New Aiways U5 Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

The U5 is a brand new electric SUV from new-to-the-UK Chinese company Aiways. It’s landing in the UK in the latter half of 2023 - apt because ‘Aiways U5’ does sound like something that would literally land at Gatwick. It’s a delayed landing too, as it happens, because Aiways was originally supposed to launch here in 2020. Regardless, the U5 will be a cut-price competitor to family-sized electric crossover SUVs like the Volkswagen ID.4, Kia e-Niro and Nissan Ariya, with a battery capable of 250 miles on a charge and an estimated £35,000 starting price.

• The U5 is one of two EVs that Aiways is coming to the UK with. The other is the U6, a sportier ‘SUV-coupe’ that has definite Polestar 2 vibes.
Aiways promises a “fully equipped as standard” car. Every one of them gets a twin screen display and loads of clever safety stuff. Higher cars get an ultra-modern haptic panel for the air con. • Both trim levels get the same 63kW battery powering a single electric motor, good for a claimed 250-mile range. • There’s no four-wheel drive version (as yet) but the 204hp electric motor powering the front wheels is good for a decent 7.5-second sprint from zero to 62mph. • The U5 is available to enquire about now. The first cars should hit the road before the end of 2023. • Prices should start at £35,000 for a base model. Expect a £3,000 premium for an upper-trim car.

It’s no surprise that the U5 is designed in the SUV style. SUVs are trendier than whatever the kids are doing on Tik-Tok this week; in 2023, more than half of new cars sold in the UK looked like an SUV, compared to less than 10% just a decade ago. It means that the U5 is spacious - Aiways calls the roominess “exceptional”, no less - and it looks highly modern. There’s no denying that it pulls design cues from other brands, though. The front has a hint of Kia Niro, and the rear is a bit Volvo XC40.
Aiways has kept the range very simple, offering two trim levels called Xcite and Prime, but the former is so packed with equipment that it should be enough for the majority of buyers. This is in keeping with a manufacturer looking to make value one of its USPs - less money for more stuff, basically.

The interior is ostensibly the key selling point of the U5, cut from a far more unique cloth than the exterior - albeit, it does pull from the likes of Audi, Land Rover and even Porsche in terms of offering a near fully-digital experience. The driver instrument panel is split into three to give drivers a proper sense of separation between types of info. The central touchscreen is 12 inches big, and the haptic panel for the air con keeps those fundamental controls out of a touchscreen menu, while looking cool and neat - albeit that’s a top spec feature.
That said, Aiways has thrown as much as it can into the U5, even in ‘basic’ Xcite models. We’re talking electrically adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control with automatic stop-and-go functionality for traffic jams, and a massive suite of safety features. It’ll almost certainly get a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

There’s only one drivetrain at launch, but it should be more than adequate for the majority of potential buyers - quick enough and efficient. A 150kW (204hp) electric motor drives the front wheels, powered by a 63kWh battery and good for a 7.5-second 0-62mph sprint in the Xcite car. Unusually, a higher spec Prime car takes 7.8 seconds, probably because it’s heavier - it has a panoramic glass roof as standard, for example. Prime cars have a slightly lower quoted WLTP battery range, too - 250 miles, where it’s 255 in the Xcite. They’re both decent numbers, though. The U5 will charge at speeds up to 92kW, which isn’t class-leading (the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can reach 350kW, for instance), but it’s enough for a 20-80% charge in just 35 minutes.

Aiways hasn’t confirmed exact pricing in the UK yet, but based on the cost of the car in Europe, a £35,000 starting point feels like a good shout. That’ll be for an Xcite model, with a Prime version likely attracting a £3,000 premium. Customers can configure and express an interest in the U5 now, but we don’t expect to see cars hitting the road until the back end of 2023.

Aiways is releasing the U6 alongside the U5, a car it calls an ‘SUV-coupe’ but is actually a raised saloon in the mould of the Polestar 2. It uses the same basic battery and motor setup as the U5 but it’s a little more powerful (218hp) and has a slightly improved battery range, most likely owning to a more slippery shape. The interior is dominated by a large central touchscreen, in true Tesla style, although the most intriguing thing about it is - believe it or not - the massive aeroplane style drive selector. If nothing else, it means you can say “Aiways U6 cleared for takeoff” every time you leave for work. Hilarious.

The U5 is one of many EVs designed to look like an SUV, a body style that suits electric power because there’s plenty of space to put the battery. Recent entries into the segment include the BMW iX1 and the Nissan Ariya, and we’ll soon get the BYD Atto 3 and the confusingly named Honda E:Ny1.

It’s true that the emerging ‘family sized electric SUV’ market is already looking crowded, but the fact is that these are the sort of cars that sell. The U5 does look properly appealing, too. It’s well-designed (if obviously inspired by its competitors), has one of the best-looking interiors in the market, loads of equipment and, most importantly, really keen pricing. The biggest challenge that Aiways faces is gaining consumer confidence as a new brand, albeit the existence of fellow Chinese brand Ora will help with that. If the U5 feels built to last and drives with comfort and refinement, it’ll be a very welcome and appealing electric family car. We can’t wait to try it.
Find out more about the latest upcoming cars with our previews of the Renault Rafale, Nyobolt EV and Volvo EX30.