First Nio SUV arrives in Europe

Nomi is to Chinese electronics Nio what Siri is to the iPhone or Alexa is to Amazon. But the talking ball in Nio’s first EL7 SUV isn’t as smooth as on-board voice recognition services: after the obligatory “Hey Nomi”, the destination is seamlessly entered via the navigation system. However, when the massage seats come into play, the Nomi starts to slide for the first time and is out of service shortly after.

But it’s one of the few weaknesses that the electric SUV from the Far East showed during its test drive. As we navigate through the menus of the central 12.8-inch touchscreen, we discover some useful functions for fellow campers, for example: If you turn the front passenger seat into a comfortable bed, the air conditioning keeps the temperature at a comfortable level. The standard trailer hitch towing a trailer weighing up to two tons can also be extended at the push of a button.

Big cinema inside

The fact that the SUV is based on the ET7 sedan platform is immediately apparent from the interior: in addition to the infotainment system, the EL7 shines with virtual 10.2-inch instruments and a head-up display. The Chinese also leave little to be desired when it comes to assistive systems. The autopilot independently moves the 4.91-metre pass longer than the German competition, but is very defensive. When parking, the image on the touchscreen can change to the third person if desired – you can see the car from the outside, like in a video game.

Entertainment is also provided in the second row, which offers plenty of space: passengers can watch movies on the iPad and let 23 speakers with 1000 watts of sound play. To make you feel truly welcome, the panoramic sunroof, which opens up to 70 cm, floods the interior with natural light.

Brittle electric power

The Nio EL7 also does well on the road. As with the ET7, all-wheel drive consists of a 245 hp (180 kW) electric motor at the front and a 408 hp (300 kW) electric motor at the rear. System output: net 653 hp (480 kW) and 850 Newton meters of torque. If you close the leash all the way in “Sport+” mode, the 2366-pound crossover accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and storms up to 200 km/h top speed.

But even in “Normal” and “Eco” mode, you can drive the Nio quickly if necessary, even if the acceleration is much more moderate. Thanks to the even distribution of axle load, improved steering, directness and communication while still not a exemplary student, there is joy on the country road. When changing direction quickly, the front end tilts and the SUV noticeably pushes over the front wheels, possibly as a result of the 21-inch winter tires fitted.

The air suspension chassis, which can be adjusted to five height levels and different road surfaces, and also offers more comfort thanks to more spring action than the ET7, stands out technically. If you want, you can set the EL7 high enough to take it off-road or low enough to use the 1545-liter trunk for the next move.

Range of about 500 kilometers

Nio specifies a WLTP consumption of 23.0 kWh/100 km with 21-inch tires – we reached 24.9 kWh in our quick test tour with a high percentage of highways and country roads. With a more moderate driving style and warmer climates, up to 479 kilometers (up to 509 km with 20-inch wheels) without the need to recharge the 100 kWh battery in the underbody at the next charging station seems unrealistic.

However, when it comes to direct current charging, the EL7 doesn’t look like much: With a maximum of 130 kW, it takes 40 minutes for the batteries to charge from ten percent to 80 percent – other competitors can do this much faster in some cases. Does Nio deliberately keep the maximum charge rate low to entice customers into the subscription models it offers?

Battery replacement by subscription only

Although the EL7 can be bought in all five European countries so far (it should also be in Switzerland by 2025 at the latest) – the Chinese electric SUV is not a bargain: without the battery, the well-equipped EL7 costs the equivalent of 73,500 francs. There are also 12,000 or 21,000 francs for the smaller 75 or larger 100 kWh battery. However, it is not possible to replace the battery at the time of purchase, as Nio already offers it at specially installed changing stations in some European countries.

At least the battery of the EL7, which costs 168 francs (75 kWh) or 287 francs (100 kWh) per month, must be rented. If you want to have the entire car as a subscription, you have to transfer 1,292 francs to Nio every month for 36 months – even 1,660 francs with a subscription that can be canceled at any time. The price also includes extras such as full insurance, a well-maintained service package, winter tires, registration and rental car and 1250 kilometers per month.

Source: Blick