Unveiled in January 2021 on a world stage, the NIO ET7 should be headed to the UAE sooner rather than later. NIO Automotive recently launched the all-new EL8 SUV in the UAE, matching the niche company’s premium objectives for its cars.
Similar to its SUV sibling, the NIO ET7 sedan promises buyers high-end features and good performance – all wrapped in a modern and safe bodyshell. As you might be aware, NIO is a relatively new name in the world of cars – it was established in 2014. Most buyers looking for a full-size upmarket sedan usually focus on the German offerings.
Being the Chinese brand’s flagship sedan offering, the ET7 will compete with cars like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. However, there are a select few Chinese brands that are now claiming to be just as good. As a brand, NIO is already considered a premium automaker. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the new ET7 is one of China’s answers to well-established German marques.
Design and dimensions
The NIO ET7 is a genuinely good-looking car with most of the polished cues found in its European rivals. The design of the nose is similar to the EL8 SUV with thin LED DRLs, a concave bumper with vertically-aligned LED headlights, and a twin-slatted lower air dam. Such similarities continue with the front-facing LiDAR and cameras on the roof and dual rear-facing cameras integrated into the front fenders.
As for the rest of the car, the ET7 gets 20-inch alloy rims and stylish frameless doors with a soft-close function. The fastback-like design features muscular wheel arches, full-width LED taillights that wraps around the rear of the car, and a sloped roofline with twin-pane glass roof. With a drag coefficient of just 0.208 Cd, the svelte styling of the ET7 ensures peak aerodynamic performance.
The aero-friendly wheels and flush door handles lie in stark contrast to the sensors that awkwardly stick out into the airstream. Some might consider them party pieces – fantastic for showing off at your next car meet. In terms of size, the NIO ET7 measures 5,101 mm in length, 1,987 mm in width, and 1,505 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 3,060 mm, which appears plenty good on paper.
Interior
The long wheelbase opens up a good amount of space on the inside of the NIO ET7, especially if you like stretching out in the back. The soft-leather seats are really comfortable, with shoulder room and the recline angle of the rear seats being good too. However, folks over 6 feet tall would find stretching out to be challenging as this cabin appears to be designed for people of shorter stature.
On the other hand, the quality of materials and fit-and-finish are both excellent and worthy of the ET7’s ‘premium’ tag. The cabin NVH is reasonably well-managed as well and the upmarket ambience ensures peace and luxury for the occupants. The classy two-spoke steering wheel looks posh, while the minimalistic dashboard and a wide range of trim options make for a soothingly well-designed layout.
Design details such as the neatly-integrated LED ambient lights and a flat floor offering good legroom add to the experience. The electrochromic technology built into the sunroof means that their tint can be adjusted, controlling the amount of light coming into the cabin. One of the shortcomings of the ET7’s suave styling is the narrow rear windscreen, which significantly degrades rear visibility.
Features and equipment
There is no dearth of digital displays inside the NIO ET7, two of which constitute the rear infotainment units. Passengers can use these to monitor and control many of the car’s onboard functions, while the 14-way power-operated seats get several functions of their own – hot-stone massage, plus heating and cooling. The ET7 also gets a sharp 10.2-inch driver’s display and an HD 12.8-inch main touchscreen.
There is wireless smartphone connectivity, multi-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, adaptive air suspension, wireless charging, multiple drive/traction modes, a 23-speaker premium audio system with Dolby Atmos, and NIO’s NOMI AI voice assistant. Some of the ET7’s safety tech includes a 16.3-inch head-up display, 7 airbags, surround-view cameras, etc. The NIO Aquila Super Sensing system sports up to 33 sensors & cameras, enabling Level 2 ADAS capabilities.
Specifications and performance
The top-end variant of the NIO ET7 gets a massive 150 kWh battery pack. This equates to a maximum range of 1,050 km on a full charge, according to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). It powers two transverse-mounted electric motors with a combined output of 653 hp and 850Nm, accelerating the ET7 from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The Basic and Standard variants of the ET7 come with 70 kWh and 100 kWh batteries, respectively – all use two electric motors with the same output. All variants also get all-wheel drive as standard. The ET7’s battery pack can be swapped for a different unit (with a different capacity) in just 3 minutes at one of NIO’s Power Swap Stations (market dependent). The suspension of the ET7 prioritizes ride comfort over razor-sharp cornering.
Price in The UAE
The price of the NIO ET7 in the Chinese market starts at CNY 428,000 (appx. USD 60,250) for the base 70 kWh variant. Meanwhile, the top-end 150 kWh variant is likely to cost around CNY 520,000 (appx. USD 73,200). Upon reaching the UAE, expect a notable mark-up on these prices. Having said that, its starting price should undercut that of the newly-launched EL8.
