Good Stuff
Premium experience and a futuristic design language provide a technologically advanced and well-rounded package. The battery swap technology also makes it stand out from the competition.
Bad Stuff
Handling leaves much to be desired and the odd driving position may hamper the overall experience. There isn’t much storage space on the interior for all your nick-nacks.
Overview
What is It?
In case you have been living under a rock, let us introduce you to the NIO ET5. It comes from, you guessed it – NIO, one of the biggest EV manufacturers on the planet whose claim to fame was their 1360 horsepower EP9 hypercar.
With the ET5, the company is trying to conquer the ever-popular mid-size luxury saloon segment. Once dominated by BMW, Audi, and Mercedes, this executive segment is now being taken over by the electrified cool kids in town.
The ET5 goes toe-to-toe with Teslas’ all-conquering Model 3, and on the surface, the NIO looks like a viable alternative to Tesla’s rather mundane styling.
Similar Chinese-made rivals like the Xpeng P7 also come to mind, but it is hard to pick a clear winner before diving into the nitty gritty of the ET5 first. So why don’t we do just that?
NIO? Say What?
NIO is a rising star in the Chinese EV industry that specializes in the design and production of electric vehicles and battery swapping stations. Founded as NextEV in 2014, the company took on the NIO moniker in 2016 and has yet to look back since.
NIO currently has nearly 27,000 employees and has raised over $5 billion from investors. The company launched its revolutionary Battery as a Service (BaaS) model in August of 2020, and in the following year, and plans to expand to over 25 different nations by 2025.
What About the Looks?
If looks could Kill, the NIO ET5 would already be jailed in a high-security prison. The streamlined fastback silhouette allows the ET5 to cut through the air like a hot knife through butter, while the front facia is dominated by muscular body lines and NIO’s signature Double-Dash daytime running lights.
This distinctive “shark nose” design makes the NIO ET5 look like it’s going 100 MPH while standing still. The frameless windows enhance the aesthetics, while the door handles that sit flush with the exterior improve the aerodynamics even more.
Want your ET5 to be distinctively yours? Well, then you’ll be glad to hear that there are nine exterior finishes inspired by the sky to quench your desire.
On the inside is where the ET5 comfortably stands out from the competition. Similar to the outside, choices are plentiful as there are six Earth-inspired color themes to choose from.
Each option adds a level of class to the passenger compartment, changing the shades of everything from the door panels, seats, steering wheel, and even the seat belts.
NIO’s patented ‘NOMI’ digital assistant is sure to be a hit among younger passengers. It is one of the smartest in-car computing innovations we have seen yet and it continuously learns from your travel habits to provide the best experience possible.
And to Drive?
The ride onboard the ET5 is comfortable, and just like you would expect from an electric car, the acceleration is blisteringly quick. The ET5 feels well-balanced in the corners and does well to disguise its weight.
Everything isn’t sunshine and roses, however, as the brake pedal feel leaves much to be desired. Steering is equally dull, and the 4 selectable driving modes (Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Sport+) do little to change the handling characteristics, although it has to be said that they provide a healthy boost in power as you climb through the range.
The EV range is also on par with the rivals, with the smaller 75 kWh unit providing 283 miles of driving range. Upgrade to the bigger 100 kWh unit, and the range goes up to 366 miles. Pretty impressive, right?
Do You Think You Will Take It to Heart?
If you have been enjoying what Chinese EVs have been bringing to the game recently, sure, you’ll love the ET5. While it is true that NIO has yet to build the brand recognition that some of its main rivals, the brand is slowly getting there, and will be selling its EVs in 25 different countries come 2025.
The world is slowly wrapping its head around EVs, and if you are open-minded to give up the tried-and-tested internal combustion engine and embrace the way of the future, we are certain that you’ll take the NIO ET5 to heart.
What’s in a Name?
The ET5 follows NIO’s easy-to-grab naming convention. All models start with an E, and as you might have guessed, it stands for Electric. The next letter is specific to the body style, and in the ET5’s case, the T indicates that this is a sedan.
The final letter defines the model’s place in the range, and in this case, indicates that the ET5 is a middle-of-the-road model.
You Mention High-Tech?
NIO cars like the ET5 come with the company’s innovative battery-as-a-service (BaaS) technology, which puts an end to having to wait at charging stations until your ride slowly charges itself back up.
The process of swapping the batteries is just as sci-fi as the idea itself. NIO is in the process of implementing an automated battery-swapping station infrastructure, which will replace a battery that has run out with a fully recharged one in about three minutes.
We should note that this infrastructure is still in its infant stages, but once it starts making waves, it will only be a matter of time before NIO becomes a household name in the EV game.
What’s the Verdict?
“Despite being the smaller sibling of the flagship ET7, the ET5 does well to cement itself as a great alternative to Tesla’s all-conquering Model 3”
With its massive all-glass roof, futuristic styling inspired by the brand’s supercar DNA, and sustainable ‘Clean+’ interior, the NIO ET5 is sure to be a hit among kids and grown-ups alike.
The 75 and 100-kWh batteries on offer provide adequate range for most, and the battery swap technology will come in clutch when you are in a pinch.
If not, it will only take a 30-minute detour to a fast charging station to fill up the ET5’s battery from 10 to 80 percent, and let’s be real, which family trip doesn’t have detours?
Price and Specs
How Much Does NIO ET5 Cost?
