In Auto Review 1 we compare three electric SUVs with muscles: the Nio EL6, the Tesla Model Y Performance and the Mercedes EQE SUV 500. There are three areas for improvement for the Nio.
This test of the Mercedes EQE SUV, Nio EL6 and Tesla Model Y is a shortened version of the extensive comparison in Auto Review 1. Buy the magazine now in the supermarket, bookstore or in our webshop.
A few areas for improvement may be discussed below, but Nio is not stingy when it comes to horsepower. The EL6 always has two electric motors that together deliver 490 hp. At Tesla and Mercedes, the price lists start with less powerful versions.
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3 things Nio can learn from Tesla and Mercedes
1. This is how you make an emergency stop
The most important area for improvement of the Nio EL6 is the braking system. It has a much longer braking distance than the Mercedes EQE SUV and the Tesla Model Y. If you make an emergency stop at 100 km/h, the Mercedes will stop after more than 34 meters, the Tesla after more than 35 meters and the Nio after more than 37 meters.
2. This is how you want driver assistance systems to respond
Then the driver assistance systems intervene. All three SUVs are packed with safety systems, but not all of them work smoothly. The Nio in particular stands out for its heavy-handed interventions, while the Mercedes responds in a relatively refined manner. A software update may be able to fix this.
3. This is how you load and pull
The third area for improvement is practical in nature. The Nio EL6 has the smallest trunk with the bench flat (1430 liters) and the towing capacity of 1200 kilos is not enough. The EQE SUV is designed for 1675 liters and 1800 kilos and the Model Y can handle 2041 liters and 1600 kilos.
3 things Tesla and Mercedes can learn from Nio
1. This is how you make a backseat
The EL6 has the space and most comfortable back seat of the test. The second row of seats is nice and wide and the rear passengers benefit from an electrically adjustable backrest. The standard glass roof is designed in such a way that it hardly detracts from headroom. It’s a different story in the EQE SUV, where the frame of the optional panoramic roof moves closer to the crowns.
2. A car can be this quiet
Since the Mercedes EQE SUV muffles almost all chassis noise and the body remains remarkably stable even on bad roads, the SUV from Stuttgart offers the most relaxing driving experience. If you ask us, the Mercedes is the quietest car of the trio. But the decibel meter is not fooled by the subjective sound and rates the Nio better.
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3. This is how you change a battery
The ability to exchange the empty battery for a full one in a few minutes is a unique feature that you will only find with Nio. There are already ten Power Swap Stations in the Netherlands and you can also find them in Germany, Sweden and Norway. And last month Nio opened its first swap station in Belgium. Please note that battery replacement is only possible when you rent the battery pack. With a purchase battery, you, like the rest of the EV world, are dependent on fast charging.
Conclusion
In our comparison test, the Tesla Model Y Performance finished first and the Mercedes EQE SUV 500 4Matic came second. The Nio EL6 Long Range is not (yet) a match for these models and comes third. Still, it’s not a bad choice: the EL6 is a surprisingly capable electric SUV that drives well and has a spacious, quiet and uncluttered cabin. And the ability to exchange the empty battery for a full one is a unique feature that you will only find with Nio.
You read the complete comparative test Auto Review 1. You buy the magazine in the supermarket, bookstore or in our webshop.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
