The all-new NIO ES6 was officially launched on May 24. offering two models priced at 368.000 RMB and 426.000 RMB. In addition to the standard purchase option, the car still provides a battery rental mode, where after paying a base price of 298.000 RMB, the monthly fee for the 75kWh battery is 980 RMB, and 1.680 RMB for the 100kWh battery. Besides these two battery specifications, a 150kWh battery pack is also available, offering a CLTC range of 930km, with delivery expected in July.
Exterior: Continuing Family Design Elements with Notable Detail Improvements
The NIO ES6 retains the family design of the previous model, maintaining high recognition. The front fascia has been simplified, featuring a closed grille design that appears more streamlined compared to the previous "smiling" style. The lower air intake has been enlarged, enhancing the sporty feel, and the silver trim at the bottom remains.
The split headlight design, a characteristic family feature of the ES6. has been retained from the previous model. The LED daytime running lights use a separate light strip design similar to models like the ET7. creating a refined and technologically advanced appearance. The matrix headlights can intelligently adjust the beam distribution, with a noticeable improvement in the internal light sources, making the design more cohesive and enhancing the overall texture.
At first glance, the side view doesn't seem to differ much from the current model, but there are significant changes in dimensions. The new ES6 measures 4858mm in length, 1995mm in width, and 1703mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2915mm. Compared to the previous model, the length and width have increased by 4mm and 30mm respectively, and the wheelbase by 15mm. The height has been lowered by 55mm, giving the new ES6 a lower center of gravity and reducing wind resistance, with a drag coefficient of just 0.25cd, better than some sports sedans.
The new ES6 comes standard with 20-inch wheels and hidden door handles, creating a smoother side profile. The addition of soft-close doors enhances everyday convenience.
The rear of the vehicle also sees noticeable changes, featuring a new through-type taillight design and a smoked color scheme to enhance the sporty feel. The tailgate and bumper retain the folded design from the previous model, but the angles have been increased for a more pronounced three-dimensional effect.
Interior: Simplicity Remains the Theme, with a Powerful "Queen's Co-Pilot" Feature
Compared to the exterior, the interior changes are more subtle, maintaining the minimalist tech style of the previous model while enhancing the texture through details. The layout still revolves around a T-shaped central console, paired with a digital instrument cluster and a floating central screen. The new ES6 abandons the traditional instrument cluster design of the old model in favor of the more mainstream floating style, with adjustments made to the central screen design. The vehicle system runs on NIO's latest Banyan 2.0. with a total computing power of 1016 TOPS, a notable improvement and the first of its kind in a NIO vehicle, with plans to OTA this system to other models in the future.
There are also some detail changes, the most obvious being the steering wheel, which has been updated to the latest design, enhancing the luxury feel and improving operational convenience. Traditional door handles have been replaced with ET5-style designs, and the window controls are now paddle-style, giving a more premium look and feel.
The new NIO ES6 also features the "Queen's Co-Pilot" seat, which is highly configurable with a "zero-gravity" first-class seat. In addition to three-zone heating, eight-point massage, and 22-way adjustment, it offers a 160-degree seatback adjustment to better utilize the leg rest, providing passengers with an optimized seating position. Passengers can switch between different seat modes with one touch and enjoy the built-in massage function, a rare feature in vehicles of this class.
The details of the front passenger seat have also been optimized, such as using a more reasonably sized seat cushion to support passengers of different heights, ensuring that taller passengers can stretch out comfortably, addressing the legroom shortage in the previous model. The leg rest now has a larger adjustment range and can be positioned vertically, accommodating smaller passengers better.
The rear seats remain largely unchanged from the previous model, offering a 4/2/4 split-folding function, making it easier to store long items. The trunk offers a basic luggage space of 579L, maintaining a strong performance in storage capacity.
Performance: Equipped with Dual Front and Rear Motors, Featuring 50:50 Weight Distribution
The new NIO ES6 is equipped with dual front and rear motors, delivering a maximum system power of 360kW and a peak torque of 700Nm, with an official 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds. It currently offers 75kWh and 100kWh battery packs, providing CLTC electric ranges of 490km and 625km respectively. A 150kWh model is expected later, with an anticipated CLTC electric range of up to 930km.
The ES6 adopts NIO’s five-link independent suspension for both the front and rear, with an ideal 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, theoretically enhancing the vehicle's dynamic performance. Notably, the new car is also equipped with an adaptive dynamic suspension damping system that can adjust based on road conditions, offering better road adaptability and enhanced driving enjoyment with the smart all-wheel-drive system. The new ES6 also features an innovative ISS intelligent comfort braking system, effectively reducing the "nodding" effect caused by braking and improving passenger comfort.
Conclusion
The new NIO ES6 has undergone comprehensive improvements compared to its predecessor, demonstrating NIO’s commitment to user-centric model optimization. The exterior features a well-received updated family style, and the interior has been refreshed with the latest designs, reflecting NIO’s understanding of user preferences. NIO’s strategy is clear, offering various configurations with multiple battery options, allowing users to choose based on their travel needs. Battery leasing and battery swapping services remain NIO’s key advantages, which contributed to the success of the first-generation ES6. with over 120.000 units sold since its launch in 2018.
However, the market is evolving, with traditional luxury brands launching new electric models and emerging brands like Li Auto and Xpeng bringing strong competition. NIO indeed needs a model like the ES6 to further solidify its market position. Based on the current information, the new ES6 has the potential to become a hit. With a starting price of under 300.000 RMB in the battery rental mode, it poses a significant challenge to competitors, as there are hardly any models in this segment priced below 300.000 RMB, further enhancing the competitiveness of the new ES6. Its market performance is certainly worth anticipating.
