New Nissan Ariya Review

It’s no mystery why the new Nissan Ariya has tied people in knots – when Nissan comes with a new electric car, you should get excited. Lest we forget that the Japanese automaker started the electric revolution early with the recently-laid-to-rest Nissan Leaf, so they have more pedigree than the majority of manufacturers now hopping onto EV technology. With their new all-electric crossover, they are looking to expand that quality experience.

By stepping into this category, the Nissan Ariya is competing with the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4, Audi Q4 e-Tron, Kia EV6 and so much more. With all these models to look over their shoulders for, how can the new Ariya stand out? We look at it from all angles – from its design to its driving and performance as an EV – to find out.

Design and Interior

With the Ariya, Nissan has leant into the company’s identity as Japanese artisans. From the front, the bodywork is reminiscent of a robot helmet with its curvy shape and one single, sleek horizontal sweep across the hood. Bulky and stubby at the same time, its silhouette looks best at the crouched rear which shows off the aerodynamic shape of the crossover. It’s far better looking than the Nissan Qashqai.

Moving to the interior, Nissan has focused the Ariya on simplicity, allowing it to be more refined as a result. The dash is constructed like the cockpit of a starship with very large, sweeping layers (to match the front grille), huge high-def screens and touch control buttons that you’d sooner expect to be on an induction hob. This is coated in suede effect material and wood veneer, feeling like a valiant attempt to contrast a traditional feel with the inventive tech such as an electrically-deployable tray underneath the centre console. Practicality is a plus point, too, as everyone will have plenty of headspace and in the back, rear passengers have vast amounts of foot space.

EV Specs and Performance

The Nissan Ariya carries over the Nissan Leaf’s game-changing reliability as an EV with some upgraded technology. Able to drive anywhere between 250 to 310 miles depending on the model and road conditions, you will be able to do so with Nissan’s ProPilot system of Level 2 automated driving. This is also known as “hands-off” driving where the car can control accelerating, steering and braking (learn more in our guide to the different levels of driving autonomy).

Drive

Driving the Nissan Ariya gives you exactly what a crossover is pitched as. With the low dashboard, you get a wide, commanding view of the road, but handling the Ariya, you’ll soon realise that this is an enthusiastic car beaming with personality and a thirst for excitement. Grippy in the corners with a firmer ride than most, you may not have the overwhelming surge of power of a more compact electric car but you’re not going to find yourself coming out of a slip road ruing the day you got one of these. In its driving style and design, the Nissan Ariya is certainly not your average crossover SUV.

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