NIO ET5T: The Revolutionary Electric Station Wagon

In a world known to be largely indomitable by SUVs, the Chinese automaker NIO has thought differently and introduces a breath of fresh air in the form of a station wagon that carries the ET5T moniker. It aims at enticing potential buyers with a combination of striking panache, oodles of avant-garde tech, and power that can leave the world behind.

Aesthetics

As it clads an iconic estate body style, the NIO ET5T serves dual purposes of gargantuan space on the inside and an elevated seating position when compared to a conventional sedan. The façade is idiosyncratic to any premium electric car. Fabian styling cues are found on the front such as crisp oval LED DRLs atop the boomerang styled headlamps.

The side profile is characterized by several details to write home about, including:

• Contemporary looking flush door handles
• Frameless windows
• Neat rear spoiler that completes its hunkered stance
• Tapering roofline for an unmistakable fastback mien

A special mention has to be made of the electronically dimming panoramic glass roof that can allow immense amounts of sunlight when required or dim it to suit the mood of the occupants.

The rear visage’s major hallmark is the drooping silhouette and a stubby glass area to impart a sense of minimalism. Adding more drama to its stance is a sporty diffuser kit.

Interior & Features

Like other NIO models, the ET5T possesses a suite of six interior themes – Sand, Skyline Violet, Terracotta, Vetiver, Onyx Black, and Cool Grey, ensuring there is a theme for every ilk of customer. Stepping inside will immediately teleport you to the future, as design cues such as:

• 256-colour ambient lighting with 10 colour themes
• Soothing rhythmic effects

Even the speaker department is outlined with patterns mimicking the ambient lighting hue to fascinate the occupants.

Two digital screens, one for the instrument cluster and the other for the dashboard adorn the frontal section. Touted as the ‘Second Generation Digital Cockpit,’ the centre-stacked 12.8-inch AMOLED display is massive enough to cover all the modern-day creature comforts to fully indulge in an immersive experience, and the dearth of buttons isn’t felt. Clinching a truly futuristic experience is the AI-powered ‘NOMI’ bot which continuously learns from the environment and serves as a voice assistant upon input.

The interior fit and finish appears top-notch with a blend of materials, appliques, and hues present. As high-tech as it is, the NIO ET5T promises cavernous legroom, acres of headroom, and:

• 12-way electrically adjustable front seats
• Three-zone massage system for the body back
• Cargo capacity expandable from 450 litres to 1300 litres upon folding the rear seats in a 40-20-40 fashion

For added convenience, there’s a portable torchlight in the boot and a 12-volt charging socket. Moreover, an additional 42-litres of storage can be found in a compartment beneath the boot floor.

The roof rails are functional with a payload capacity of 75 Kg. To make for the ultimate weekend getaway companion, the vehicle also offers an optional electric Trailer Mode where objects up to 1400 Kg can be towed.

The NIO ET5T has procured enough features to satiate the most fastidious ones and keep them entertained on their expeditions, including:

• 7.1.4 Surround Sound System of 23 speakers
• 1000 watts contributed by Dolby Atmos and Dirac Pro
• A bevy of active and passive safety features including LiDAR to avoid collisions

Performance

The NIO ET5T is powered by a 150 kW induction motor at the front and a 210 kW permanent magnet motor at the rear. These combine to provide a driving range of a claimed 990 Km (CLTC cycle estimate) and propel the car to reach 100 Km/h from a standstill in a claimed 4.0 seconds. Depending on the tarmac and the driver’s adrenaline levels, there are nine modes available:

1. Eco
2. Comfort
3. Sport
4. Sport+
5. Custom
6. Snow
7. Sand
8. Wet
9. Trailer

There’s enough deceleration provided by the 4-piston calipers to bring the car to a halt in a predicament.

To sum up, the NIO ET5T makes for a compelling proposition among Chinese cars in the UAE, featuring a very unique design that is both scrumptious and purposeful. The vehicle starts at RMB 298,000 (approx. AED 153,676.13) in China. When launched in the UAE, it is expected to be slightly dearer. However, even then, it would come across as a formidable player in an already vast sea of electric alternatives in this space.