Move Over 7-Series / S-Class! NIO ET9 Is The Luxury Sedan Of 2026

TL;DR

The NIO ET9 rivals the S-Class and 7-Series with world-class tech, steer-by-wire, and 600kW charging, but isn't sold outside China.

Key Points

• 1.The NIO ET9 is a ~$100,000 luxury sedan in China with fully in-house engineering. NIO developed all ECUs, software, motors, and inverters internally, calling it the foundation for all future NIO vehicles.
• 2.It uses steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering, the second production car globally to do so. The system feels smooth and natural at normal speeds but has a slower actuator response than the Cybertruck when rapidly counter-steering.
• 3.The active suspension system is genuinely impressive but not perfect. It eliminates body roll and levels out oscillating road surfaces brilliantly, but sharp initial pothole impacts still jostle through the cabin more than expected for this level of tech.
• 4.The ET9 runs a 925V battery and can DC fast charge at nearly 600kW, or battery-swap in about 3 minutes. It does not appear to support AC charging, relying solely on DC or NIO's swap network.
• 5.Interior tech vastly exceeds Western rivals with dozens of modes and integrations. Features include baby-rocking suspension mode, pet mode, camp mode, fridge controls, 50W wireless charging, smart child seat integration, and real-time suspension power monitoring screens.
• 6.Ride refinement is S-Class-level in most conditions but falls short of Porsche Active Ride on sharp impacts. At highway speeds of 120 km/h, cabin noise is indistinguishable from 50 km/h — an exceptional noise isolation achievement.
• 7.The ET9 outclasses the 7-Series and S-Class in consumer-focused technology but has a different character. It feels light and airy rather than 'bank vault' solid, which the reviewer attributes to steer-by-wire tuning and the active suspension's floating quality.
• 8.The car is only sold in China and is not available in Europe or North America. The reviewer argues German automaker executives urgently need to drive it to understand the engineering benchmark NIO has set.
• 9.The reviewer prefers the ES9 SUV sibling over the ET9 sedan for personal use. Key criticisms of the ET9 include the seating position being too high, ride comfort needing refinement, and steer-by-wire actuator speed being slightly underwhelming.