Which AITO should I buy?

AITO is not your typical Chinese automaker. It was born out of a collaboration between Seres, an established EV manufacturer, and Huawei, the same tech company behind some of the world's most advanced consumer electronics. The result is a range of vehicles where the software and connectivity features are front and center.

Distributed in the Philippines by QSJ Motors, AITO currently offers three models: the M5, M7, and M9. Each one targets a different buyer with a different budget, but all of them share the same powertrain philosophy. Every single variant uses a Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) setup, except for the top-spec M9 which also offers a fully electric option. Think of REEV as a conventional hybrid turned up to eleven, a petrol engine acts purely as a generator to keep the battery charged, while electric motors do all the actual driving work. It is a clever solution for a country where charging infrastructure is still catching up to demand.

So which one should you get? That depends on your needs, lifestyle, and most importantly, your budget.

The M5 is where the AITO lineup begins, and it is a decent place to start. Slotting into the compact crossover SUV segment, the M5 is a compact crossover that seats five, uses a 40 kWh battery with a 1.5-liter range extender, and claims up to 1,440 km of combined range under CLTC testing.

Size-wise, the M5 is manageable for Metro Manila conditions. It wears a silhouette that leans sporty, with the RS AWD variant getting a slightly more aggressive aesthetic to match the extra hardware underneath. 

Ground clearance sits at 170 mm, which is usable for most urban roads but not exactly confidence-inspiring for rougher provincial terrain. But hey, the M5 never claimed to be an off-roader

Inside, it follows the same tech-forward philosophy as its bigger siblings. HarmonyOS powers the infotainment, and the interface is genuinely intuitive compared to the clunkier systems found in some rivals at this price point.

If you want an AITO but your budget stops south of P3 million. It is the most accessible entry into the brand's ecosystem, and for buyers who primarily drive urban routes, you won’t get an extra row of seats, but it’s a good place to start if you want to dip your feet into the experience AITO is offering.

If the M5 is the sensible choice and the M9 is the statement piece, then the M7 is what most people should be looking at. It occupies the midsize SUV segment and offers seating for either five or six occupants, making it genuinely versatile for Filipino family life.

The M7 shares the REEV formula but steps up with a 42 kWh battery, paired with the same 1.5-liter range-extender engine. Claimed range stretches to 1,300 km for the RWD variant and 1,250 km for the AWD. Ground clearance comes in at a more reassuring 193 mm, and the M7 can hit a top speed of 190 km/h, which suggests performance reserves that will rarely be needed but are nice to have.

The choice between the two variants largely comes down to whether you need AWD. For most buyers driving between cities or tackling the occasional provincial road, the RWD Ultra will do just fine. The AWD model makes sense for those who regularly venture to mountainous or flood-prone areas, or those who simply want the added security of four driven wheels.

The M7's interior follows the same Huawei-influenced approach, with a large infotainment screen, intelligent voice control, and the panoramic roof that has become something of an AITO signature. The six-seat configuration also means it works as a practical family hauler without being as imposing as the M9.

If you need a family SUV that can handle longer drives without range anxiety, and you want the flexibility of either five or six seats, the M7 is the place to be at. At P3.5 million to P4 million, it undercuts a lot of European competition while offering comparable,  in some areas, superior, technology.

The M9 is what AITO used to introduce itself to the Philippine market, and the choice makes sense. It is a vehicle designed to command the streets, and to make anyone familiar with the brand immediately understand what AITO is about.

At 5,230 mm long and nearly 2,000 mm wide, the M9 is a proper full-size SUV. It seats six, and passengers are treated to a level of refinement that rivals vehicles costing significantly more. That price can be seen and felt in the details, it gets double-layered glass for the panoramic sunroof, soundproofed windows, a dual-motor setup, air suspension on both axles, and smart electric doors that open and close without you touching a handle.

The technology package is extensive. A panoramic triple-screen dashboard layout spans the full width of the cabin with Huawei's HarmonyOS smart cockpit serving as the brains. The M9 also features a 360-degree camera system with LiDAR. 

Three variants are available. The Max REEV starts at P5,757,000 and uses a 52 kWh battery with the 1.5-liter range extender to deliver an AWD system that dispatches the zero to 100 km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds and a claimed range of over 1,200 km. The Ultra REEV adds more kit at P6,357,000. And then there is the Ultra BEV at P6,557,000, fully electric, no combustion engine, 100 kWh battery, and up to 630 km of claimed range on a single charge.

At these prices, the M9 faces comparison against similarly-sized European SUVs. It undercuts most of them, sometimes substantially, while offering features those rivals do not even make available as options.

The M9 is a worthwhile buy if budget is not the primary concern and you want a full-size flagship that doubles as a technology showcase. It is a bold buy, but nothing else at this price point offers quite the same combination of interior space, tech density, and electric-first performance.