We tested the new electric Chinese car - does it justify the price?

The NIO ET7 is a sedan car that costs 100,000 less than German competitors and the Tesla Model S - and even brings back the idea of battery swapping. But how is it as a car?

By UDI ETZION/WALLA!

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 17:47

NIO ET7 (photo credit: Udi ETZION) — NIO ET7

(photo credit: Udi ETZION)

The NIO ET7 has three protrusions at the edge of the roof, right at the front. In the middle, there is a LiDAR (Laser Ranging and Detection) sensor, and on the sides, there are cameras. It resembles a bit of an American truck with all the big lights on the roof, which is somewhat funny when it comes to a new luxurious Chinese car.

But it's also a mark of honor: ultimately, it's the ideal position for these sensors, as high as possible, for improving visibility. NIO did what's right, not necessarily what looks the nicest. Spoiler: it's also noticeable in the driving experience.

NIO, the Chinese company founded only nine years ago by tech entrepreneur William Li, followed Tesla's model as a technology company for producing electric vehicles. Unlike Elon Musk, Li is not involved in space launches, but his company already has nine models in production compared to Tesla's five - three of which are already being marketed in the country: the ET7 sedan that we drove, alongside the ET5 in the executive category, and the ES8 as a 7-seater electric crossover. Two more crossovers, the ES6 and ES7, will be launched in the coming months.

The importer is a fuel motor, an importer of Mazda, Ford and BMW, and exceptionally it does so through parallel import via the NIO agency in Norway. Fuel will also build two battery swapping stations in the country (as a start), similar to the ones that NIO has spread over 1,000 in China and Europe, and which allow for swapping within two minutes. Remember Shai Agassi's and Better Place's idea?

The Chinese have implemented it in small, inexpensive, and more efficient stations, which treat electric cars like gasoline cars in terms of refueling times. This could be an interesting sales advantage when such a network exists here, because not every driver has the ability to charge the vehicle at home or at work. In the meantime, the ET7 should speak for itself. Shall we start?

Design: Besides the sensors on the roof, it is another Chinese electric sedan, according to all the genre rules designed for building an aerodynamic car. With a length of 5.1 meters, a width of 1.99 meters, a height of 1.51 meters, and a massive wheelbase of 3.96 meters, it is a large car with a strong presence, but not of an offensive type. It weighs half a million shekels, but it is modest.

Passenger compartment: Here too there is some restraint, far from the extravagance we have seen in several other Chinese luxury brands, with extensive use of natural materials resembling wood and leather. There is a 12.8-inch multimedia screen and operation, and also a digital instrument panel (10.2 inches), again in contrast to Tesla and other smart brands that cram all driving and operation into one screen.

On the other hand, there is an excessive waiver of physical operation buttons: everything is done from the screen, which requires problematic navigation between screens while driving. Fortunately, there is efficient voice operation through the personal assistant NOMI; otherwise, I would never be able to reach the charging port (why does it need to be electric at all, and not open with a touch?).

Like in a Tesla, there is no cover for the panoramic glass roof, which is expected to be bothersome in the summer. Not all cleverness needs to be copied. The quality is high, except for the display in the car which suffers from glare. The seating is very comfortable, both in the front and in the back. It's a shame that a car of this size has a cargo compartment capacity of only 363 liters, like some kind of super-mini car at a quarter of the price.

Equipment: There is a choice between 20 and 21-inch rims, upholstery made of natural and recycled materials, a panoramic roof, a stereo with 23 speakers, 10.2-inch instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen for operation and multimedia, with an additional overhead display for the driver and a 6.6-inch screen in the back, which allows passengers to control the lighting, seat operation, and stereo. There is also massage in the rear seats, heating and cooling, and even an aroma system, as well as a retractable electric towing hook.

Safety: The list is long and includes autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse driving, adaptive cruise control, off-road vehicle warning, lane-keeping and lane correction, automatic high beam, door opening warning when a vehicle approaches, and more. The ET7 received the maximum score of 5 out of 5 stars in the new and more stringent European crash test last year.

Engine and Performance: With two engines that together produce 653 horsepower and also provide dual propulsion, this is one of the most powerful sedan cars in the country, even stronger than several sports cars, including the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911. The performance is excellent even when driving in an economy mode that sacrifices acceleration for improved range, with quick accelerations reaching almost a dizzying level in sport plus mode (0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds according to official data). It is possible to overtake anything anywhere it is allowed.

Range: The 100 kWh battery officially guarantees a range of 580 km with 20-inch rims and 505 km with 21-inch rims that were installed on the test car. With moderate driving, we achieved 450 km most of the time, which is still impressive. When there is a battery swap network, it will truly be unbeatable. Meanwhile, fast charging is possible with a relatively high power of 125 kW only. Standard slow charging is available at 11 kW.

Comfort and Behavior: The ride is very quiet, and the comfort is excellent thanks to the adaptive air suspension. The road behavior is very good, with high grip and very little tendency to understeer. However, despite the excellent performance, this is not a sports sedan without any feedback from the steering. The braking could also be more responsive.

The bottom line: Half a million shekels is a lot of money for a mysterious Chinese brand, even if it is one that generates a lot of interest worldwide. The ET7 justifies its luxury positioning with its capabilities, equipment, and level of performance. The human engineering of the car still makes it difficult for traditional luxury customers to switch to it, but it is preferred over, for example, Tesla.

Contrary to several expensive Chinese models, it is imported by BMV and ensures a high level of service: the price includes free maintenance for 5 years, a 24/7 service center, and cars will be collected from customers who receive a replacement NIO for the period their vehicle stays in the garage. Each customer will be accompanied by a personal service manager throughout the ownership of the vehicle.

The high price is a relative matter: this NIO is equipped and cheaper by 100,000 shekels than a BMV i5, Mercedes EQE, and basic Tesla Model S, and it is significantly faster than the German car, for example. It's a bit like getting a discounted price on a vintage dress at a store in the town square, but if there is a half-million shekel sedan that can be defined as a "deal" - that's the car.