Nio is shaking up the electric vehicle market again with its new “family-focused” Onvo brand and its first offering, the L60 electric crossover SUV. Aimed at more budget-conscious buyers, the Onvo L60 promises practicality, range, and value that could make it a true rival to Tesla’s popular Model Y.
Nio Onvo L60: The Affordable Family Hauler
Set to hit the Chinese market this September with a starting price of just $30,500, the Onvo L60 undercuts the Tesla Model Y by around $4,000. And if it ever comes to the U.S. market, Nio claims it could be priced as low as $40,000 before incentives.
For that budget price, you get a pretty spacious electric SUV that Nio says has more cargo room than a “hoarder’s basement.” The company claims every occupant can bring their own luggage, making it an ideal road trip family hauler.
Nio Onvo L60 Exterior: Aerodynamic and Stylish
On the outside, the Onvo L60 looks like a sleek, aerodynamic fastback SUV. It measures:
- Length: 4.82 meters (15.8 ft)
- Width: 1.93 meters (6.3 ft)
- Height: 1.61 meters (5.3 ft)
- Wheelbase: 2.95 meters (9.7 ft)
Despite its size, Nio says the L60 has an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.229 Cd, making it one of the most aerodynamic SUVs on the market. The slippery shape aids efficiency and range.
Spacious and High-Tech Interior
Inside, the Onvo L60 has a premium, high-tech cabin that doesn’t look or feel “budget.” The highlight is the massive 17.2-inch central touchscreen, accompanied by a 13-inch digital instrument cluster.
Rear passengers aren’t left out either, with optional 8-inch entertainment screens. The front seats can fully recline when the vehicle is parked, allowing occupants to relax in maximum comfort during road trips.
Exceptional Range up to 621 Miles
But the Onvo L60’s key selling point is its incredible range potential of up to 621 miles on the top 150 kWh battery pack option, according to China’s extremely optimistic CLTC testing cycle.
Even being conservative, the 150 kWh semi-solid state battery pack (using cells from Welion) should provide at least 550 real-world miles of range. The other two options are:
- 60 kWh pack (345-mile est. range)
- 90 kWh pack (454-mile est. range)
And thanks to Nio’s 800V electrical architecture with ultra-fast charging capability, the L60 can reach a full charge in just 3 minutes at one of Nio’s battery swap stations.
Tesla Model Y Efficiency Comparisons
Nio claims the L60 is even more efficient than the Tesla Model Y, with a rated CLTC energy consumption of just 12.1 kWh/100km (5.1 mi/kWh) versus 12.5 kWh/100km for the Model Y in similar conditions.
If these numbers hold up in real-world testing, the Onvo L60 could legitimately outrange and out-efficiency the Model Y, while costing thousands less.
Of course, Nio has made bold claims before that didn’t fully pan out (like their EP9 electric hypercar). But their ET7 sedan with a 150 kWh pack did achieve an exceptional 649 miles of range in testing.
The Verdict: Wait and See, But Promising
So while I’m cautiously optimistic about the Onvo L60’s capabilities, I’ll wait to render a full verdict until we see final specs, pricing, and reviews for vehicles sold in international markets.
But if Nio can truly deliver a well-equipped, efficient, high-range electric SUV for around $40,000, the Onvo L60 could disrupt the EV market and put serious pressure on more expensive competitors like the Model Y.
For budget-minded families, the L60 could be the affordable, long-range EV they’ve been waiting for. I know I’ll be eager to take it for a spin if it ever comes stateside.
What do you think of the Onvo L60 based on what we know so far? Could an affordable, efficient long-range SUV like this find success or is the market too crowded already? Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
