, been hoping to try one of these at some point, see if it'll do the 1000+km it claims.

[@guens01]

Every car reviewer adds the word cheap in front of plastic anytime a car has a little plastic in it. Why cheap? It could be high quality plastic, right?

[@InsideChinaAuto]

Some plastics are OK but there's a difference between good and bad. For me, cheap plastic is either flimsy or really, really hard and scratchy. You can hear it when it is. Not a fan of glossy plastic either even though some premium manufacturers use it everywhere.

[@guens01]

@@InsideChinaAuto thanks for clarifying.

[@InsideChinaAuto]

@@guens01 No problem.