There’s two new Nio models for Europe, including an all-electric tourer

Chinese car maker Nio has launched two new pure electric models for the European market. A touring version of the ET5 sedan and equally svelte new SUV - dubbed EL6 - are now on sale in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

An evolution of the ET5 sedan, the estate's bigger dimensions mean it’s got more rear headroom and the same competitively in-class legroom. Aimed squarely at families and those with active lifestyles, the boot has 450 litres of space, and a further 42 litres under the floor. The rear seats split 40:20:40 to offer families maximum versatility and the boot lip is only 699mm off the ground. Nio reckons that makes it easier to pack.

What’s more, the all-electric Nio ET5 Tourer has all kinds of practical features, like magnetic space straps, storage nets and tailgate hooks – which Nio says are specifically for ‘hanging up wetsuits’. It seems wild swimming really has taken off.

Fortunately, easy-to-clean fabrics adorn the interior, which also features a 12.8-inch tablet display and 10.2-inch cluster. Features like ‘camping mode’ have been combined with other real-world accessories, like a torch and panoramic glass roof all scream ‘outdoorsy types are us’. For indoor types, there’s a super swanky audio suite, ventilated front seats with massage functionality and ‘smart fragrance system’. Nio also says the cabin glass offers 80 per cent isolation from heat. Coooool.

While Nio makes all kinds of claims about its dynamic driving and 50/50 weight distribution – to which we couldn’t possibly testify yet – it also says there’s been extensive testing in Europe to get the type of handling we like over here.

What we can confirm is that a 150kW front induction motor and a 210 kW permanent magnet motor on the rear axle can be powered by a 75kWh or 100kWh battery. A total power output of 360kW means the ET5 Tourer covers 0-62mph time in a swift four seconds and the bigger battery is good for up to 347 miles of range (WLTP tested).

Nio’s software-centric ethos means the digital cockpit runs on the second-gen operating system NT2.0 and the brand’s ADAM Super Computing suite. That combines 33 high-performance sensors, four NVIDIA Drive Orin chips and high-res ultra-long range LiDAR to perform over 1,000 tera operations per second (aka TOPS).

For the layman, that means there’s 23 driver assist features as standard and a bunch of remote updates to keep everything safe and secure.

As for the EL6, according to Nio, it "sees the brand’s watchtower sensor layout". In English, that means the vehicle roof blends with the rest of the car.

The Nio EL6 isn’t an especially small SUV, comparable with the Hyundai Sante Fe. With the same dual-motor, four-wheel-drive set-up as the ET5 Tourer, the EL6 is just a smidgen slower across 0-62mph, with a time of 4.5 seconds. Nio has configured nine (yes, nine) driving modes and just like the ET5, there’s a tonne of tech to assist the driver and control the lights. A head-up display and adaptive headlights come as standard.

Inside, the driver’s seat – consisting of nine layers – can adjust 20 different ways, there are ‘invisible’ air vents and sustainable rattan. The brand says the whole thing is very ‘inspired by nature’ and you can get closer to that by opening the almost one-metre-by-one-metre sunroof.

The passenger gets an even better deal, with an optional 22-way adjusting Lounge Seat, massage features and zero-gravity position. There’s three-zone heating for both occupants – which is definitely something we can get on board with. The EL6’s boot has a capacity of 668 litres and folding down the rear seats increases that to a roomy 1,430.

With both cars, the batteries can be charged by plugging in at home. But Nio’s business model also includes a ‘Battery-as-a-service’ subscription. Owners can pop into a Nio House and switch the battery out for a new one in minutes.

Take up of the battery swapping service in China is proving exceptionally popular. According to Nio’s statistics – valid to the end of May 2023 – there’s a battery switched every 1.6 seconds. They’ve done 22 million battery switches and while it took 1,506 days to get to the first 10 million swaps, the second 10 million swaps were counted in only 273 days.

Nio’s also made a big deal about its feedback form. Essentially, if a user wants to log a suggestion for new features or tweaks and enough of the same suggestion are received, Nio promises to make the change.

Sadly, these good-looking EVs aren’t yet hitting UK shores. Nio’s only managed to get 16 swap stations set up in Europe, so the four countries listed will be the first to get their mitts on these cars. The order books are open, and deliveries start later this year for the Germans, Danes, Dutch and Swedes...