Thabo Nkosi 
The NIO ET7 combines luxury, performance, and convenience, setting it apart in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Its standout feature? A battery-swap system that replaces a drained battery in just three minutes – faster than most EVs can recharge. Priced from $62,000 in China and $97,000–$114,000 globally, the ET7 offers a premium experience with advanced tech, safety, and comfort.
Key Features:
- Range: Up to 650 miles with the 150 kWh battery.
- Battery-Swap Tech: Fully automated and completed in minutes.
- Performance: 0–62 mph in 3.8 seconds, 644 hp, dual motors.
- Luxury Interior: Heated, ventilated, massaging seats; advanced AI assistant; 23-speaker surround sound.
- Safety: 5-star Euro NCAP rating with advanced driver-assistance systems.
- Autonomy: LiDAR, 33 sensors, and Nvidia-powered computing for future-ready driving.
Whether it’s the sleek design, spacious interior, or cutting-edge tech, the ET7 delivers a high-end EV experience while addressing charging concerns with its innovative battery-swap solution.
NIO ET7 Specifications and Key Features Overview
Design and Build Quality
Exterior Design and Aerodynamics
The ET7 boasts a sleek one-bow silhouette that flows gracefully over the cabin, reducing air resistance to a minimum. With a certified drag coefficient of just 0.208, it ranks among the most aerodynamically efficient production cars on the market. To put this into perspective, every 0.01 reduction in drag coefficient can add about 3 to 5 miles to the vehicle’s electric range.
"The ultra‑low drag coefficient of the ET7 not only allows a longer driving range but also embodies Nio’s ultimate pursuit of aerodynamic performance." – NIO Press Release
With its dimensions – 200.8 inches in length, 78.2 inches in width, and a 120.5-inch wheelbase – the ET7 strikes a balance between luxury proportions and aerodynamic efficiency. The front end features NIO’s signature "squint" lighting, giving the car a distinctive look, while a 6.6-foot-wide LED light bar adds a futuristic touch. On the roof, a "watchtower" module houses cutting-edge tech like ultra-long-range LiDAR and high-definition cameras, highlighting the car’s advanced autonomous capabilities. Premium touches such as frameless, soft-close doors further elevate its appeal.
NIO achieved this aerodynamic excellence through rigorous testing. The body utilizes high-strength steel for the upper structure and high-pressure die-cast aluminum for the lower frame, resulting in a torsional stiffness of 40,060 N·m/deg. Despite its streamlined design, the ET7 maintains a frontal projection area of 2.56 square meters – larger than competitors like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series – ensuring a spacious interior without compromising efficiency.
This seamless blend of external efficiency and cutting-edge design carries over into the car’s interior.
Interior Features and Comfort
Inside, the ET7 reimagines in-car luxury with a focus on sustainable materials and advanced digital interfaces. The cabin is designed to feel like a "second living space", featuring a double-decker dashboard and a minimalist aesthetic. A standout feature is the use of Karuun, an eco-friendly rattan material, making the ET7 the first production car to incorporate this sustainable element. The interior is available in four nature-inspired color schemes: Edelweiss White, Sand, Pamir Brown, and Storm Gray, all paired with soft-touch finishes for a refined feel.
The seats are designed for ultimate comfort, offering zoned heating, ventilation, massage functions, and 14-way adjustability. The rear seats feature an aviation-inspired design for added luxury. The digital cockpit includes a 12.8-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a 10.2-inch HDR instrument cluster, and a 16.3-inch heads-up display, delivering vibrant visuals with 260,000 colors. Rear passengers are treated to dual 14.5-inch 3K OLED entertainment screens, ensuring an immersive experience for everyone on board.
Central to the ET7’s tech-savvy interior is the NOMI AI assistant. This animatronic dashboard companion uses GPT models for natural interaction, managing climate control, audio, and other vehicle functions without needing a wake-up word. Adding to the experience, a 23-speaker, 7.1.4 surround sound system delivers an impressive 2,230 watts of peak power, while 256-color ambient lighting – dubbed the "breathing waterfall" – creates the perfect atmosphere. Critics have noted that the ET7 strikes a balance between the minimalist approach of the Tesla Model S and the high-tech luxury of the Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Every detail of the ET7’s interior is designed to make long drives comfortable and enjoyable, catering to a variety of needs and markets.
