Nissan has had a rough few years in China. Sales had been sliding. The brand looked increasingly out of step with what Chinese buyers actually want. Then the NX8 turned up.
Dongfeng Nissan, the Japanese brand’s Chinese joint venture, launched the all-new NX8 on April 8 — and within just 30 minutes of the order books opening, it had racked up 8,423 reservations.
The NX8 is a mid-size family SUV, the third model in Nissan’s China-specific N Series after the N6 plug-in hybrid saloon and the N7 electric saloon.
It comes in two distinct flavours: a pure battery electric version and a range-extended EV (REEV).
Both models start at 159,900 yuan (RM93,000), with a limited-time promotional entry price of 149,900 yuan (RM87,000).
On the BEV side, three trims — 580 Pro, 580 Max, and 650 Max — offer up to 650km of CLTC-rated range.
The standout trick here is the 800V architecture with 5C ultra-fast charging (limited to 650 Max and the Master Edition based on 650 Max): around 300km recovered in six minutes flat.
For those who want serious range without the charging anxiety, the REEV lineup is possibly the more interesting option. It’s an electrified car, using the petrol engine only as a generator.
The top-spec 310 Max puts up 310km of pure EV range and a combined total of 1,450km. Real-world figures will inevitably be lower, but as a headline number it’s genuinely impressive. Fuel consumption in charge-depleted mode comes in at 4.51 litres per 100 km — decent for a vehicle this size.
Inside, it’s thoroughly spec-heavy. Dual 15.6-inch displays, a 63-inch augmented reality head-up display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, Nissan OS 2.0, and a driver assistance system co-developed with Momenta — including urban and highway navigation on autopilot.
Nissan’s also squeezed in a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and 29 perception sensors in total.
The rear cabin deserves a mention too. Headroom of 1,285 mm means kids can apparently stand upright and change clothes back there, and there’s a bi-directional 6.3-litre fridge capable of anything from -6°C to 55°C.
BEV deliveries started immediately. The REEV will follow from mid-to-late May.
Whether the NX8 can sustain this early momentum against the likes of Li Auto’s L6 and Aito’s M6 remains to be seen. But the early signs suggest Nissan may finally have something genuinely competitive on its hands.
