NIO ET5
Specs, engines and history
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By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor
- Built
- 2022–present
- Top power
- 358 kW (487 PS)
Which ET5 to choose and its rivals
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
For long motorway trips the 100 kWh Long Range is the logical choice, with 580 km on the WLTP cycle against 445 km for the 75 kWh car. The Touring estate makes more sense than the saloon for families, with 470 litres of boot space and a 1,400 kg towing limit. Battery rental lowers the entry price and gives access to the 150 kWh pack for long trips, but it only pays off for drivers who live near a swap station.
The closest rival in concept is the Tesla Model 3, also a mid-size electric saloon with optional all-wheel drive. Buyers who want an estate could also look at the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer. Other electric models are collected in the electric car hub.
The Nio ET5 is a mid-size electric saloon of 4,790 mm that Nio unveiled at its Nio Day event in Suzhou on 18 December 2021 and has built in Hefei, China, since September 2022. Every version has two motors with a combined 358 kW and all-wheel drive, and the battery can be exchanged at Nio's swap stations in a few minutes. An estate, the ET5 Touring, followed in June 2023, and both were refreshed in May 2025.
Nio was founded in Shanghai in November 2014 by William Li, who still runs it as chief executive. Its first car was the EP9 electric sports car of 2016, and the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2018. When money ran short in 2020, the city of Hefei took a 25 % stake in its main business. Nio has since added the Onvo and Firefly brands, and by July 2026 it ran 3,989 battery swap stations, mostly in China. Annual deliveries reached 326,028 in 2025.
Specs by version
Engines
Dimensions and weight
Verified Manufacturer and type-approval data from our catalog · Sources and methodology
In short
- Two motors, 150 kW front and 210 kW rear, combined 358 kW (487 PS) and 700 Nm; 0–100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.
- Batteries of 75 kWh (LFP), 100 kWh (NMC) or a rental 150 kWh semi-solid-state pack; WLTP range 445 or 580 km.
- Euro NCAP 2023: five stars, with 96 % for adult occupants.
- In Germany listed from €47,500 with battery rental or €59,500 with the battery included (April 2023).
Nio ET5 at a glance
| Parameter | Nio ET5 |
|---|---|
| Production | since September 2022, Hefei (Anhui, China) |
| Platform | NT 2.0; NT 2.5 after the 2025 update |
| Bodies | four-door saloon; ET5 Touring estate since June 2023 |
| Length / width / height | 4,790 / 1,960 / 1,499 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,888 mm |
| Motors | 150 kW induction (front) + 210 kW permanent-magnet (rear) |
| System output | 358 kW (487 PS), 700 Nm, all-wheel drive |
| Batteries | 75 kWh LFP, 100 kWh NMC, 150 kWh semi-solid-state (rental) |
| Kerb weight | 2,145–2,245 kg |
| Drag coefficient | 0.24 |
Launch and the Touring estate
Nio showed the ET5 at the end of 2021. It went on sale in China in September 2022, and the first full year, 2023, brought 40,848 sales of the saloon. The ET5 Touring estate was unveiled on 16 June 2023 and quickly overtook the saloon: in 2024 China took 50,869 Tourings and 26,510 saloons.
The Touring keeps the saloon's drivetrain. Its boot holds 470 litres, or 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded, and it can tow 1,400 kg. In Europe Nio announced its first deliveries in Norway for September 2021 and also serves Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden; the ADAC catalogue lists German prices for the ET5 from April 2023.
Batteries, range and battery swapping
| Battery | Chemistry | NEDC | WLTP | CLTC (2025 saloon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 kWh | LFP (CATL) | 550 km | 445 km | 585 km |
| 100 kWh | NMC (CATL/CALB) | 700 km | 580 km | 740 km |
| 150 kWh | semi-solid-state NMC (WeLion) | 1,000 km | - | 1,055 km |
The ET5 was designed for battery swapping. Instead of plugging in, the driver can pull into a Nio Power station, where the pack is exchanged automatically in a few minutes. As of 2026 such stations exist in China, Norway and Germany; the first European one opened in Norway in 2022, and Germany had seven by August 2023. The 150 kWh pack, with a cell energy density of 360 Wh/kg, is offered only as a short-term rental through the swap stations.
