Nio's refreshed ET5 twins arrive with brains, beauty, and optional long legs

Nio pulled the wraps off its updated ET5 sedan and ET5 Touring wagon. The company says these aren't just minor tweaks; they're touting over 500 enhancements. While that number might be a bit of a marketing exercise, the significant upgrades in design, cabin comfort, onboard smarts, and even how far they can go on a single charge are worth a closer look.

Starting with the visuals, both the ET5 and its more spacious sibling, the ET5 Touring, get a sharper look up front. New intelligent multi-beam headlights, which Nio calls ADB, and redesigned "double-dash" LED daytime running lights give the cars a more distinct face. The hood also appears more sculpted. Buyers of the ET5 sedan can now opt for a new "sunset purple" paint job, while the ET5 Touring gets an exclusive "moonlight silver."

To complete the sleek look, Nio has applied glossy black trim to the bumpers, side skirts, and rear diffuser. Freshly designed 20-inch five-spoke wheels with special inserts help the cars slip through the air more easily, which is always a good thing for an EV. The ET5 sedan measures 188.6 inches in length, 77.2 inches in width, and 59 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 113.7 inches. The ET5 Touring shares these dimensions, though its wagon shape naturally offers more cargo flexibility.

Step inside, and the changes continue. The dashboard is dominated by a large, 15.6-inch AMOLED screen, now oriented horizontally. This is paired with a 10.2-inch digital display for the driver and a massive 50-inch augmented reality heads-up display that projects information seemingly onto the road ahead. Even the rearview mirror has gone digital.

Nio offers three new interior color schemes: purple, pearl, and gray. The seats feature an 11-layer system with new cushions and foam designed to make long journeys more pleasant. Rear passengers will appreciate an extra 2.95 inches of seat support length. To keep the cabin serene and cool, Nio has fitted infrared-resistant laminated glass on the side windows and a dual-silver-coated panoramic roof that claims to block up to 99% of infrared rays.

Standard comfort features include 14-way power-adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, a 23-speaker immersive audio system, dual 50W wireless phone chargers, and, for the Touring model, an intelligent dimmable panoramic roof.

Running the new tech is Nio's own NX9031 chip. The company claims this single chip provides computing power equivalent to four leading chips used elsewhere in the industry. This brainpower works with a suite of 29 sensors, including a LiDAR unit that's said to be equivalent to a 300-line system, and a 4D imaging radar.

When it comes to moving these electric cars, Nio sticks with its proven dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. This setup delivers 490 horsepower (a 150 kW motor at the front and a 210 kW motor at the rear) and 516 lb-ft of torque.

The standard 75 kWh battery offers a CLTC range of up to 364 miles for the ET5 sedan and 342 miles for the ET5 Touring. A larger 100 kWh pack is also available. For those needing to cover serious distances, Nio offers a 150 kWh battery pack through a short-term rental system. With this pack, the company claims a CLTC range of up to an impressive 656 miles. The ET5 Touring also adds a practical touch with a towing capacity of up to 3,086 lb.

Nio positions the ET5 duo as premium offerings, and the pricing reflects that. The ET5 or ET5 Touring with the 75 kWh battery will start at RMB 298,000 (about $41,100). Nio also offers a battery rental option, and in this case, buyers can purchase the car for RMB 228,000 (around $31,500) and then lease the battery, with monthly fees starting at RMB 728 (approximately $100).

Recent sales figures from April 2025, showing 2,015 ET5 sedans and a significant 6,015 ET5 Touring wagons sold, suggest a strong appetite, especially for the more versatile wagon variant.

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