New kids GAC ready to shake the establishment with AION V Luxury

The 2026 GAC AION V Luxury is an electric SUV that makes a strong first impression by combining a distinctive exterior with a spacious, technology-focused cabin. Its grille-less front clearly identifies it as an EV, while the restrained styling, LED lighting, roof rails and 19-inch alloy wheels give it a modern appearance without making it unnecessarily loud.

Range is one of the AION V's most persuasive qualities. GAC claims 510km under the WLTP testing standard, and the road-test experience described here delivered more than 460km in real-world driving on every charge. That level of usable range makes longer trips considerably easier to plan, particularly when supported by the vehicle's ability to use DC fast charging. On a 180kW setup, charging from 10 to 80 per cent is quoted at approximately 24 minutes.

The Luxury grade is particularly focused on making the cabin feel comfortable and accommodating. White leather upholstery gives the interior a bright, upmarket character, while the front seats combine power adjustment with heating, ventilation and massage functions. The second row is exceptionally roomy and includes a work table, making the rear compartment more useful than a conventional passenger space. A 427-litre boot expands to 978 litres with the rear seats folded, although the vehicle does not provide a front luggage compartment.

Much of the AION V's operation is handled through a large 14.6-inch central touchscreen. The system is responsive and provides shortcuts to commonly used menus, but the concentration of controls in the screen can make simple adjustments less intuitive at first. A separate 8.88-inch driver's display helps keep key information in the driver's line of sight. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger and a nine-speaker ADiGO audio system add useful everyday connectivity.

There are several unusual comfort features, including a 6.6-litre centre-console refrigerator. It can maintain a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, cool as low as minus 15 degrees for frozen items, or warm drinks and takeaway food to 50 degrees. Dual-zone climate control and a PM2.5 pollutant filter further support cabin comfort, although storage is not uniformly generous: there is no conventional glovebox, and the door bottle holders are best suited to smaller bottles.

Power comes from a single electric motor driving the front wheels. Its outputs of 150kW and 210Nm may appear modest beside some rival electric SUVs, yet the test found the AION V more responsive than those figures might suggest. The 75.26kWh lithium iron phosphate battery is marketed under GAC's Magazine Battery 2.0 name and uses liquid cooling and fire-resistance measures at cell and pack level.

Overall, the AION V Luxury presents a thoughtful mix of long-distance range, generous rear-seat space, distinctive equipment and practical charging capability. Its touchscreen-heavy interface and some unusual storage decisions prevent it from being completely seamless, but the combination of comfort, usable cargo capacity and efficient electric travel gives this newcomer a credible position in Australia's expanding electric SUV market.

Other highlights include Drive train: Front-wheel drive; Engine or motor: Single electric motor, 150kW and 210Nm.