Swapping also changes how the car is sold. In Germany Nio offers the ET5 either with the battery bought outright or without it, with the battery rented monthly under its Battery as a Service (BaaS) scheme. The swap network outside China is small, so drivers far from a station will mostly charge the conventional way.
Performance and driving
The front motor is an induction unit of 150 kW and the rear a permanent-magnet synchronous motor of 210 kW. Together they produce 358 kW (487 PS) and 700 Nm, enough for 0–100 km/h in 4.0 seconds; Wikipedia EN also gives a braking distance of 33.9 m from 100 km/h. The ADAC catalogue lists the German cars at 360 kW (490 PS), two kilowatts more than Nio's own figure.
The saloon is low, at 1,499 mm, and the drag coefficient of 0.24 helps range at motorway speeds. Kerb weight is between 2,145 and 2,245 kg.
Interior, technology and the 2025 update
At launch the ET5 had a panoramic digital cockpit with augmented- and virtual-reality functions, a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 sound system and a 1.28 m² glass roof that blocks up to 99.9 % of UV light. Driver assistance used Nio's Aquila sensor suite with 29 sensors, including a lidar and 4D radars, and originally four Nvidia Orin X chips.
Nio revealed the refreshed ET5 and ET5 Touring on 10 May 2025, with deliveries from 27 May 2025. The update moved the cars to the NT 2.5 platform and brought a 15.6-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a 10.25-inch instrument display, a head-up display that projects an image equivalent to 50 inches, a digital rear-view mirror and 23 speakers. Nio's own Shenji NX3091 chip replaced the four Nvidia processors.
Safety: Euro NCAP 2023
Euro NCAP tested the ET5 saloon with the 75 kWh battery in 2023 and awarded five stars. It achieved 96 % for adult occupants, 85 % for children, 83 % for vulnerable road users and 81 % for safety assist. The adult score is the ET5's strongest figure.
Prices in Germany
| Version (from 04/2023) | Power | Battery | List price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Range, battery rented | 360 kW (490 PS) | BaaS | €47,500 |
| Standard Range, battery included | 360 kW (490 PS) | 75 kWh | €59,500 |
| Long Range, battery rented | 360 kW (490 PS) | BaaS | €47,500 |
| Long Range, battery included | 360 kW (490 PS) | 100 kWh | €68,500 |
With the battery rented, both ranges cost the same €47,500 in 2023. The ADAC catalogue does not list the rental fee itself, so buyers need to add it from Nio's current offer when comparing costs.
Photo gallery
NIO ET5 in our rankings
- No. 12 of 78 · Biggest batteries: electric cars (100 kWh · top 17%)
- No. 28 of 149 · Most powerful sedans (358 kW · top 19%)
- No. 210 of 859 · Most powerful cars (358 kW · top 25%)
- No. 118 of 420 · Longest cars (4,790 mm · top 29%)
- No. 31 of 97 · Most powerful electric cars (358 kW · top 33%)
- No. 91 of 239 · Most powerful cars of the 2020s (358 kW · top 39%)
Bigger battery than 83% of ranked electric cars in the 1CARS catalog (No. 12 of 78).
FAQ
Can you swap the battery of the Nio ET5?
Yes. The ET5 works with Nio Power swap stations, which exchange the pack automatically in a few minutes. As of 2026 they exist in China, Norway and Germany.
What is the range of the Nio ET5?
On the WLTP cycle, 445 km with the 75 kWh battery and 580 km with the 100 kWh battery.
How powerful is the Nio ET5?
Two motors produce a combined 358 kW (487 PS) and 700 Nm; 0–100 km/h takes 4.0 seconds.
Is there an estate version of the ET5?
Yes, the ET5 Touring, unveiled in June 2023, with a 470-litre boot (1,300 litres with the seats folded).
How safe is the Nio ET5?
Euro NCAP gave the ET5 five stars in 2023, with 96 % for adult occupant protection.
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
