Test Drive of NETA S Shooting Brake

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So, shooting brakes and wagons haven't exactly been hot sellers in China—until now. Thanks to models like the ZEEKR 001 and NIO ET5T, this category is finally gaining traction and turning into a bit of a trend. Today, we're diving into the latest from NETA Auto: the NETA S Shooting Brake. Not only does this car look sleek, but it's also the only extended-range model in China's new energy shooting brake market right now. If you love long road trips, this one is for you!

Photo credit: NETA Auto

The NETA S Shooting Brake officially hit the market on August 25, with six variants to choose from, including two extended-range models and four all-electric ones. Prices range from 159,900 RMB to 209,900 RMB. But today, we're lucky enough to be test-driving the unreleased Extended Range 300 Max model. We took it on highways during the National Day holiday travel rush, giving us plenty of time to really experience its intelligent driving features and how it handles on the road.

Before we kick off the road trip, let's cover some quick specs. The Extended Range 300 Max packs a 43.88 kWh ternary lithium battery, giving it a battery-powered range of 300 km and a combined range of up to 1,200 km. Compared to the Standard and Pro versions, this one's loaded with smarter driving features. It comes with the NETA AD MAX intelligent driving assist system, a 128-line LiDAR unit on the roof, 5 millimeter-wave radars, 11 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars. In total, it's got 30 sensors to help with driving. Powering all that is the NVIDIA Orin-X smart driving chip, which already supports the NNP highway navigation assistance function.

After testing out its highway driving assist, here's my quick take: the driving style is super smooth and steady. Why do I say that? Let me break down a few key moments.

First off, when it comes to avoiding big trucks, this car's performance is seriously impressive. I could feel it subtly shifting away from larger vehicles as we passed, and it even sped up a little during the overtake. The whole process felt seamless and reliable.

When we were approaching an exit ramp, the system started planning over 2 kilometers in advance, trying to merge into the middle lane. Overall, it did a pretty good job, though I did notice it crossed the lane lines a bit after getting onto the ramp. In more complex situations, like needing to switch lanes multiple times to exit, the system definitely tried to get ahead by signaling early. But when it came time to actually change lanes, it hesitated a bit.

Photo credit: NETA Auto

One thing that really stood out to me is how the NNP system (that's the highway assist) handles lane changes and overtakes. When there's plenty of space in the lane, it confidently accelerates, sometimes even better than a lot of human drivers. But as soon as traffic picks up, even if there's enough room and speed for a safe lane change, it tends to hold off, preferring to stay in the lane and wait for more space. This is probably because the algorithm puts a big emphasis on safety, which explains the extra caution.

What surprised me in a good way, though, is that if I felt like the system was being too slow and decided to take over—maybe speed up or change lanes myself—the NNP didn't disengage. Once I was done, it smoothly took control again, no problem. That continuity made the whole experience much more pleasant.

Overall, I'd say this system prioritizes safety over speed, which can make it feel a bit slower in heavy traffic. But with future OTA updates, I'm confident it'll get better at handling more complex situations.

One more thing: its performance in stop-and-go traffic is pretty solid. When we hit traffic jams during the holidays, the system really helped save some energy and cut down on driving fatigue.

Alright, let's dive into how the vehicle actually feels on the road! This model comes standard with a double wishbone front and five-link rear independent suspension across the board. And since it's a shooting brake, the ground clearance is 18mm higher than the sedan version—154mm when unloaded and 133mm fully loaded—making it much better suited for rougher country roads. The mid- to high-tier versions also come with these slick 20-inch aluminum alloy sport wheels. When the car is moving, the wheels spin in a way that looks like a lotus flower in motion—pretty cool, right?

For this test drive, we got a mix of highway and city driving. On the highway, the car's stance felt super stable, giving you plenty of confidence when accelerating or switching lanes. The suspension is also pretty flexible, so while you still feel the road a bit, it keeps things comfy inside. When driving in the city, it started raining, and even on the wet roads, the car handled starting and accelerating smoothly. No slipping, and the power delivery was steady, even when I pushed the speed a little higher. When we went over small speed bumps or road seams, the suspension filtered out most of the bumps, so the ride stayed smooth. Compared to the sedan version, the shooting brake has a smaller turning radius, making U-turns in the city a breeze.

Now, once you sit inside, you'll notice that the layout of the cabin is similar to the current NETA S and NETA GT. There's a massive 17.6-inch center control screen and a 12.7-inch fully digital instrument panel right in front of the driver. Even the steering wheel design gives you a sense of déjà vu.

But where the shooting brake really steps it up is in the materials. The interior's got a major upgrade with tons of suede-like materials. You'll find it on the seats, the front center armrest cover, and the inside of the door panels, all paired with detailed stitching for a more premium vibe.

Speaking of seats, they're super comfy. The padding up front is a bit firm, but still feels plush, and the midsection gives great back support. The version we tested comes fully loaded with ventilated, heated, and massaging seats for both the driver and front passenger. The rear seats are also heated, with adjustable backrests, and the center armrest has a pop-out cupholder. Nice touch, right?

One of the coolest features up front is the center armrest box. Get this—it doubles as a 6.5-liter mini fridge! It opens from both sides and can chill your drinks between -6°C and 6°C, or keep them warm at 35°C to 50°C. And if you're not using it for drinks, it's just a handy storage compartment.

Now, let's talk about the interface. The car's system is super intuitive. Tap the icons in the top status bar, and you'll easily pull up all the essentials like energy consumption data, Bluetooth connections, and the dash cam—everything is right where you need it, no digging around.

If you're a fan of HUDs (head-up displays), you’ll love this car's AR-HUD. It's a massive 49 inches, supports multiple display modes, and really helps take the pressure off checking road info while driving.

Since this is a shooting brake, the trunk space is another highlight. The rear cargo area is huge, with a standard capacity of 593 liters, which expands to 1,295 liters with the rear seats folded down. And aside from all that space, the trunk is super functional. You've got a 12V power socket, a 220V outlet, and a USB-A port, so you're covered for most of your charging needs. Plus, there are a couple of neat little details like pop-out hooks on the trunk lid, each able to hold about two kilograms.

All in all, I think the NETA S Shooting Brake is a great-looking car with solid features, smooth smart driving, and a budget-friendly price. What do you guys think about its competitiveness in the electric shooting brake and wagon scene? Let me know in the comments below! That's it for today's review. See you next time!