- The (Nio) Firefly is a small subcompact EV hatchback meant to do battle with cars like the Mini Aceman or Fiat 500e.
- The model is so far only in China, but it will be in European markets before the end of the year.
- Like other Nio vehicles, the Firefly has swappable batteries.
Chinese battery-swapping electric-vehicle startup Nio has been selling cars in Europe for a while now too. But it’s had a rough go of things there. It launched with cars priced at the same level as BMW or Mercedes-Benz, in a market where buyers tend to be loyal to their luxury brands, and where Nio’s signature battery-swapping network isn’t as built out yet.
So, meet Nio’s European do-over: the Firefly hatchback, a direct electric competitor to the likes of Mini, Fiat and Volkswagen’s smaller models. But here’s the thing—the Firefly is even better.
Photo by: Kevin Williams/InsideEVs
I’ve made no secret of how much I liked the Nio Firefly after I tested one earlier this year. This small hatchback seems to be everything I’ve been looking for in an EV: cute, small, reasonably priced, and fun to drive. I said that much in my review of the car a few weeks ago.
It’s about the size of the current Mini Cooper, except a bit bigger in every dimension; it’s still tiny overall. Powered by a relatively small 42.1 kilowatt-hour (gross) battery, it’s rated at 205 miles of range, only costs about $17,000 in China, is packed with clever and innovative software features like iPhone-style finger-swipes for different functions, and since it’s rear-wheel-drive, it’s just a blast to drive.
Out of all the cars I’ve driven in China, this is one of my favorites. I didn’t want to give the keys back. I wish there were a way to somehow put it in my suitcase and take it home with me. (Editor-in-Chief Patrick George agreed, and being a two-time ex-Mini owner himself, he kind of drove it like he just robbed a bank. It’s that fun.)
But, just to drive the point home on just how good this thing is, we’ve got a video for you. I spent a full day with the Firefly and put it through its paces on Chinese roads. It’s a great little car.
The Firefly’s chances of coming to the U.S. are basically zero, but it is en route to Europe. In fact, this whole car was designed from the outset to cater to European drivers. The small, roughly Ford Fiesta-sized body hits right at the heart of what most European drivers are looking for. It’s a car that’s meant to be maneuverable and easy to park in any given European city.
Of course, it stands out on the wide and spacious roads of Shanghai. Buyers in China go more for big sedans and SUVs like we Americans do. It’s not a microcar country.
Still, I was able to get a great impression of this small hatchback. There’s a lot to like about the car, like its really fast steering or its rear-wheel-drive driving dynamics. Then there’s the essentially total elimination of range anxiety because the car’s little battery is totally swappable, just like other Nio vehicles.
Give our video a gander. I go into detail about just why this little runabout is special and what it means for the rest of the world.
Contact the author: Kevin.Williams@InsideEVs.com
