GAC Aion Y

Vehicle Overview

The GAC AION Y is an all-electric compact SUV launched in 2021 by AION, the premium smart electric vehicle brand under GAC Group, built on the dedicated GEP 2.0 pure electric platform. Positioned in the RM100,000-bracket family EV SUV segment, the 2025 facelift model is available in four variants, priced between RM99,800 and RM123,800. In terms of dimensions, two body sizes are offered: a length of 4,410 mm or 4,535 mm, a width of 1,870 mm, a height of 1,645 mm or 1,650 mm, with a standard wheelbase of 2,750 mm across the range. CLTC-rated pure electric range options include 430 km, 510 km, and 610 km versions to cater to diverse driving needs. As of June 2025, cumulative sales of the AION Y Plus have surpassed the 520,000-unit milestone.

Design Language

The exterior of the AION Y features a closed-off front grille that underscores its all-electric identity. The front fascia is fitted with distinctive "7"-shaped "Angel Wings" LED headlights featuring linear light graphics that deliver high visual recognition at night. The side profile exhibits sleek character lines, where a segmented waistline is paired with vibrant orange accents on the D-pillars and side skirts, while the floating roof design effectively reduces the visual bulk typical of traditional SUVs. At the rear, it sports a full-width smoked LED taillight bar with an illuminated "AION" emblem integrated inside. Flush-fitting door handles lend a clean, modern aesthetic. Colour options include 13 exterior paint choices such as "Lucky Apricot", "Azure", and "Speed Silver Limited Edition", with select variants offering a two-tone contrasting roof to appeal to younger buyers.

Inside, the cabin adopts a minimalist T-shaped dashboard layout dominated by clean horizontal lines that enhance the sense of layered depth. The interior is available in thematic colour schemes such as "Zero Anxiety Green" and "Fresh Macaron". Notably, the rear doors open to nearly 90 degrees, making passenger ingress and egress exceptionally effortless.

Powertrain and Performance

The entire AION Y range is driven by a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, offered in three output tunes: 100 kW (136 PS) / 176 Nm, 135 kW (184 PS) / 225 Nm, and 150 kW (204 PS) / 225 Nm. The 2025 facelift and subsequent models primarily feature the 100 kW and 150 kW setups. The 0–50 km/h sprint takes between 4.1 and 4.8 seconds—ideal for brisk urban getaways—with top speed capped at 150 km/h across all variants.

Battery options include lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary lithium chemistries, available in capacities such as 51.9 kWh and 61.7 kWh. The entire lineup comes standard with GAC AION's proprietary Magazine Battery technology, which establishes robust safety standards across cell-level intrinsic safety, reinforced passive protection, and active hazard prevention—successfully passing nail penetration safety tests without catching fire; higher-spec trims further benefit from a liquid-cooled battery thermal management system. For charging, DC fast charging juices the battery from 20% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes, with the Magazine Battery long-range variant boasting even shorter charging times. Energy consumption is rated at around 12.9 kWh/100 km.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the chassis employs a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent setup—a standard configuration in this segment of EV SUVs. The suspension tuning is heavily comfort-oriented and tailored for urban tarmac; however, some drivers have noted that the rear torsion beam could filter out road bumps more thoroughly, leaving some room for improvement in overall ride refinement. Steering is managed by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system that delivers a light, effortless feel. The braking setup is supported by standard active safety systems, including Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

Drive modes include ECO, NORMAL, SPORT, and an I-PEDAL single-pedal mode. In standard drive modes, regenerative braking is gentle to maximise passenger ride comfort; in single-pedal mode, lifting off the accelerator pedal provides noticeable deceleration while recuperating kinetic energy. With a tight turning radius of 5.5 m and a laden ground clearance of 150 mm, the vehicle offers excellent manoeuvrability in city traffic.

Cabin and Equipment

The AION Y comes equipped with the ADiGO SPACE smart cockpit system, featuring a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen for an intuitive dual-screen interface. The central display utilizes a card-style UI that allows quick adjustments to functions like climate control and seat heating directly from the shortcut dock. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6155 chipset, the infotainment system supports dual-zone voice wake-up, continuous voice command recognition, and "see-and-say" capabilities. Connectivity is supported via HUAWEI HiCar and Carlink smartphone screen mirroring. A steering column-mounted gear selector frees up substantial storage space below the centre console, contributing to a total of 38 storage cubbies throughout the cabin.

Audio is delivered via a 6-speaker sound system tuned with Bongiovi master acoustic effects. Convenience and comfort features include standard heat pump air conditioning across the range (which significantly reduces energy draw in colder weather), automatic climate control, rear A/C vents, keyless entry with push-start button, and cruise control. The seats are upholstered in a breathable fabric-and-leather combination. Cabin versatility is a key selling point: the front seatbacks can fold completely flat to connect with the rear bench, creating a 1.8-metre-long "double bed" lounge mode, while the 60:40 split-folding rear seats expand boot capacity from 405 litres to approximately 1,200 litres.

Safety and Intelligent Driving

On the passive safety front, the AION Y features a high-rigidity body structure with dual front airbags as standard, while top-tier variants add front side airbags and full-length curtain airbags. A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and ISOFIX child seat anchors are standard across the lineup.

In terms of active safety and driver assistance, higher-spec 2025 AION Y variants come equipped with the ADiGO 4.0 suite offering Level 2 ADAS. Features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Cruise Assist (ICA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). The AION Y Plus Intelligent Driving Edition launched in 2024 steps up further with ADiGO PILOT 3.0, allowing drivers to engage automated driving with a simple flick of the gear stalk; it achieves zero-takeover navigation through sharp sweeping curves and operates reliably in adverse weather like heavy rain and fog, backed by a quick-acting, stable Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system. Additionally, this variant features IBCM sensorless start (powering on automatically upon vehicle entry) and one-touch remote parking, enabling segment-leading 8-directional automated parking across diverse scenarios.

Market Performance and Reception

Riding on its generous interior space, high value proposition, and dependable performance, the AION Y quickly captured a substantial share of the compact EV SUV segment, with cumulative deliveries crossing the 520,000-unit threshold. Throughout 2024, it maintained strong momentum, consistently exceeding 10,000 units in monthly sales. However, heading into 2025, sales tapered off due to ride-hailing market saturation dampening fleet demand and fiercer competition from rivals, with monthly sales averaging just over 7,000 units between January and July (recording 7,334 units in July alone). Nevertheless, the newly updated AION Y Plus garnered over 10,000 orders in its first week on sale, reflecting positive market sentiment toward its revamped equipment levels and competitive pricing. Owner feedback has been largely positive regarding practical cabin space, versatile seating layouts (such as the "double bed" mode), and the proven safety of the Magazine Battery; however, areas cited for refinement include high-speed overtaking power, suspension damping over rough surfaces, and cold-weather range efficiency. Key rivals include the BYD Yuan PLUS and Geely Galaxy E5. Overall, the AION Y remains a highly cost-effective, practical compact EV SUV tailored for urban commuting and family duties, with its clever space utilisation and battery safety tech cementing its strong foothold in the RM100,000 EV segment.