Nio EL8

Big is the EL8 for sure! In fact, the model passes the magic 5-metre mark. At the same time, Nio has come to the realisation that the wider is not always better, because eventually cars will no longer fit in a parking space and/or there will be no room to open the doors. Therefore, the width is limited to 199 cm.

Space

Thanks to its increased length, the EL8 offers three rows of seats. In doing so, the brand remains true to its own philosophy. It has not gone out of its way to cram as many people into the car as possible, but rather to offer the occupants as much comfort as possible. This is why the EL8 is not a seven-seater, but a six-seater. In other words, the third row of seats consists of two seats, while most competitors offer three. Thanks to Nio's design, head and legroom are good on all three rows of seats. All seats are also equipped with adjustable air conditioning and USB ports. The so-called "Executive" goes one step further with larger seats and a fridge in the rear.

Because of its large, comfortable seats, the EL8 is no star when it comes to folding and stowing. Of course, all seats are adjustable and sliding, but don't expect a van when all seats are folded. However, even with the third row of seats in use, the EL8 still offers room for some luggage (but not for six people).

Equipment

The EL8's cabin is futuristic and minimalist, as with Nio's other models. There are virtually no buttons or levers, as most functions are controlled via the central display.

Or via "Nomi". The face of Nomi is a little robot that sits on the dashboard and communicates with the occupants with funny animations in addition to spoken words. Unfortunately, in practice Nomi is not half as smart as Nio would have you believe. Only simple requests related to the car and the sat nav are understood. If any intelligence is required, Nomi fails. Driving to a particular company can be done, but asking for the nearest branch is too complicated. Similarly, Nomi understands the request to navigate to a restaurant with a certain cuisine, but if that restaurant must also have ample parking space, it is too much to ask. With the latest version of Nio's own operating system, integration with ChatGPT has been added, but in practice this only provides greater vocabulary and factual knowledge. ChatGPT does not give Nomi more intelligence or insight.

Nio provides its own audio system and its sound is remarkably good (spacious, clear, musical) for an unbranded system. Unfortunately, Nio still does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Single-pedal driving and Nomi's foreign language knowledge also leave something to be desired. The manufacturer promises improvement in all these areas, but cannot yet comment on when all the improvements will be available.

In all other areas, the equipment is good for a car in this segment, which is a great compliment for a brand that has only been active in the European market for such a short time. Although Nio claims to be very far along with self-driving features in China, the arsenal of cameras around in Europe contributes little to the EL8's safety or traffic insight. As it should, the EL8 assists the driver where possible and is alerted to errors or carelessness. However, the EL8 does this no more accurately or intelligently than other brands that often have only one camera and far less computing power on board.

Electric car

Since the EL8 is Nio's (provisional) flagship model, it uses the platform that offers the largest battery capacity and the strongest powertrain. As standard, the EL8 delivers 653 hp / 850 Nm and it is noticeable! Even in standard mode, a gigantic reserve is always on standby. When it is tapped, the nose rises and this behemoth accelerates with tremendous supremacy, even when it is already going fast. Thanks to all-wheel drive, the power can be called upon with impunity in a variety of conditions. Thereby, the response to the throttle is chosen so that the EL8 is never aggressive or sharp, but rather grand and powerful. This has the "disadvantage" of making the car seem less fast than it actually is.

In fact, the EL8 is so fast that the driver has to be careful that other road users do not underestimate this large SUV. On the German autobahn, for example, the EL8 can merge onto the left-hand lane so fast that other cars think there is still room while the EL8 is already alongside them. This is partly why the EL8 has stronger brakes than the other Nio models. During the test, consumption varied between 17 and 25 kWh per 100 km, which is decent for a car of this size and power.

Charge and change

With this consumption, some 490 km could be covered on a full battery during the test (factory specification: 510 km). Charging can be done at 240 kW at a fast charger and at 11 kW at a public charging point. To offer maximum space in the rear, Nio has moved the charging socket and all associated electronics to the nose. This is a logical choice, but it does mean mandatory forward parking resulting in a larger turning circle and less visibility when reversing out. Because all the electronics are housed in the nose, the EL8 has no extra luggage space under the bonnet ("frunk").

A unique feature of every Nio is that the battery can also be swapped. Throughout Europe, so-called "Battery Swap Stations" can be found where the battery can be swapped faster than a traditional car can be refuelled! During this test, we noticed that the software has also been updated in this respect. Previously, the screen went black. Henceforth, the process is schematically displayed. Note that a battery change is only possible when the battery is rented, which is not always ideal. For example, when the car is not used for a longer period of time, or is at a dealer's showroom, the rental continues.

Driving characteristics

If there is one point on which Nio makes little progress, it is the design. The EL8 employs exactly the same style as the other models and therefore the difference is hardly noticeable. Also, the EL8 is only available in the same, boring, colours as the other models. Fortunately, under the skin is precisely where the biggest progress can be reported! This is because the EL8 is the first Nio on dual-chamber air suspension. This gives more precise control over the bodywork and its effect is clearly noticeable.

The EL8 still tilts when cornering, but it is controlled tilting. When steering, it is noticeable that the car remains better balanced. After the corner, the EL8 is more quickly back to neutral. This makes for a special combination of handling, comfort and greatness, making the EL8 really drive differently from existing offerings (and better than Nio's own EL7). In addition, the EL8 is even quieter than Nio's other models, providing even more peace of mind. In short, the EL8 is not only bigger, but also even more comfortable than Nio's other models.

Conclusion

Nio has developed a tried and tested recipe. It starts out on the same level as the establishment. Then it uses more modern technology and adds all the luxuries that are optional in conventional premium brands. Motor-wise, each Nio offers the performance of a Brabus, AMG, RS or M version of the competition, while the price is at the level of the basic versions of its rivals. Nio's electric cars have a long range and can charge quickly. Besides, the battery can be swapped and those who have tried that once always prefer it.

The EL8 takes all this as a basis and goes further by offering even more space. The EL8 comfortably accommodates six adults, plus some luggage. When it comes to technology, the EL8 goes a step further with advanced air suspension, benefiting both dynamics and comfort.