NIO arrives in Portugal with ET5, ET5 Touring and EL6

NIO has finally arrived in Portugal. Although it is new to the domestic market, the Chinese marque already has 11 years of history behind it and enters with clear ambitions: to challenge premium models, targeting German offerings and other international competitors.

Its launch line-up comprises three models: the ET5, ET5 Touring and EL6 SUV. Orders are already open, with prices starting from €59,900, €62,500 and €66,900 respectively, while sales are due to begin later this year.

NIO ET5

The NIO ET5 enters the market to take on the Tesla Model 3, as well as the BYD Seal, Hyundai IONIQ 6, Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i4. It therefore adopts similar proportions, measuring around 4.8 metres long, 2.18 m wide including the door mirrors, 1.5 m high and with a wheelbase of almost 2.9 m.

Its front end is visually prominent, featuring the distinctive “shark nose” flanked by headlights positioned at the outer edges. Smooth lines run along the bodywork towards the rear, where the full-width “illumiBlade” light bar stands out.

Inside, the focus is on simplicity and the quality of the materials. With no physical buttons, every function in this Chinese saloon is controlled through the 12.8-inch central display, complemented by a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.

There is another notable feature, too: NOMI. This virtual assistant can optionally be fitted at the top of the dashboard with two “eyes”, respond to commands and adjust the vehicle’s various functions.

Beneath the bodywork, the NIO ET5 is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive - with one motor on each axle - producing 360 kW (490 hp) and 700 Nm of torque. The battery is available in 75 kWh Standard Range and 100 kWh Long Range forms, delivering respective combined WLTP ranges of between 456 km and 590 km.

Charging capability also differs between the two versions. The Standard Range supports DC charging at up to 170 kW, taking 27 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, whereas the Long Range raises this figure to 180 kW and completes the same process one minute faster, in 26 minutes.

AC charging power, meanwhile, is identical for both versions at up to 11 kW.

NIO ET5 Touring

As its name suggests, the NIO ET5 Touring is the estate version of the Chinese electric car. Compared with the saloon, one of its biggest differences is the body design, marked by a more extended roofline. Its dimensions, however, remain exactly the same.

In terms of what carries over, the ET5 Touring uses the same all-wheel-drive arrangement - one motor per axle - delivering 360 kW (490 hp) and 700 Nm, powered by the same 75 kWh and 100 kWh battery packs.

There are no charging differences here either. The ET5 Touring supports the same charging outputs, ranging from 170 kW to 180 kW on DC power and 11 kW on AC power.

Its drag coefficient (C^x), on the other hand, is slightly higher at 0.25. Combined with this version’s additional weight, this results in a marginally reduced range, spanning 435 km with the 75 kWh battery and 560 km with the 100 kWh unit - 21 km and 30 km less than the ET5 respectively.

The major difference, however, is inside. In Touring form, the NIO ET5 provides a 492-litre boot - 106 litres more than the saloon’s 386 litres - expanding to 1300 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

At the same time, NIO promises a spacious cabin, stating that passenger comfort, particularly for those travelling in the rear, is among the ET5 Touring’s main priorities.

Now for the SUVs

Although NIO is one of the few brands offering a fully electric estate, SUVs are far from absent from its range, as the EL6 demonstrates. In practice, it is an ET5 “in high heels”. Its dimensions are similar to those of the saloon and estate, but it is taller, reaching 1.7 metres in height.

Otherwise, its styling follows the same design language as its “siblings”, with split headlight units positioned close to the vehicle’s outer edges, flowing lines designed to prioritise aerodynamics, and a refined, technology-led interior.

Underneath, it features the same powertrain as the other models: all-wheel drive, 490 hp and either 75 kWh or 100 kWh batteries, giving respective ranges of between 406 km and 529 km.

What does the range look like?

NIO arrives in Portugal with a trio of premium models for almost every preference. As they are available with only one powertrain, the sole choices concern battery capacity and a number of optional extras.

Beyond that, these models stand out for their generous standard equipment, matching what is expected of premium offerings. This is how the Portuguese range is structured: