Is this the ultimate Tesla Model 3 rival? China's Nio ET5 sedan with 1000km range to take on Polestar 2 and more

Chinese electric carmaker Nio has revealed a four-door sedan that is set to make things difficult for the dominant Tesla Model 3.

Dubbed the ET5, the new sedan was revealed at ‘Nio Day’ in Suzhou, China over the weekend. It’s a day where the company reveals new models, products and strategies.

Nio’s new ET5 is a mid-size sedan that features design characteristics already seen on the larger ET7 sedan – a Tesla Model S rival – as well as the multi-million-dollar Nio EP9 electric supercar.

Read more

Is this the next Chinese electric car brand to enter the Australian market? Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota bZ4X rival to get right-hand drive version The cheaper Chinese EVs coming soon: How BYD plans to take down Tesla in Australia Chinese electric cars: Top five electric vehicles from China

Like other EV brands such as Polestar and Tesla, Nio has taken minimalist approach to the design. It has a sleek coupe-like silhouette, ultra-slimline headlights, and tail-lights and a bootlip that are a cross between a Porsche Taycan and an Aston Martin DBX.

Nio hasn’t revealed this but the tailgate looks as though it opens like a liftback, rather than having a traditional sedan boot like the Tesla Model 3.

Nio says the ET5 seamlessly integrates autonomous driving sensors into the body lines. Adding to the minimal look is flush door handles and frameless windows. Like Tesla, a digital key and smart key will get you into the ET5.

Inside, Nio designers have incorporated the concept of a ‘second living room’, offering a cosy environment with sustainable materials and fabrics, and ample insulation for a hushed driving experience.

Hidden, or ‘invisible’ air vents, make for a clean dash design and soft-close doors add to the quiet vibe.

Nio has gone all out on tech too, with the so-called PanoCinema digital cockpit that uses virtual and augmented reality technology in partnership with NREAL. This company created AR glasses specifically for Nio, which can project a screen size of 201 inches at six metres, according Nio. The instrument cluster measures 10.2 inches.

The ET5’s driving range according to the Chinese CLTC protocol is more than 550km with the 75kWh Standard Range Battery. This increases to more than 700km with the 100kWh Long Range Battery, and exceeds 1000km when optioned with the flagship 150kWh Ultralong Range Battery.

It can complete the 0-100km/h dash in just 4.3 seconds.

It comes standard with Nio’s latest semi-autonomous driving tech, while more self-driving features will eventually be rolled out.

Pricing starts at RMB 328,000 which converts at $72,359 in Australia. The Model 3 and the Polestar 2 both start from $59,900.

CarsGuide has reached out to Nio in China to confirm their plans for right-hand drive production, and the potential for an Australian launch of the ET5.

Outside its home market China, Nio only sells cars in EV-friendly Norway. But in 2022, it will expand its presence to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark and by 2025 the company says it will be in 25 countries and regions.

As well as the EP9 super and ET5 and ET7 sedans, Nio offers the ES6, EC6 and ES8 electric SUVs.

Rivals in China include Tesla, Xpeng, BYD and Polestar.