Nissan Ariya
The firm’s second electric vehicle after the Leaf delivers a high-quality, kit-laden interior and fine driving manners
THE Ariya catches the eye with its conceptcar looks, even in this entry-level Advance trim. Prices start from £43,845, with the optional panoramic roof (£1, 295) and the striking Akatsuki Copper paint with Pearl Black roof (£1, 225) bringing the total to £46,365 for our test car.
Design & engineering
IT ’S been a long wait, but Nissan’s follow-up to its groundbreaking Leaf family hatchback is here. The brand was one of the first on the EV market with the original Leaf, but now even the second-gen hatchback is getting long in the tooth. So the all-new Ariya couldn’t come at a better time for Nissan.
Beyond its branding, the SUV barely shares anything with the pioneering electric Leaf. An all-new Renault-Nissan Alliance platform called CMF-EV is shared with the French firm’s Megane E-Tech Electric. In the Ariya there’s a choice of 67kWh and 87kWh batteries – the larger of which comes with either a single motor with 239bhp and 329 miles of range, or a more potent twin-motor layout with four-wheel drive and 302bhp. That version’s range is slightly lower, at 310 miles. The single-motor, 67kWh model we’re testing offers 214bhp and a WLTP claimed range of 250 miles.
One of the Ariya’s greatest strengths is its cabin. There’s a clean, cohesive theme running throughout, with wood and leather-effect trims, plus ambient lighting inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns. It’s all used to great effect, adding a level of quality that the VW certainly can’t match, while even the pricier Genesis is lacking in some areas.
The haptic climate controls are set into the ‘wood’ dash trim strip below the central screen; while traditional knobs and buttons would be easier to use on the move, they’re large and well spaced, and the embossed icons mean you can feel for the control you want without taking your eyes away from the road. A gentle touch is all that’s needed .
Driving
ALL of these cars have their strengths, but as an overall package, the Ariya provides the most capable balance between ride and handling of the three. Sometimes its suspension feels slightly firmer than the other two, but it does a great job of rounding off harsh edges over bumps, so feels in control and comfortable. At lower speeds, a high-frequency bounce can occasionally be transmitted through the car, but it’s not that pronounced.
The benefit for the slightly firmer set-up is that the Ariya is the most composed when cornering – and by quite a margin. There’s not much body roll, plenty of grip, and it copes with mid-corner bumps more adeptly than either the Genesis or the Volkswagen. The Nissan’s steering is precise and responsive, so it turns in keenly. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is the most engaging family EV to drive, but the Ariya runs it very close, yet it’s also more comfortable and refined.
The Ariya’s single motor generates 214bhp, which is more than fine and 0-62mph is dispatched in 7.5 seconds. There’s a gentle initial response to the