From InsideEVs.
Nio’s Firefly EV arrives in Europe with solid branding and a fun-to-drive chassis. Oh, and it swaps batteries too.
00:00 – Introduction
00:40 – Nio Firefly Suspension & Handling
00:58 – Nio Firefly Size Comparison
01:50 – Nio Firefly Interior
02:15 – Nio Firefly Battery Size
Chinese automaker Nio has a problem. Nio’s neatly-styled line of battery-swapping sedans, wagons and SUVs is good, but they just aren’t catching on all that much outside of China. Nio considers itself a BMW or Volvo contemporary, not a mainstreamer like Honda and Toyota, which isn’t an easy market to capture, especially in Europe where its home brands have more than a century of goodwill and loyalty from the public. Plus, that thing about big sedans and SUVs in China? Yeah, not really what Europeans want.
But they do want electric cars more and more. And Nio still wants a piece of that pie.
Thus, Nio started work on a car line that is made specifically for European markets: Firefly. This mononym brand was spearheaded by Kris Tomasson, who’s also the Vice President of Nio’s design, and was one of the main masterminds behind Nio’s plan to go past cars and battery swapping and become a full lifestyle brand.
Initially, the Firefly was supposed to launch in Europe first, but geopolitical tensions, European tariffs and a shaky outlook from Nio saw the brand re-evaluate its launch strategy.
The Firefly might be one of the most well-intentioned, ideologically cohesive cars we’ve driven to date. From bow to stern, it’s clear the designers had a clear plan and stuck to it.
The whole car is full of simplified, flat elements; it’s clear that the design team was all on the same page here. The ethos, with its sans-serif typeface and two-color flat graphics, feels more like athleisure rather than automotive; it’s as if Lululemon made a car.
Unlike other EVs of this size, the Firefly is a RWD small car. A 42.1 kWh (swappable) battery feeds a 141 horsepower motor placed at the back of the car. Performance is sprightly in city traffic, and ok elsewhere; 0-62 mph comes in about 8 seconds. Its performance specs are average, but the way the car handles is why the Firefly is so intriguing.
The Firefly’s chassis and ride engineers clearly were thinking of the Mini and Fiat 500 when they did the vehicle’s dynamic tuning. This car’s steering is surprisingly fast, and its suspension is curiously stiff for a market that generally prioritises ride comfort and super soft tuning.
I’m not convinced that its ride and handling are as sophisticated as a Mini (gas or electric), that car is just a little better at reining in some of the tougher bumps without bouncing.
Yet, that’s not discounting the Firefly. It’s still genuinely satisfying to drive. Unlike any Mini Cooper or Fiat 500, the Firefly is good at carrying people and is generally better equipped. Despite only being about 158 inches long, or about an inch shorter than a standard gas-powered 5-door Mini Cooper, the Firefly’s interior is so much more accommodating. The seats are upright, and there’s ample legroom for both rows of seats. The thing even has Dolby Atmos, cooled seats, and a power liftgate, things not typically found on cars this small. It even has a frunk with a drain that can accommodate an airline carry-on suitcase.
EV Range: 205 miles (WLTP)
Length: 157.6 inches
0-62 MPH: 8.3 seconds
Motor: single motor
Drive Type: RWD
Battery: 42.1 kWh (gross)
Charge Time: 10-80% in 29 minutes
Base Price: $16,700 (China spec, 119,800 RMB)
Seating Capacity: 5
Weight: 3,200 lbs (est)
This Battery Swapping EV Hatchback Is Coming For Mini And Fiat
https://insideevs.com/reviews/762288/nio-firefly-first-drive-china/
Nio Budget Brand Firefly Unveils First EV And It Looks Familiar
https://insideevs.com/news/745344/nio-budget-brand-debut/
NIO’s New ONVO And Firefly Brands Aim For Mass Volume In Europe
https://insideevs.com/news/713278/onvo-firefly-nio-volume/
NIO Planning Small Budget EVs For European Expansion
https://insideevs.com/news/663687/nio-small-budget-evs-europe/
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