NIO EL8: First Impression

Chinese premium electric automaker NIO debuted the all-new NIO EL8 SUV in the UAE on October 23, 2024. Also known as NIO Inc., the automotive brand was established in 2014 and caters primarily to buyers in the upmarket EV space. Being the flagship SUV, the NIO EL8 fits right in with the company’s high-end aspirations.

Partnering with the Abu Dhabi-based CYVN Holdings, NIO MENA launched the NIO EL8 at a starting price of AED 359,900. The full-size electric SUV is offered as a Long Range variant, but it comes loaded with tons of cool features. The MENA region’s first NIO showroom, called “NIO House”, will be inaugurated in Abu Dhabi in a few weeks’ time.

Exterior

The NIO EL8 is a stylish and modern design with smooth and precise lines, purposefully lacking forced visual clutter. The design efforts have instead been channelized to provide a clean and sophisticated look with the implementation of subtle but well-executed touches. These include the flush door handles, sculpted but functional bumpers, and suave dual-tone color options.

The front features ultra-slim LED DRLs and bumper-integrated LED headlights, while full-width taillights and a sporty spoiler adorn the rear. The side profile of the EL8 exudes restrained muscularity with hints of stylish dynamism and visual heft. These come courtesy of the extended shoulders, forged 22-inch wheels with orange Brembo calipers, and a sloped roofline.

There are unique design features such as the LiDAR sensor mounted above the windscreen, plus two front-facing cameras. Furthermore, cameras are also integrated into small protrusions sticking out just above the front fenders. While these features definitely come in handy, their clunky integration makes this otherwise minimalistic design feel a bit jarring.

The NIO EL8 is 5,099 mm long, 1,989 mm wide, 1,750 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3,070 mm. This makes the EL8 much larger than an equivalent BMW iX or Aud Q8i e-tron. The boot space is only 265 litres in a 6-seater configuration, growing to 810 litres with the rear seats tucked away.

Interior

The NIO EL8’s interior is pretty sorted, with loads of modern amenities to keep all occupants occupied. There is a 12.8-inch portrait-style AMOLED touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, plus a 16.3-inch head-up display with navigation and ADAS-related information (among other things). The driver gets a digital instrument cluster, which, along with the infotainment system, is powered by NIO’s SkyOS software.

All occupants can interact with the car’s in-built AI voice assistant called NOMI from their respective seats. This AI assistant enables users to operate a variety of in-car functions, making journeys a bit more interesting. Making them more comfortable are the electrically-powered & temperature-controlled seats with extendable leg rests & massaging functions, Nappa leather upholstery, and 5-zone climate control.

The tech fest continues with the 174-LED active mood lighting system, panoramic sunroof, fast wireless charging, mini fridge, active noise cancellation, and a 2,300-watt premium audio system. The latter supports Dirac Pro and Dolby Atmos, while the climate control system features in-car fragrance. Not only is it feature-packed, but the quality of the NIO EL8’s cabin materials feels high-end too.

The cabin sports sustainable materials like woven suede made from sugarcane and castor oil, soybean-based seat cushions, and rattan fabric. The luxury-oriented interior comes with 6 individual seats, with light-colored upholstery and large windows making for a roomy cabin.

Apart from the few steering-mounted buttons and a couple of physical controls on the center console, most of the car’s high-tech features are controlled via the large touchscreen. It mostly works as expected, though its interface can feel a bit lackluster. However, cabin storage solutions and NVH levels are good.

Engine and performance

The NIO EL8 Long Range uses a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery with a WLTP-claimed range of up to 510 km. It powers two permanent magnet electric motors, which means all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard in the EL8. The front-mounted motor develops 180 kW (241 hp), while the beefier rear motor generates 300 kW (402 hp).

This means a combined power output of around 653 hp. Meanwhile, the peak torque figure derived from both motors is 850 Nm, which is good but not exactly segment-leading. That said, it is more than sufficient, allowing the NIO EL8 to crack the 0-100 kmph sprint in 4.1 seconds.

It will be quick enough in a straight line, but the EL8 is not designed to go around corners with much vigor. This stems from the soft air suspension setup that promotes calmer driving and taking corners with mature restraint. The system includes active dampers that adjust in real-time based on road conditions and the selected driving mode.

The air suspension can be raised or lowered, which makes a slight difference in how the EL8 handles. Having said that, you would not want to drive this SUV aggressively around corners. What is impressive about it is a drag coefficient of just 0.25 Cd, which is only topped by the segment-leading 0.24 Cd of the Tesla Model X.

Safety

The NIO EL8’s safety equipment encompasses the brand’s powerful ADAM computing platform along with the Aquila Super Sensing suite. The latter uses up to 33 cameras and sensors located all around the car, enabling it to build a comprehensive picture of the world around it. This includes the aforementioned LiDAR and front-facing cameras – each being 8 megapixels in resolution.

Combined, these active safety features allow the integration of advanced driver aids in the NIO EL8. The NIO Assisted and Intelligent Driving aids include adaptive cruise control, collision warning & mitigation, pedestrian detection, auto-emergency braking, active lane-keeping & lane-departure alert, and 360-degree cameras. NIO claims that the EL8’s high-strength aluminum structure can withstand bending forces of up to 39,400 Nm/degree.

Conclusion

The NIO EL8 comes across as a well-made, feature-packed, quick and comfortable family electric SUV. With 6 seats instead of 7, the EL8 might not be the most practical in the segment, but it does balance things out well. The material quality is excellent, while the extensive safety suite guarantees peace of mind.

Compared to its German rivals, driving the NIO EL8 will not be soul-satisfyingly thrilling. However, its pricing is more accessible to far more people and thus, the EL8 is an option worthy of your consideration. Its modern yet relatively safe design is also not offensive in any way.

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