In the realm of an umpteen variety of electric vehicles, the NIO ES6 is a full-sized SUV that dares to stretch the horizons of being different. Will the price tag of RMB 368,000 (AED 188,537) help it earn the title of a deal-maker and fetch enormous volumes for the brand?
EXTERIOR
If you’re familiar with this Chinese brand and its models, the ES6 will look identical to its siblings from the front. This alludes to a drooping hood, crisp LED light bars shrouded in a parallelogram-like cavity, boomerang styled headlamps and a meaty structure jutting upwards from the bumper to impart the much needed SUV presence.
The side profile also extrudes a healthy dose of drama with gloss black outlining for the glass area. The bottom portion however, isn’t fiddled with and the only visual highlights perceived are the flush door handles and cladding around the wheel arches for a beefier stance.
The rear lends a typical NIO prima-facie in the sense that a stubby glass area is apparent. However, it also showcases an awe-inspiring party trick in the form of a hidden rear wiper that is integrated into the roof rather than the glass and when functioning, it appears neat. Leaving a striking impression, is the LED light bar that traverses across the car’s width.
INTERIOR
Like its brethren, the ES6 also features a gobsmacking interior designed on a similar theme of minimalism. The two-tone white and black hue combination appears scintillating. Most noticeable, are the ‘Invisible Smart Air Vents’ that are cached in the dash. The two piece infotainment screens serving as the instrument cluster and central infotainment system reduces clutter. Nicely carved out spaces to rest smartphone and bottles add to its visual appeal. A generous amount of space is also present beneath the central armrest. There’s also an AI bot christened NOMI that assists while driving and automatically learns new commands. One is likely to appreciate the waterfall ambient lighting.
Fabric used on the speakers and dash is obtained sustainably. What leaves one bewildered is the seats. Not only are they designed ergonomically to support the occupants during long journeys, but also come with features such as 22-way electronic adjustment, massage that can be comparable to a spa, outer layers that offer air suction to make long cruises comfy and 4-way adjustable headrest. Additionally, the front seats also offer 3-zone heating for the backrest, cushion & leg support.
The car possesses a cavernous 579-litres of cargo area in addition to 100-litres under the trunk floor. The ES6 doesn’t skimp on entertainment and opens doors to a profusion of features such as accessing the web, navigation, playing the favourite sound track and acquiring intel about the weather through a 12.8-inch multimedia system. Rear climate control can also be accessed through a small tablet. All vital driving information is projected on a 9.3” head-up display image.
PERFORMANCE
The NIO ES6 comes powered by a 150 KW induction motor in the front and a 210 kW motor at the rear which combine to achieve a claimed 930 Km range under ideal CLTC cycle and help the car to clinch the 100 Km/h barrier in just 4.5 seconds. To tailor the drive to any road conditions, it features 9 driving modes- Trailer, Wet, Sand, Snow, Custom, Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. A lot of hassles that may emerge while driving are removed by a host of advanced driver assistance features that make use of cameras and radars to monitor the surrounding and control driving when intervention is necessary.
VERDICT
The NIO ES6 taps hard on all the parameters necessary to allure a potential buyer and bequeath him, a memorable experience, every time he ventures on a drive. The combination of features, materials and performance is extraordinarily good making the NIO ES6, worth considering. However, price will also be key as it will grapple against some formidable contention from BYD, Zeekr, Polestar and others.