The NIO ET5 starts at $46,100 for the 75 kWh model, with the 100 kWh option costing more. There are plenty of customization options to choose from as well, which can drive up the costs if you aren’t careful.
Specs:
| Price: $46,100 | Engine: Induction and permanent magnet motor |
| 0-100 km/h: 4.0 seconds | Torque: 700 Nm |
| Release Year: 2022 | Top Speed: 200 km/h |
| Power: 480 hp (358 kW) | Range: 550 – 1000 km (342 – 621 miles) |
Driving
What is It Like to Drive?
Just as you would expect from an EV, the ET5 effortlessly launches to 60 MPH in just 4.0 seconds. The swift acceleration ensures that overtaking won’t be an issue, and although this sedan weighs 2140 kg, the advanced multi-link suspension ensures balanced handling on various surfaces.
The 50:50 weight distribution might seem appealing on paper, and trust us when we say it makes a noticeable difference when chucking the ET5 into corners.
If we had to name one downside of the ET5 in terms of driving, it would have to be the brakes, which leave much to be desired.
What About the Steering?
If you were expecting supercar levels of steering accuracy, you’ll naturally be disappointed with the ET5. Keep the expectations in line for an executive sedan, however, and the ET5 will provide a satisfactory experience.
Despite being all-wheel-drive, the ET5’s power split is rear-biased. Although it can’t drift around corners like an M3, the ET5 does its best to manage the heaps of thrust on offer.
Talk to Me About the Ride
The ride onboard the NIO ET5 is what you would expect from a modern Luxury electric saloon. On smooth surfaces, the feeling is like riding on a cloud, but the rear suspension struggles a bit when the bumps get bigger.
Road noise is also kept to a minimum, only increasing to a noticeable level on rough surfaces. On the other hand, wind noise becomes more and more bothersome as you speed up, with the sensors on the roof being the biggest culprit behind it.
And The EV Efficiency?
The NIO ET5 consumes around 290 Wh/mi in real-world driving, which is equivalent to 139 MPG if you consider fuel consumption. It accepts 11 kW AC changing and 127 kW CCS DC fast charging.
Plugging the ET5 into a fast charger that supports it for just 40 minutes is enough to take the range from 31 to 248 miles.
On a slower AC charger, filling up the battery from 0 to 100% takes around 9 hours and 45 minutes.
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What About Steering the NIO ET5 Yourself?
Thanks to all the electrical doodads that come from the factory, the ET5 is one of the easiest EVs to drive we’ve come across. Be it the highway or a twisty mountain road, the ET5 has got you covered.
Is the Range Good?
On the range front, the ET5 is second to none in its market segment. Opting for the 74 kWh unit offers you a handy 283 miles of range, which should be good enough for most of you out there.
If your daily commutes include traveling to the other edge of the country, the 100 kWh option is the way to go. Ticking this box gives your ET5 an unprecedented 366-mile range, and if that is not enough for you, you’d be better off going down the gasoline route.
Interior
What is It Like on the Inside?
If you have never been inside a spaceship (neither have we), stepping into the NIO ET5 will be enough to give you that experience. Not only is it insanely customizable, but the gigantic 12.8-inch AMOLED screen takes center stage in taking the “Immersive Digital Cockpit‘ concept to a whole new level.
Is the NIO ET5 Easy to Use?
NOMI makes the interior a fun place to be and adds to the joy of using the ET5 as a luxurious everyday run-about.
NIO has also equipped the ET5 with the latest and greatest in driver assistance technologies, aided by a front LiDAR setup with a 500-meter range, 33 seven 8MP cameras, 2 high-precision positioning units, four 3 MP cameras, five mmWave radars, and more.
But Where’s the Instrument Panel?
You already know that the interior of the ET5 is high-tech, so it should be no surprise to hear that the duties of the instrument panel are fulfilled by a high-resolution screen. It puts every piece of information a driver needs to know in their sight in high definition.
Is It Spacious?
The interior of the ET5 provides adequate seating capacity for 5 adults, with ample headroom for even the tallest of passengers. Open up the boot, and there will be 386 liters of luggage capacity to carry all their belongings.
How’s the Build Quality?
NIO has maintained a high standard of build quality since its inception almost a decade ago, and things have only gotten better.
Every surface you lay your hands on is covered in high-quality materials and has been made with utmost care. Tesla, eat your heart out.
Buying
What Should I Be Paying?
All NIO ET5s come loaded with a substantial bit of kit, which more than justifies the $46,100 starting price. Opting in for NIO’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model lowers the price even more, although you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee of around $186 as long as you own the vehicle.
What Does Charging Cost?
The NIO ET5 could be charged at any Type 2 home charger or at any CCS fast charging port, meaning that charging costs remain on par with other EVs in its segment.
On the other hand, subscribing to NIO’s battery swap service costs just over $180, but guarantees you’ll get your depleted battery replaced with a fully charged one in just around 3 minutes.
Sweet. How Long Will Charging Take?
The ET5 takes around 9 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge from an AC home charger while plugging into a CSS fast charger will take it from 31 to 248 miles in 40 minutes.
What About Rivals?
The ET5 has the Tesla Model 3 firmly in its sights, although the cheaper MG5 SW EV and Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer Electric also put up a challenge.
The NIO is certainly the most unique offering out of the bunch and takes the cake when it comes to aesthetics.
