He is pleasing, the new Nio ET5 Touring with a length of 4.79 meters. At best, one would have expected such a chic station wagon version from Audi or BMW, but the Chinese carmaker wants to expand in Europe and there are some countries that still prefer station wagon versions. And so far, there have only been two classes of electric station wagons, including the MG5. Otherwise, the offer is thin, because a BMW i4 is currently just as difficult to buy as a station wagon like a Mercedes EQE. The design with the fitted backpack is chic and otherwise the tourer offers what is known from the sedan version of the ET5. The customer can choose whether to buy the battery pack or opt for monthly battery rental. The base price of 47,500 euros is the same as for the sedan. The purchased battery costs an extra 12,500 euros for the version with a small 75 kWh battery. The larger 100 kWh battery costs a whopping 21,000 euros extra. Market launch is in the fourth quarter of 2023.
However, anyone who purchases the battery pack cannot drive to the exchange stations in order to shorten the usual charging stop to five minutes through the automated battery exchange. The maximum charging capacity of 140 kilowatts leaves a lot to be desired for a new mid-range electric car. BMW offers its i4 with 195 kW and Tesla allows the double pack of Model 3 / Model Y to be refueled with up to 250 kW. Those who do not buy the battery pack pay between 169 and 289 euros per month for additional battery rental. For many, the car subscription model should be the easiest way to get into a Nio anyway. This is where the Chinese carmaker expects the greatest demand in the long term. The costs 1,119 to 1,249 euros per month.
However, the customer has no choice when it comes to the drive and this should be able to satisfy almost all customers. The two electric motors on the front and rear axles deliver 360 kW / 480 hp and an impressive torque of 700 Nm. From a standing start, it accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and at 200 km/h the brakes are automatically braked too early for such engine performance. Important for station wagon fans: the loading volume of 450 liters can be expanded to up to 1,300 liters by folding down the rear seat. Not gigantic, but quite sufficient for most users. If that’s not enough, there is still a towing capacity of 1,400 kilograms, which is quite manageable. The cargo area offers shelves, storage nets, hooks and a portable cargo area light for use outside the vehicle for transporting shopping or leisure items. In addition, the Nio ET5 Touring shines with such practical details as a heated windscreen wiper area, roof rails and a 1.32 meter long panoramic sunroof, which brings a lot of light into the interior if desired. The electric model of the upper middle class rolls on 19 or 20 inch rims.
