A new RAV4 rival with one key difference

The latest Chinese brand to land in Australia has revealed its Toyota RAV4 rival and opened the order books overseas giving us our best look yet at what the Aion i60 could offer when it lands locally. 

It was only weeks ago that new Chinese brand GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Company) finally locked-in its arrival in Australia with news the launch of its Aion V SUV slated for this month.

Now we’ve been given a look into what could be the near future with the brand revealing specifications and opening orders in China for its newest SUV - the Aion i60.

The Aion i60 shares the same 2775mm wheelbase as the Aion V but has larger overall dimensions which sees it measuring 4685mm end to end, 1854mm wide and 1660mm tall.   

However, the Aion i60 will be available in China not only as a fully electric but also as a petrol-hybrid variant. 

Powering the EV will be one electric motor, with buyers able to choose between 150kW or 165kW units.

Meanwhile the hybrid will be offered with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor offering  a combined range of up to 1250km and a claimed fuel consumption of 5.5L/100km (CLTC).

What sets this one apart from many of its rivals like the Chery Tiggo 7 is its range-extender set-up where the engine isn't connected to the wheels and it is driven by electric motor only, similar to Nissan's e-Power technology.

Prices for the Aion i60 in China start at the equivalent of $25,700 for the electric variant and step up to $27,200 for the hybrid.

2026 GAC Aion i60

2026 GAC Aion i60

2026 GAC Aion i60

The Aion i60 shares a similar design to the Aion V, but in a larger package and with different head- and taillight styling. There’s the angular lines with building wheel guards, the high bonnet and flat roofline that create a traditional SUV shape seen on many mid-sized rivals such as the RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The new SUV is a five-seater with a minimalist looking interior featuring a portrait style media screen, and large centre console featuring dual wireless phone charging pads.

GAC is yet to confirm if the Aion i60 will be coming to Australia, but given the competitiveness of the mid-sized SUV market locally and the taste for hybrids over fully electric models, it would be a surprise if the new brand wasn't considering it.