The Saga of Emily – Part 1: My Honest Impressions of the NEVS Emily GT with Frank Smit as My Driver
I have personally test-driven around fifty electric cars and drive an EV daily (Polestar 2). So, I have a solid basis for evaluating the Emily GT and sharing my opinions about it.
In this article, I won’t go into too much technical detail about the car; instead, I want to share my impressions and overall experience with it.
One important factor to keep in mind is that this car was produced five years ago, in 2020. The development of EVs has advanced significantly over the past five years. Additionally, this is a prototype built in just ten months, so certain allowances must be made.
Table of Contents
A Modern Saab 9-5ng?
Looking at the exterior, several people have pointed out that the Emily GT resembles a modern Saab 9-5ng, and I completely agree.
The car is around 5 meters long, which is longer than one might expect. It’s also very low, under 140 cm in height. The exterior lighting is meticulously designed, featuring details such as an illuminated grille with a flame-like effect and the NEVS logo subtly glowing on the rear. There are no traditional side mirrors, as they have been replaced by cameras displaying the rear view on screens inside the car.
Inside the Emily GT
As the saying goes, the interior is what truly matters. Even though this is a prototype, the interior quality exceeded my expectations. There was very little exposed plastic visible, which was a pleasant surprise.
The cabin space is impressive both in the front and the back, despite the cockpit-like feel of the driver’s seat. I am 178 cm tall, and I had ample legroom both in the front and back, making it ideal for taller passengers or families.
I paid close attention to any creaks or loose panels, an issue that even some brand-new production cars suffer from. The Emily GT showed no such flaws—no creaky panels or misaligned interior parts (Tesla, I’m looking at your older models! 😜). The fit and finish felt tight and well-assembled.
The software is not yet fully functional—for example, the navigation system was not operational. However, I experimented with the interface, and I must say, the system ran smoothly. A lot of effort has clearly gone into ensuring fluid animations, and that effort is noticeable. Well done!
Driving Experience: A Go-Kart in Disguise
For a more detailed look at the driving experience, I highly recommend watching the accompanying video review. But I can tell you this—despite its size and width, the Emily GT handles like a go-kart.
Its road-holding capabilities are exceptional. While I have experienced EVs that accelerate faster on straightaways, this car is unbelievably quick through corners, despite its large size. The four electric motors contribute significantly to this, ensuring the car remains glued to the road. Thanks to air suspension, even rough roads are a joy to drive on. It almost feels like the car defies the laws of physics.
Room for Improvement
If I had to criticize something, it would be the steering wheel. The design feels very much like something from 2020, and if the car goes into production, I’d love to see an updated version.
Older versions of the Kia EV6 and BMW iX had two-spoke steering wheels, but their facelifted models now feature three-spoke designs. I’d like to see the same upgrade for the Emily GT. While the button layout is well thought out, I’d prefer physical buttons over capacitive touch controls.
Final Thoughts: A Car to Fall in Love With
The Emily GT is a car that’s easy to fall for.
If you have any questions about the Emily GT, feel free to drop them in the comments. I will do my best to answer them in the next article!
