mReview: Aion ES – ESchewing The Unnecessary

The new Aion ES is neither aspirational nor inspirational, but focuses on delivering the most practicality and value for your hard-earned dollars.

"You're going to be testing the ES", said my editor and resident motormouth David. Happy days, I thought, imagining that I would get to waft around for a weekend in the luxurious Lexus ES... until the Aion ES all-electric sedan pulled up in front of me.

I was rather prepared to dislike what I presumed would be not only the cheapest new electric car (S$129,988 at the time of writing) from an authorised dealer, but one of the cheapest passenger cars in the market, period. 

But eventually, one will see that Aion has almost perfectly delivered something really special: a brand-new electric car that's almost the size of a D-segment sedan, for the price of a subcompact petrol/hybrid hatchback.

Cheap, but with plenty of kit

In some ways, the ES is rather easy to bash. Everything that exists on the car is purely functional - there's no need at all to use any superlative adjectives in describing this car. 

The speakers project sound, the steering turns the car, and the throttle pedal controls how fast or slow the car moves. Nothing about a symphonic experience or man-machine interface needs to be described when driving this car. 

But over the course of driving the Aion ES, I began to realise that what Aion has delivered is a great package at a low price, and I respect the Chinese automaker for having done the job well.

Generally well-equipped, but the infotainment is incomplete.

Yes, the car isn't equipped with keyless entry, but there is a keyless start system. There are no electrically folding mirrors, nor a boot release handle at the back, but here's what you get in return: rear air-con vents, a reverse camera, auto headlights, auto wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, and electric parking brake with auto-hold. For at least a good S$20,000 less than most other EVs on the road!

Objectively speaking, the interior isn't bad. The door cards are clad in soft-touch materials, even for the rear doors (contrast that to the hard plastics being used in certain German cars that will cost you way more than this Aion), and the trimmings all feel like they've been put together solidly, which was a refreshing surprise.

The main instruments look retro, but are easy to read.

Of course, one cannot expect the top-in-class for a car in this price range, and two particular items in the cockpit remind you of that.

The first is the gauge cluster, which is analogue (and I think a first in an electric car in Singapore) and rather reminiscent of a 2000s-era Toyota Corolla's gauge cluster. Even the battery capacity is presented much like a petrol car's, with a LCD bar showing the remaining battery charge levels. 

There is a digital screen in the middle of the gauge cluster which, when you toggle to the Alerts screen, informs you in Chinglish that "Your car is in good conditions". Hmmm, many thankings!

The second sticking point is the native infotainment system, which lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And good luck if you're considering swapping out to an aftermarket system that supports such connectivity, because as far as I could tell, the only way to adjust the regenerative braking levels is through the infotainment screen. 

On the plus side, the default screen for the music tile features a little silhouetto of a man - Freddie Mercury at Wembley, to be specific.

The backseat is super spacious and surprisingly well-insulated.

Really, though, the ES is a supremely practical sedan that has almost all the features you need, and more impressively, for the price of a brand-new Suzuki Swift mild hybrid hatchback, you're getting a car that's almost 1 metre longer! 

Space is the rear cabin is genuinely D-segment level for the price of a B-segment hatchback, with a virtually flat floor as well. If I was blindfolded, I could believe that I was sitting in the rear cabin of the Toyota Camry. Boot space comes in at an excellent 453 litres.

The 453-litre boot is roomy like the backseat.

Impressive, too, is the exterior design of the car. The headlights seem to be heavily inspired by a certain Swedish brand's Thor headlight design, there's a floating roof design element, and there's even a rear LED tail-light bar that seems suspiciously similar to the new BMW 5 Series'.

I have to say though, the design works, and it doesn't look like a car that's as cheap as the price tag would suggest, thanks to LED instead of halogen headlights, and the executive car-rivalling length of 4.81 metres that allows the design elements to flow into each other without appearing too busy or awkward.

Quiet and very comfortable on the move, despite simple suspension and basic tyres.

Handling

The Aion ES is dynamically similar to a pleasure cruise. But that is no bad thing as this is a larger-than-priced family car, and it rides similar to a pleasure cruise as well. Despite the simple rear torsion beam suspension setup, the ES is actually supremely comfortable, and soaks up bumps large and small with surprising grace.

It may be hard to believe, but the Aion's electric power steering system actually provides quite a decent amount of feedback, giving you far more feel than you'd expect. Not that the car feels dynamically up for any hooning, though I suspect this isn't the car's fault, because it's riding on "Sentury1" tyres.

With 100kW/134bhp and 225Nm on tap, the ES accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 12.1 seconds, which is just about acceptable for Singapore traffic. But I genuinely believe that the numbers don't fully reflect the experience, as the ES can get off and go faster than one would expect - thanks to the instantaneous nature of the electric drivetrain. 

Try to push it a bit harder, though, and the car will falter, as it feels like it doesn't have much more to give when you want a bit more power to overtake.

The ES also feels far more premium than it is, because of how well-insulated the cabin is. Even if the gauges may make you feel like you're driving a 2000s Japanese C-segment car, it certainly doesn't sound like you're in one, with wind and road noise very well-shielded.

This electric sedan is bigger and better than what its modest price tag might suggest.

Don't confuse uninspirational with unacceptable

I've taken the liberty to poke fun at the weak points of the Aion ES, but frankly, if it had feelings, I don't think it would mind.

That's because the Aion ES knows it's not perfect. It isn't ashamed of what it is - and what it is, is a damn good, feature-packed, brand-new electric car that can be bought off the showroom for the price of a used petrol car. 

This is a car that is trying its best to punch above its weight - with its spaciousness and standard features.

I just have one little request: Aion, could you just give the ES keyless entry? Honestly, at this price point, I'd be embarrassed to demand for a rear boot release button or electrically folding mirrors, given all the other features that this car boasts.

Overall, I can see budget-conscious families buying this car. Frankly, in terms of what matters, one is sacrificing keyless entry and a less-than-ideal (but not unuseable) infotainment screen for what is rather unbeatable value and interior space.

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