Performance and Driving Dynamics
Powertrain and Acceleration
The ET7 comes equipped with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, combining a 180 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor at the front and a 300 kW induction motor at the rear. Together, they deliver an impressive 480 kW (644 hp) and 627 lb-ft of torque, ensuring power and control in every drive. To enhance power distribution and efficiency, the system incorporates a Silicon Carbide (SiC) electric drive setup.
This sedan isn’t just powerful – it’s quick. It rockets from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 124 mph. With a near-perfect weight balance of 49.5:50.5, the ET7 offers exceptional handling. High-performance Brembo 6-piston calipers paired with vented discs ensure the car can come to a halt from 62 mph in approximately 110 feet.
"The acceleration is frightening, and launching this car quickly becomes addictive."
- Charlie Atkinson, Editor, EV Powered
Drivers can fine-tune the ET7’s performance through the touchscreen, selecting modes that range from the blistering 3.8-second sprint to a more range-friendly 12.9-second mode that uses only the front motor. Beyond its acceleration, the ET7 stands out for its refined ride quality and versatility.
Driving Comfort and Suspension
The ET7 doesn’t just deliver on speed – it also prioritizes comfort. Its 4D Smart Suspension system takes ride quality to the next level. Using sensors and a forward-facing camera, the system anticipates road conditions like potholes and speed bumps, adjusting the air suspension height and damping in advance. It processes 500 calculations and makes 200 adjustments per second to ensure a smooth ride. For added refinement, the Intelligent Smooth Stop (ISS) system adjusts braking force to prevent the jarring nosedive often experienced during stop-and-go traffic.
"The air suspension responds to a camera feed that delivers information about the road surface coming up… and generally feels well sorted."
- Vicky Parrott, Road Tester, Autocar
While the ET7 is undoubtedly a luxury sedan, it offers a more engaging driving experience than many large vehicles, striking a balance between comfort and performance.
Battery-Swap Technology and Charging
Battery Options and Range
True to its luxury reputation, the ET7 offers battery options that balance performance and adaptability. The standard 75 kWh pack delivers a range of 276 to 340 miles, while the 100 kWh long-range option extends that to 315–360 miles. For those seeking even more, the 150 kWh battery takes it to a staggering 620+ miles, making the ET7 the first battery-electric executive sedan to surpass 621 miles in real-world conditions.
NIO’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model adds another layer of flexibility. For about $136 per month (for the 75 kWh option), you can lease the battery, cutting down the upfront cost and sidestepping worries about long-term battery degradation. This model also lets you temporarily upgrade to a larger battery when planning longer trips. Unsurprisingly, nearly 70% of NIO buyers choose this option.
But it’s not just about range – NIO takes convenience to the next level with its charging and battery-swap technologies.
Charging and Battery-Swap Benefits
While the ET7 supports DC fast charging – up to 170 kW for the 75 kWh battery and 180 kW for the 100 kWh pack – the real game-changer is NIO’s Power Swap Station technology. These automated stations use robotic systems to replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in just minutes, offering a refueling experience that rivals traditional gas stations.
"Within five minutes, a robot in a kind of vending machine garage replaces the empty pack and installs one that is actually 100 percent charged."
- Thomas Geiger, Reviewer
Since its launch in 2018, this system has completed over 57 million battery swaps, with a swap happening roughly every 30 seconds in China. Each swap includes an automated health check of both the battery and the drive system, ensuring peak performance with minimal effort. For areas where EV infrastructure is still evolving, this centralized system helps reduce charging wait times and keeps batteries in optimal condition.
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Safety and Autonomous Driving
Aquila Sensing and ADAM Computing
The ET7 isn’t just about luxury – it’s packed with safety systems that many other luxury EVs offer only as extras. At its core is the Aquila Super Sensing System, which incorporates 33 sensors for a comprehensive safety net. This includes a LiDAR sensor strategically placed in a "watchtower" position, capable of detecting objects up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) away. Supporting this are 11 high-resolution cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, all working together to provide a full 360-degree view. These sensors generate an impressive 8 gigabytes per second of data, which is processed by the ADAM Super Computing Platform. Powered by four Nvidia Orin X chips, ADAM delivers a combined 1,016 TOPS of computing power.
The 2024 model refresh introduced a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor, dedicated to managing the car’s cockpit systems. Together, this tech powers NIO Autonomous Driving (NAD), designed to handle everything from expressways to urban streets, parking, and even automated battery swaps.
"The ET7 already has everything on board that is needed for completely driverless driving – from the radars and lasers in the distinctive humps over the front windscreen to the four Nvidia processors in the boot."
