No one expected that the most notable beneficiary of NVIDIA's aggressive hair and R&D strategy would be a new Chinese car-making company, NIO. From Mobileye EyeQ4 to NVIDIA Drive Drin, NIO has gone through the NT1.0 to NT2.0 upgrade, doubling the total chip power of its own products by more than 200 times from the initial base, and making NIO the first Chinese automaker to apply L3-level autonomous driving to a mass-production model. The only other company to have achieved L3 autonomous driving in mass production within this country is Tesla, and NIO and its ES7 are a bit of a "defender of glory".
There is still a distance from the Defender to the "Light of China", and that may be the distance between the NIO ES7 and the Tesla Model Y. In terms of positioning and price level, even a Tesla Model Y top model (417,900 yuan) would be 50,000 and 100 yuan cheaper than the lowest-priced NIO ES7, and if you're taking the low end of the scale, the Tesla Model Y, whose price has temporarily gone down, would be over 150,000 yuan cheaper than the NIO ES7. Of course, this doesn't really explain anything, because NIO has never been the target of BBA and has a natural high-performance positioning, plus the mid-size SUV is a head higher than the Tesla Model Y, so it's understandable that the price is more expensive.
NIO ES7 vs Tesla Model Y: as a dual motor electric car, NIO ES7 wins over Tesla in terms of price and comfort
So why are we comparing the Tesla Model Y to the NIO ES7? There are two reasons: one is that the Model X, which almost no one buys in China anymore, is ridiculously expensive, and the other is that the two cars are infinitely close in terms of performance and intelligence, two key capabilities.
Take the performance, both models are capable of achieving zero-hundred acceleration in the 3-second range with a dual-motor layout, but the Tesla Model Y has only one Performance, the top model mentioned earlier can achieve 3.7 seconds to break 100, while the NIO ES7's break 100, although 0.2 seconds slower, is 3.9 seconds for the whole series.
In terms of range, both cars also offer three ranges, but the Tesla Model Y offers a range of 545km/615km/660km with two battery sizes, while the NIO ES7 offers a range of 545km/615km/660km with three battery sizes. The Tesla Model Y offers a range of 545km/615km/660km with two battery sizes, while the NIO ES7 offers 485km/620km (575km for the first version)/930km with three battery sizes, but in terms of "price for range", the Tesla will still be the one to replace, but the ceiling will still be the NIO ES7 with 150kWh solid-state battery option. The ceiling will still be the NIO ES7 with 150kWh solid-state battery option.
Compared to the earlier arrivals of NIO SUVs, not to mention this SUV crossover EC6, the ES6 and ES8 models, the greater significance of the ES7 is not only to provide a flagship 5-seater option in the mid-size SUV market, but also naturally to enhance the intelligent depth of the entire line-up. While providing Alder intelligent cockpit for the older batch of models, the NIO ES7 from NT2.0 platform The Banyan-Banyan is a further step up from the NT2.0 platform. Whether it's the 10.2-inch HUR digital instrument panel, the 12.8-inch touchscreen OLED screen, or the AR-HUD head-up display for real-world enhancement, the hardware is indeed head and shoulders above the other family series. The three screen combination, for domestic drivers will actually be more accustomed to some than the Tesla Model Y integrated screen.
What's more, in addition to the 5G network, the NOMI intelligent system will now be supported by high precision maps, V2X vehicle road system and other technologies, and the rear row can also complete the independent control of multimedia, and the addition of 23-speaker surround sound, coupled with 256-color ambient lighting, full acoustic glass, multi-zone independent air-conditioning system with fragrance, etc., and 4912x1987x1720mm/ 2960mm body brings spaciousness, the cabin's comprehensive entertainment atmosphere and comfortable feedback is also not Tesla can compare.
NIO ES7 interior and intelligent driving: Tesla still has something to learn
Of course, the most important significance of the NIO ES7 is the ability to take on Tesla in the direction of intelligent driving, and in the standard model, the NIO ES7 can already achieve advanced functions including automatic lane change assist, ramp access and automatic parking with panoramic image perspective of the chassis; and with the full NAD function activated by subscription, it will be able to achieve more in line with the Chinese urban road environment NOP Pilot Assist, NAD Autopilot (low speed/highway/partial urban highway) and low speed parking with remote parking/remote summoning are all features that the Model Y can do, and the NIO ES7 is now also a master of all of them. Of course, in terms of cost, no matter which range version of the NIO ES7 you buy, it will cost you 680RMB per month to subscribe to the full NAD feature, which will cost you 8,160RMB a year. On a smart driving level, compared to Tesla's 64,000RMB option package, the NIO ES7 is way more cost effective if a car is expected to last within 8 years.
Of course, after all, the two cars are of "different generations" and the NIO ES7 is much more luxurious, both in terms of external hardware and inside the cabin. In addition to performance and intelligence, the NIO ES7 chassis has a standard air suspension system, and offers electric suction doors, induction tailgate, UWB digital key and hidden electric door handles, etc. Inside the cabin, even without any premium interior options, its full leather seats will bring undifferentiated leg rest/heating/ventilation/massage/memory for the front row, in addition to the audio and lighting systems mentioned earlier. Electric / heated / ventilated / massage / memory and so on, these seats, Tesla will have to learn.
NIO ES7 vs Tesla Model Y, I prefer to choose NIO ES7
Written at the end
Putting the NIO ES7 and Tesla Model Y together is not a fair comparison, after all, the threshold is so much different. But even if you put the price aside, the ES7 is a pure electric SUV in terms of space and comfort, luxury and richness, and even suspension and electric control and range. If you really intend to buy a 400,000 yuan Model Y, then the ES7 may be a good value for money, or even a better choice.
