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By Jonathan Crouch

The AION UT is the electric supermini you probably haven't considered. Should you? Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 43

In its own way, the AION UT might quietly be the best-value EV supermini out there. It offers a lot of car with a lot of kit to someone wanting a practical electric supermini. That is there more to this car than that?

Backgroundword count: 148

To stand out these days, a Chinese car manufacturer has to make big claims, a challenge not shirked by the AION brand with this car, their electric UT supermini. This is the second design launched in the UK by this GAC-owned marque and like the first, the larger family hatch-sized Aion V electric model, it claims to 'reset the segment standard'. AION describes this UT as 'China's version of the MINI', referencing their car's small size and up-market aspirations. Of course it'll need to be good because class competition is fierce, particularly after the arrival of new-era 'Urban Electric Family' VW Group models from Volkswagen, Skoda and CUPRA, plus new small EV contenders from the Korean makers and fellow Chinese brand Geely. For the price of mid-spec versions of these kinds of rivals, the UT aims to offer you a modern plusher-feeling package. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 214

Just how much power would you expect in an affordable electric supermini? Probably not as much as 204bhp, but that's what's generated here from the single front-mounted motor on offer. With 210Nm of torque, that zips you to 62mph in 7.3s if you're not worried about decimating the potential 268 mile range available from the 60kWh battery pack, the only one AION offers. If you're in the fiercest of the available drive modes (Sport), you might be able to reach the potential 99mph top speed. The brand says that the European version of this model is dynamically different to the one on sale in overseas markets like Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Chassis changes for our market made by the company's European development centre in Milan include tweaks to the springs, dampers and bump stops, along with the revised rear anti-roll bar. Expect quite polished driving experience as a result. Should there be a hot hatch version - the UTi? Perhaps not... As you'd expect from an EV supermini these days, there's a brake regen system with adjustable settings allowing you to reclaim energy whilst braking of coming off-throttle. And of course there's the usual extensive Chinese model portfolio of driving assist features, though you can expect some than to be a bit intrusive.

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