The 2026 GAC Aion UT has arrived, and this fully electric hatchback offers a compact form factor at a subcompact price. It also debuts as the first EV release from GAC International Philippines—the brand’s new operators, who took over from Astara in January earlier this year.
We first saw this particular hatchback at the 2025 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit, where it was previewed alongside the flashier Aion V and Hyptec HT models. While it is more reserved—and certainly more affordable—the UT has the opportunity to make a real splash as an entry-level EV for younger car buyers and families looking to drop their gasoline expenses.
While it is certainly comparable to the BYD Dolphin, its price point will likely attract buyers of the smaller Seagull. That is thanks to an extended wheelbase that surpasses its class, but we’ll talk more about that later.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Diesel runaway: Two things you should do, and one thing you absolutely shouldn’t
A ‘shift back’ to wagons could take place soon, says Volvo
GAC Aion UT 2026 Philippine prices:
At launch, the Aion UT comes in a single variant and officially stickers for P1.068 million. However, an introductory price of just P998,000 is currently available for the first 400 customers.
As mentioned, this hatchback shares a segment with the P1.398 million Dolphin, but those prices are much closer to the Seagull, which costs P938,000. The Aion UT also undercuts the MG 4 by P400,000 based on regular pricing. It should be noted that there aren’t many electric compact hatches on the market, so options are limited from the get-go.
Exterior of the GAC Aion UT 2026:
Upon first glance, the Aion UT is surprisingly long. The length from its nose to the B-pillar is normal, but from there, it really extends. That immediately means two things: legroom and cargo space, both of which the Aion UT has plenty.
To put it into exact figures, this hatch measures 4,270mm long, 1,850mm wide, and 1,575mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750mm. For reference, the Toyota Corolla Cross’ wheelbase is just 2,640mm, while the Dolphin is a tad shorter at 2,700mm.
Design-wise, GAC says the Aion UT has adopted a ‘Milanese’ language, with a mix of squarish blocks and rounded-off lines. The 16-inch rollers follow the same motif, as they are shod in 215/60R16 tires. A fully loaded trunk and cabin will drop its ground clearance to 130mm, but its unladen figure is listed at 147mm.
Interior of the GAC Aion UT 2026:
Inside, the cabin is dressed in soft-touch materials while all five seats are upholstered in basic fabric. GAC claims that second-row passengers can get up to 905mm of legroom, thanks to that elongated form factor.
With the rear seats up, the trunk can accommodate 440 liters of cargo, but its full capacity has not been shared. On the other end, a 14.6-inch screen dominates the dashboard, while a smaller 8.88-inch display serves as the digital instrument cluster. Audio is then sent to a six-speaker sound system.
Powertrain specs of the GAC Aion UT 2026:
The Aion UT is equipped with a 44.13kWh lithium iron phosphate magazine battery and a front-mounted single-motor setup. It’s rated to output 134hp and 145Nm of torque, with a 0-100kph acceleration time of 11.4sec.
On a full charge, the hatchback is said to be good for 400km of driving. When it is time to plug in, GAC says it can power up from 30% to 80% in just 24min with a 64kW DC charger.
Under the metal, a McPherson independent suspension system is placed up front, while a non-independent torsion beam setup is found in the back. The braking systems then get standard discs on the front and rear of the Aion UT.
Extra features of the GAC Aion UT 2026:
A comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems is equipped on the Aion UT, which is a pleasant surprise for a vehicle in this price bracket. Features like adaptive cruise control, forward- and rear-collision warnings, blind-spot detection, and a 360-degree camera setup are all standard on the hatch. The infotainment system also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Other creature comforts include automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers on the front windshield. GAC also says there is a mobile app to control the Aion UT, but we haven’t had the opportunity to try that out yet.
Available colors currently include Emerald Green, Rococo White, Champs-Elysees Beige, Seine Silver, and a limited two-tone finish with an emerald body and a white roof.
More photos of the GAC Aion UT 2026:
