2024 GAC Aion Y Plus Premium Review

With the rapid expansion of Malaysia's new energy vehicle market, B-segment electric SUVs are gradually becoming a popular choice for family users and young consumers. These vehicles need to balance spatial practicality, smart configurations, and range performance while staying within the budget range of mainstream families. The 2024 GAC Aion Y Plus Premium, as a new contender in this segment, highlights a power output of 204PS, an official range of 430km, and rich safety configurations as its core selling points. This time, we verify whether it can truly meet the daily needs of local users through a static experience and dynamic test drive.

In terms of exterior design, the Aion Y Plus Premium leans towards a youthful and vibrant style, with smooth lines that maintain a trim shape without being bulky. The front features a closed grille paired with a through-type LED daytime running light; the split LED headlights on both sides are sharp in shape and highly recognizable. The dual waistline design on the car’s side adds layers, while the 18-inch wheels have a simple and pleasing style that balances well with the vehicle's proportions. The rear end mirrors the front with its through-type LED taillights, and the black trim on the bottom section of the rear bumper enhances the SUV's ruggedness. The lighting system comes standard with all-LED components, offering quick illumination and adequate brightness, ensuring safety during nighttime driving.

Inside, the interior focuses on simplicity and practicality. The dashboard is covered with soft materials and accented by silver trim, presenting a texture level that is above average for vehicles in this price range. The 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster provides clear displays of speed, range, driving mode, and other information in real time. The 14.6-inch central touchscreen serves as the core of the interior functions, offering smooth operation and support for navigation, Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity, and other features. However, the localization of the system interface could still be further improved. In terms of configuration, keyless entry, one-touch start, 6-way electrically adjustable front seats, rear air vents, and a 6-speaker Bongiovi sound system (with average sound quality that is sufficient for daily music enjoyment) are standard features.

Space performance is one of the advantages of the Aion Y Plus Premium. Its 2750mm wheelbase is on the larger side for a B-segment SUV. The front row offers ample seating space; even a passenger with a height of 175cm can adjust the seat and still have a headroom clearance of one fist and two fingers. The rear row is even more impressive, allowing a passenger with the same height to have two fist-widths of legroom and one fist of headroom, making extended journeys comfortable without feeling crowded. In terms of storage capacity, the central armrest box and door pockets in the front row are spacious enough to hold daily items. The rear seats can be folded in a 60:40 ratio, expanding the trunk volume significantly to accommodate large items like baby strollers or suitcases.

In the dynamic driving segment, the Aion Y Plus Premium is equipped with a front-mounted single electric motor that delivers a maximum output of 204PS and a peak torque of 225N·m, achieving an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.5 seconds. During actual driving, the power response in the initial acceleration phase is quick, and a light press on the accelerator provides noticeable thrust, making overtaking or lane-changing in urban commuting quite agile. Although mid-to-high-speed acceleration is not as aggressive as the initial thrust, it still meets the needs for highway cruising or overtaking with ease. There are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Standard, and Sport. In Eco mode, the power delivery becomes smoother, making it more suitable for daily commuting to conserve energy. Sport mode enhances throttle responsiveness, catering to scenarios where driving excitement is desired.

The chassis adopts a combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, with a tuning bias towards comfort. When dealing with speed bumps or minor jolts on urban roads, the suspension is able to filter out most vibrations, so passengers inside the car won't feel noticeably uncomfortable. However, when encountering larger potholes, the rear suspension's bouncing becomes slightly more apparent, though this is a normal performance for models in the same price range. The steering wheel is light and precise, making daily driving effortless. At high speeds, the steering wheel becomes more stable and provides good stability.

In terms of range, the official CLTC range is set at 430km. In our comprehensive test on urban roads (about 60% conditions) and highways (about 40% conditions), with the air conditioning and music on throughout, the final range achievement rate was approximately 85%, translating to an actual range of around 365km. This performance meets the weekly commuting needs of most users. As for charging speed, using a fast-charging station to charge from 30% to 80% takes about 40 minutes, while slow charging requires 8-10 hours, which is suitable for overnight home charging.

The noise control performance is acceptable. At low speeds, motor noise is almost inaudible. At high speeds, wind noise and tire noise increase, but they don't interfere with normal conversations among passengers in the car. The energy recovery system offers three adjustable levels: high, medium, and low. The low level offers a coasting feel similar to fuel-powered cars with no noticeable drag, making it easy to adapt to. The high level can enhance range but takes some time to get used to.

Overall, the 2024 GAC Aion Y Plus Premium's core advantages lie in its spacious interior, comprehensive safety features, and balanced range performance. Compared to competitors in the same segment, such as the BYD Atto 3 or MG ZS EV, it has a longer wheelbase, a more spacious rear seating area, and standard features like 6 airbags, ACC adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree surround view. Its value for money is outstanding. However, the rear suspension tuning could still improve when dealing with complex road conditions, and the localization of the infotainment system needs optimization.

This vehicle is suitable for family users who prioritize practicality and safety features, especially those who frequently need to carry family members or friends. At the same time, its performance and range can also meet the daily commuting needs of young consumers. If you're looking for an affordably priced, spacious, and well-equipped electric SUV, the Aion Y Plus Premium is worth considering.