Chinese electric carmaker Nio has unveiled updated versions of its core models: the ET5 saloon, ET5 Touring estate, and EL6 SUV. The trio accounts for a large chunk of the firm’s global sales and has received over 500 upgrades ranging from styling tweaks to major technological enhancements, improving driver assistance.
The updates are most noticeable on the outside, though subtle. The ET5 and its Touring sibling now sport a broader front grille, more pronounced LED daytime running lights, and redesigned headlights that lend a more assertive presence. The EL6 SUV, known as the ES6 in China, has been given similar treatment to align it visually with Nio’s newer EC6 coupe-SUV.
Tech-driven transformation
Inside, the changes are more pronounced. The ET5 and ET5 Touring now feature a wide, horizontally oriented infotainment screen, a layout borrowed from the flagship ET9. It features AMOLED technology for better visibility, as witnessed in competitors like the Ioniq 5 and 6 or the Hyperscreen from Mercedes. At Nio, it replaces the more traditional vertical display, part of the brand’s push to raise the premium feel of its compact models.
In a nod to modern user interfaces, the familiar gear selector has been swapped for a steering-column stalk, freeing up space in the centre console, which now includes dual wireless charging pads for smartphones.
Same price, more car
At the heart of the update is Nio’s new Shenji NX9031 chip for autonomous driving, which the company says has the computing power of four Nvidia Orin X chips. This translates into sharper driver-assistance systems and smoother, more intuitive software, particularly in China, where the latest interface updates are already live.
Comfort also gets a lift, with a real-time adaptive suspension system and what Nio calls ‘4D comfort navigation’, which links road data to suspension tuning for a smoother ride. Passengers in the rear benefit from larger seat cushions and improved lumbar support.
Despite the breadth of the overhaul, Nio has kept pricing unchanged, at least in China. The updated ET5 and its Touring sibling start at 298,000 yuan (about € 39,300), including a 75 kWh battery. Under its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme, buyers can pay 228,000 yuan (€29,270) for the car and lease the battery separately. No pricing info for the European market is available yet.
European ambitions
Nio’s saloon and estate models are pivotal to its bottom line: in 2024, the ET5 made up 12% of all sales, while the Touring version accounted for nearly a quarter. Early data from 2025 shows the estate continuing to outpace the saloon.
In Europe, the company has made a slow start, selling around 600 vehicles since launching in 2022, with the ET7 proving the most popular. But with updated models now revealed and certification processes reportedly in motion, Nio appears poised to step up its presence. The EC6, a coupe-style SUV related to the EL6, has also appeared in European patent filings.
Nio’s refresh comes as pressure mounts in the premium EV segment, with the likes of Polestar, BMW’s Neue Klasse, and Japanese competition intensifying the race. For Nio, the hope is that its latest updates will appeal to buyers seeking not just cutting-edge tech but comfort and quality, too.
