Aion V review

The 204bhp motor is enough for a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, but the delivery isn't front-loaded, even in sport mode, so you can be smooth. Also, the relative feebleness of low-speed torque, together with soft high-frequency damping, light anti-roll bars, and quick-acting traction control means that it never scrabbles for traction even out of junctions in the wet. Nor does it torque steer.

Also, if you've set it up for regenerative braking, the pedal's transition from positive to negative torque is well calibrated. So performance feels, shall we say, dignified. A long way from exhilarating. Your passengers will thank you.

Steering's a high point. It's progressive, well weighted and even has some feel of grip. Brake pedal feel is pretty soggy but it does the job.

Does anything let it down?

The damping. Push on to enjoy the steering and, on a B-road, you'll find the body floating. Hit a series of small sharp bumps and the wheels shudder up and down. That all implies a deficiency in both high and low frequency damping. It doesn't ruin life in the Aion, but it does undermine the sense of rounded competence.

The actual primary ride is really very good, soaking away bigger bumps at all speeds, and the tyres and passage through the air are all quiet.

How about the ADAS?

Chinese cars get a particular lambasting for their driver assistance. This one has an attention warning that bongs away pretty well non-stop. Whether TopGear.com wore glasses or sunglasses, even assiduously looking ahead didn't shut it up. Looking in the door mirrors exasperated the warning to a frenzy.

The speed limit warning was a bit off-colour too, and the adaptive cruise didn't give us much confidence. But it was raining. (Because of course when the tech bros say we'll all be riding in autonomous cars in the next few years, obviously it'll be years when it doesn't rain.)

You can set up a screen shortcut for lane keeping, but not speed assist. That's several menus deep. No actual button.