- Thomas Geiger, Reviewer, Electrifying.com
Safety Ratings and Driver Assistance
Thanks to its advanced sensors and powerful computing, the ET7 sets high safety benchmarks. It earned five-star safety ratings from both Euro NCAP and C-NCAP, with standout scores of 91% for Adult Occupant protection, 87% for Child Occupant protection, and 95% in Safety Assist. The C-NCAP overall score came in at 87.3%.
The ET7 also prioritizes passenger safety with seven airbags, including a specialized 45-liter front center airbag designed to prevent collisions between front passengers during side impacts. Its body structure combines high-strength steel and aluminum, achieving a torsional stiffness of 40,060 N·m/deg. Additionally, the B-pillar is engineered to withstand peak pressure forces exceeding 115 kN.
Driver assistance features are equally robust. The suite includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists; Lane Keep Assist; Emergency Lane Keeping; and a Driver Monitoring System that detects signs of fatigue. In Euro NCAP tests, the AEB system performed effectively, avoiding most collisions even at speeds as low as 2.5 mph (4 km/h).
Other notable features include Guardian Mode, which uses 360-degree 4K cameras to monitor and record safety risks while the car is parked, and an advanced eCall system that automatically contacts emergency services after a severe accident.
NIO ET7 Review – The Best Executive Saloon Is Now Chinese
Final Thoughts
The NIO ET7 takes luxury electric driving to a new level by tackling some of the biggest hurdles in EV adoption, especially in markets where charging infrastructure is still catching up. Its rapid battery-swap system is a standout feature, cutting down wait times and easing range concerns – offering a practical solution for drivers in these regions.
But the ET7 isn’t just about practicality. It combines high-end luxury with impressive performance, making it a compelling choice for those who value both style and substance. Plus, with flexible ownership options, drivers can easily upgrade to larger battery packs – like the 100 kWh or 150 kWh versions – when they need extra range.
On top of that, the ET7 delivers peace of mind with top safety ratings and a sophisticated sensor suite, setting the stage for future autonomous driving capabilities.
FAQs
What makes the NIO ET7’s battery-swap system more convenient than traditional EV charging?
The NIO ET7 introduces a battery-swap system that takes convenience to the next level. Instead of waiting to recharge, drivers can simply exchange their depleted 100 kWh battery for a fully charged one in just a few minutes. Compare that to traditional EV charging – where even the fastest DC chargers take 20–30 minutes to reach 80%, and home chargers often require several hours – and the time savings are clear.
This system sidesteps the need for home charging setups or long waits at public stations. Drivers can pull into automated swap stations and be back on the road almost as quickly as refueling a gas car. Beyond speed, it eliminates common frustrations like worrying about charger availability, dealing with incompatible cables, or navigating fluctuating electricity costs. For EV owners, it’s a practical and stress-free way to keep moving.
What are the advantages of the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model for NIO ET7 owners?
The Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model gives NIO ET7 owners a flexible and budget-friendly way to handle their vehicle’s battery. Instead of shelling out for the battery upfront, drivers can opt for a monthly subscription. This approach slashes the car’s initial cost by over $9,900, making the ET7 more affordable for a wider range of buyers.
With BaaS, there’s no need for a home charging setup. Owners can simply swap batteries at NIO’s battery stations. The subscription includes a set number of free swaps each month, and if you need more range, you can upgrade to a larger battery – say, from a 75 kWh to a 100 kWh pack – by tweaking your subscription. It’s a quick and easy way to boost your car’s range without committing to a new vehicle.
This model also offers long-term perks. If a bigger battery becomes unnecessary, you can downgrade your subscription, lowering your monthly cost. Plus, you can rack up NIO points along the way. Over time, this setup can reduce the total cost of ownership compared to buying the battery outright, making it a smart choice for ET7 drivers looking for both convenience and savings.
What safety features does the NIO ET7’s autonomous driving system offer?
The NIO ET7 is equipped with the NIO Autonomous Driving (NAD) system, designed to enhance safety through a network of advanced sensors. This system includes 33 cameras, radar, and lidar units, working together to provide a full 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings. With this setup, the ET7 can handle tasks like real-time object detection, lane-keeping, and collision avoidance. Plus, the system’s redundancy ensures it can still function effectively even if one sensor is blocked or experiences a malfunction.
For added flexibility, the autonomous driving features are offered through an optional subscription. This allows NIO to deliver over-the-air updates, refining algorithms, adjusting sensor calibration, and rolling out new safety features. By combining state-of-the-art hardware with continuous software updates, the ET7 is built to stay dependable and safe for its drivers.
