With the Leaf, Nissan was one of the pioneers of electric mobility. The compact hatchback has been sold more than half a million times worldwide. The brand's first electric SUV, the Nissan Ariya, is now set to build on this success.
Life punishes those who are late. But even those who are too early get to look in the barrel from time to time. No one has had to learn this more painfully than the electric firsts. Because it doesn't matter whether it's a BMW i3, Renault Zoe, or Nissan Leaf - when they came out, they all attracted a lot of attention and earned praise. And were then overrun by the competition.
The Japanese have degenerated from the world market leader to the extras among the hatchbacks and are now correspondingly far behind. And then there was the scandal surrounding their President Carlos Ghosn, and afterward, the semiconductor crisis with Corona.
But now it should finally be over and the inventor of what was once the world's best-selling electric car is starting this summer to catch up with the new Ariya. Technically closely related to the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, but a class larger and a third more expensive.
Nissan Ariya is expected to be on the market in late summer and it will be facing strong competitors from big brands such as the VW ID.4, the Škoda Enyaq iV, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, or the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The Design
The Ariya is characterized by a combination of simple, modern design and advanced technology. Distinctive patterns and symbols, in which influences from the Japanese tradition are evident, are an elementary part of the Nissan design concept. The Japanese cherry blossom sakura and the stylized Kumiko pattern adorn the Ariya both inside and out.
The design of the new ARIYA is just as future-oriented: the design language, designed around a single horizon line, fascinates with narrow LED headlights that merge with the vehicle as if invisibly during the day. The appearance will be even more exclusive thanks to the illuminated NISSAN emblem.
The ARIYA is the expression of Nissan's new vision. A single horizontal line instead of blurred contours. New, narrow LED headlights shine brightly at night and are barely visible during the day. Inside, a flat floor and a roomy, lounge-like sense of space welcomes all passengers.
The Interior
Because it takes more than a clear conscience to feel good when travelling, Nissan is also taking the next step with the interior. That's why there's plenty of space even in the second row, a neat digital display, buttons that are nicely integrated into the consoles instead of annoying sensor fields, and a few cool gimmicks.
In addition to the glove compartment, for example, the Japanese have hidden an electric drawer in the dashboard and if you want more space, you can move the center console backwards electrically.
The Japanese Kumiko decor doesn't look bad on the Ariya either - even if the strictly geometric ornaments are made of plastic and not of cherry wood like in the luxury villas of Tokyo.
However, the infotainment is not quite as mature: Nissan has integrated Alexa and a Google search for points of interest in addition to its own voice control. Unlike the sister Renault, the Japanese do not yet use the complete operating system from Silicon Valley, i.e. Android Automotive OS.
When recuperating, there is no connection to the navigation system or to the vehicle in front, and if you want to condition your battery accordingly before stopping for charging, you have to switch off the heating yourself, which is now done automatically in many other electric cars.
The Power
The Ariya doesn't show any weaknesses on the drive: Like most electric cars, it handles surprisingly well for its size of 15 ft. Its torque build-up is faster than the tires can handle on wet asphalt and, of course, it is whisper-quiet.
The operating strategy is also catchy: the three different driving modes actually bring different characters to light and where other manufacturers bother their customers with countless recuperation levels, you either drive the Ariya like a normal car with two pedals or activate the e-pedal with the push of a button and drive without a mechanical brake.
The Ariya will initially be offered in three configurations: the basic model drives with a 160 kW electric motor on the front axle and a battery with a capacity of 63-kilowatt hours, which should last for up to 260 miles. The same engine is also available with an 87 kWh battery and a range of around 330 miles.
In the top model, the Japanese combine the large battery with a second motor on the rear axle and, with all-wheel drive, achieve 225 kW and a range of 305 miles. The performance-optimized "Performance" version will follow later, which even puts out 290 kW on the two axles.
It is charged at home or at the AC charging station either with a single-phase 7.4 kW or – for an extra charge – with a three-phase 22 kW, with the three-phase charger being installed as standard for the large battery.
Regardless of the size of the battery, up to 130 kW is possible with the DC charger, so that even the large battery can make the leap from ten to 80 percent within 40 minutes. On the highway, the 100 mph mark is possible for the front-wheel drive and 125 mph for the all-wheel-drive vehicle, which is quite unrivaled in this class.
Conclusion
The Ariya is tailored to the army of electric SUVs that are currently spreading at the charging stations. Internally, however, it is likely to make life difficult for the bestseller Qashqai. Because at just under 16 ft, it is similar in size, but thanks to the space-saving electrical engineering in the car floor, it is much more spacious.
It also looks a lot better with its illuminated front and the sleek roofline, but is also the first Nissan electric vehicle to offer something comparable, driving performance. Thanks to the optional all-wheel drive, it can even keep up off-road. And if you include the current subsidies and spice up the equipment a little bit, the two are not that far apart anymore.
Nissan Ariya will hit the market this year and if you are planning on buying one, you should also buy the proper equipment to protect it. You should definitely check out the Coverking’s catalog for custom covers and accessories, they will carry the best protective equipment as soon as it comes out.
Resources
- https://www.nissanusa.com/ariya.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Ariya
- https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/ariya
- https://insideevs.com/news/578035/nissan-ariya-delayed-again-chip-shortage/
- https://www.carwow.co.uk/nissan/ariya#gref
- https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/TOPICS/NISSAN_ARIYA/
- https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/ariya/hatchback/review/n24303
- https://ev-database.org/car/1302/Nissan-Ariya-87kWh
- https://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/2023-nissan-ariya-review-a7460569915/
- https://www.motortrend.com/cars/nissan/ariya/
- https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1135407_2023-nissan-ariya-electric-test-drive-review
Tankut Basar
Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.
