GAC Aion UT raises the question: is it worth giving up equipment for more power? g1 tested

GAC Aion UT raises the question: is it worth giving up equipment for more power? g1 tested
The GAC Aion UT is one of the few launches by the Chinese brand in Brazil in 2026, after the arrival of five models at once last year. It is GAC's cheapest electric car with rivals that are already on the podium of Brazil's best sellers: BYD Dolphin Mini, Dolphin and the Geely EX2.
To have a chance against the trio, the Aion UT brings an unusual proposal among the Chinese: it gives up a long list of equipment to bet more on power and internal space.
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The model starts at R$ 139,990. The value is above the R$ 118,990 of the Dolphin Mini, the best-selling electric car in Brazil in 2026, and below the R$ 149,990 of the second place, the Dolphin.
g1 tested the car on a completely urban route in São Paulo (SP), to assess whether the reduction in items and comfort is worth it in a market that has become accustomed to softer finishes, instead of hard plastic.
Starting with the external appearance, the Aion UT follows a more standardized style seen in Chinese cars. The closed and slightly pointed front, the smooth lines and the almost absence of right angles on the body reinforce this impression.
The door handles are aligned with the body, although they only appear to be retractable. They resemble the model used in the Chevrolet Corsa, the one that is "embedded" in the door.
GAC Aion UT
The look is not ugly, but it also doesn't stand out or show much personality. It resembles models from other Chinese brands, such as Leapmotor C10 and Geely EX2 - this second one is the most similar, but it is smaller and has almost half the power.
Inside GAC, the pattern remains the same. The 14.6-inch multimedia center combines many functions and has a cleaner look. In addition to the air conditioning controls, the screen also includes the adjustments for the rear view mirrors and even the opening of the sunroof.
This is precisely where GAC's main focus is. Unlike recent Chinese models, such as the Geely EX2 and even the Chevrolet Spark EUV - the second developed and produced by the Chinese SAIC -, the Aion UT uses mainly hard plastic in the finish.
This finish is not as monotonous as that seen in many Volkswagen cars. The proposal is closer to Fiat, with the use of different textures and tones of the same material to give more "movement" to the interior.
GAC Aion UT is almost entirely made of plastic, including the black stitching
publicity/GAC
There is even fake stitching on the doors, which tries to imitate the leather finish. The only truly soft areas are where the arms rest: on the side support of the doors and on the extension of the raised center console.
This level of simplicity is unusual among Chinese cars launched since 2023. Another change in relation to what the Brazilian public has become accustomed to is the sunroof: instead of opening for ventilation, it just functions as a glass surface for light to enter, without opening.
The third difference appears in the leaner equipment list of the entry-level version. In the GAC Aion UT there is not even a simple autopilot, an item present even in the 2017 Chevrolet Onix.
Induction cell phone charger and seats with electrical adjustments? Only in the top of the line version. Even driver aids, such as automatic emergency braking, are restricted to the most expensive option.
GAC Aion UT
GAC Aion UT
With so many limitations, the entry-level model could seem dull. Still, GAC's choice was to offer, even in the simplest version, good internal space and performance.
This space does not appear in the trunk, which has only 340 liters, but stands out in the area for the occupants' legs. Even with the front seats adjusted for people who are 1.80 meters tall, anyone in the back who is the same height won't be able to rest their knees on the seats.
GAC Aion UT
publicity/GAC
This is explained by two factors: despite being a hatch, the Aion UT is 4.27 meters long, six centimeters longer than a Volkswagen T-Cross, for example.

The wheelbase is five centimeters longer than the 2.70 meters of the Toyota Corolla sedan, known for its good legroom.
In terms of width, the car accommodates four people well, with two in the back seat. Up to three adults can travel there, although with tighter arms. On the other hand, the flat floor helps avoid competition for legroom.
Power is another very positive point. There are 204 hp and 21.5 kgfm of torque, which proved to be more risky than the almost identical numbers of the BYD Dolphin Plus' electric motor. difficulty.
Overtaking another car, even on a hill and with the air conditioning on, was not difficult for the Aion UT. At no point did the engine feel at its limit, even with the accelerator pressed all the way. At traffic lights, it started ahead of all the motorcycles.
The Aion UT is agile, more so than other cars with similar power, even though it is heavy and has aerodynamics that are not very sporty. By the way it looks, it doesn't suggest this more dynamic behavior.
The response to the accelerator, which is quite sensitive, appears both in sport mode and in normal mode. It only becomes smoother in economical mode, in which power delivery occurs more gradually.
This feature led to the inclusion of two extra adjustments: one called "comfortable parking" and another that promises to reduce occupants' motion sickness. The idea is simple: increase the accelerator response time, causing power to be delivered even more gradually.
With any of them activated, the car shakes less when accelerating and braking. This tends to reduce the feeling of motion sickness and ensures more control in parking maneuvers.
As the route was covered on well-paved streets, it was not possible to evaluate the suspension accurately. Even so, the report noted that the few bumps caused by irregularities in the floor were well absorbed.
This may give the impression of a softer and more comfortable suspension, but less focused on stability at speeds above 100 km/h.
GAC Aion UT: is it worth it?
GAC Aion UT
publicity/GAC
Exchanging a more complete list of standard items for more space would make more sense if the trunk also was bigger. Still, the more agile performance in an entry-level car drew attention.
This behavior does not appear in the same way in competitors such as the BYD Dolphin or the Chevrolet Spark EUV, which are more moderate in power, but deliver more comfort and standard features at a practically identical price:
BYD Dolphin GS: from R$ 149,990;
Chevrolet Spark EUV: from R$ 144,990.
The extra dose performance gives the feeling that the Aion UT can tackle the road with more confidence than nearby competitors.

Source: G1

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