Nissan Ariya Review Next Gen Electric Crossover with Advanced Tech

Nissan Ariya review: an impressive electric SUV with an upmarket feel

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Long-term tests

Road tests

Nissans electric SUV faced steady competition upon its arrival, and the market has continued to grow since then. From day one, it has faced cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4, and now the Ariya has even more fierce rivals to contend with, including the Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ4X.

The Ariya is based on the CMF-EV platform, which also underpins theRenault Megane E-Tech. Two battery options are available in the Ariya: a 63kWh model with a range of about 250 miles or a larger 87kWh unit with a claimed maximum range of 329 miles. Both of these versions are front-wheel drive.

If youre after the extra reassurance offour-wheel drive, then youre in luck. The top-of-the-range Ariya e-4ORCE uses a dual-motor set-up to drive all four wheels and deliver 389bhp. This version also features an 87kWh battery. However, the extra performance on offer and weight penalty of the four-wheel drive system means overall range takes a small hit, with Nissan claiming youll be able to cover around 310 miles before needing to recharge.

When it comes to trim levels, things are kept relatively simple, with three core options to choose from: Engage, Advance and Evolve. The standard equipment level is generous, and a small selection of option packs is available. At the very top of the range sits the Evolve+, but this is only available with the e-4ORCE powertrain.

Nissan Ariya long-term test

Our head of digital content, Steve Walker, is living with the Nissan Ariya as part of our long-term fleet. So far hes been reminded of why we named it our 2022 Car of the Year, as its proving to be a sturdy yet upmarket-feeling family car. The infotainment system, however, isnt quite as well laid out or responsive as he would have liked.

The Ariyas Efficiency during the colder months hasnt been particularly impressive, either, as Steve has only seen an average 3.0 miles per kWh. It may feel like a premium model, but Nissans SUV is also priced like one, too. Our dual-motor e-4ORCE Evolve variant costs a whopping 57,580 including options. You can read the full long term test here

Frequency Asked Questions

The Nissan Ariya stands out in the electric family SUV class thanks to its bold styling and wonderfully spacious cabin, and we've been impressed by the performance and refinement in all the versions weve tested.

When we tested the entry-level 63kWh Ariya we managed an average efficiency of 3.2 miles per kWh which gave us around 235 miles of range in mixed driving.

The Nissan Ariya only comes with five seats, but the similarly-sized Nissan X-Trail SUV can carry up to seven people and is now available with hybrid power.

Nissan Ariya: An in-depth look

• Production version of edgy concept unveiled
• Available with 63 and 87kWh battery packs
• Nissan says it has up to 500 kilometres of range

UPDATE: We've now driven a prototype of the Ariya, see our review at the link below!

The story to here

Nissan's second full-electric car has been unveiled. The new Ariya features concept car looks and is massive technological leap over the Leaf, thanks to an all-new platform, which will be shared with Joint Venture partners, Renault and Mitsubishi.

The concept, which was revealed at the 2019 Tokyo motor show, was praised for its cutting-edge design and it looks to have made it largely intact for the 2021 production version. You can see for yourself by scrolling through the gallery above. Top line is that it will be offered in two- and four-wheel drive form with two different battery packs, and a number of power outputs. Nissan says it has a 500 kilometre range in WLTP testing.

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Future electric cars

Unlike the Leaf which has effectively stood on its own, the Ariya uses a scalable platform optimised specifically for electric cars. Without the need to house an internal combustion engine, passenger space is elongated and the cockpit floor can be flat, with the batteries packed underneath.

63 and 87kWh battery packs, two- or four-wheel drive

The twin electric motor, all-wheel-drive Ariya models will feature Nissans most advanced all-wheel control technology, e-4orce. It has four-wheel drive and control, and Nissan says that it features a torque split system that mirrors the GT-R's set-up. If that's the case, we can't wait to try it and see how it compares with Tesla's Track Model as featured on the Model 3.

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The Ariya will be offered in 63kWh two- and four-wheel-drive forms, as well as a more powerful 87kWh model (front- and four-wheel drive). Top of the range will be the Ariya e-4orce 87kWh Performance, which combines the higher power drivetrain with the usual upgrades you'd expect in a range-topping EV.

Speaking of performance, Nissan says the 0-100 km/h time ranges between 7.6 seconds (for the two-wheel drive Ariya 63kWh) and 5.1 seconds for the 87kWh Performance model. Maximum speed ranges between 160 km/h and 200 km/h hardly enough to trouble a Tesla Model 3. As for weight, it comes in at a EV-typical 1800-2300kg.

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Nissan Ariya CCS charging system

The Ariya gets a Combined Charging System (CCS) connector for the European market. Charging tech includes a battery thermal control feature for its liquid-cooled battery and the Ariya 63kWh versions have a 7.4kW charger for domestic use. The 87kWh version can support a 22kW three-phase charger for home charging as long as your home does. For those using public chargers, the good news is that it supports rapid charging up to 130kW.

Design

The Ariya is a handsome thing with clean surfaces and a striking graphical face, including boomerang LED lights and a closed off grille for aerodynamic reasons.

Electric power is this clean powerful energy, so we wanted to echo that was clean powerful surface, Giovanny Arroba, Nissans EV Design Director told WhichCar.

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Indeed, the overall teardrop shape looks honed in the wind tunnel, to boost range. Air intakes at the front of the Ariya also create air curtains which help keep air attached to the side of the car.

We wanted to express the technology that we're bringing to market, this kind of democratisation of electric and technology, which we call intelligent mobility design, said Arroba.

The replacement of the Nissan V-motion grille with a shield design is a big change in direction: It was an open grille and was feeding the internal combustion engine with cooling air, explains Arroba. That has been replaced with this technology shield which packages are radar and camera.

The shield along with the with incisive-looking DRLs it melts into are surely the most striking part of the Ariya, and theyre a new signature for Nissan electric cars. I think the shield in combination with the signature lamps, that frame that face, that combination shows our brand identity, electrified, he confirmed.

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The Ariyas proportions show whats possible with Nissans 100% electric vehicle platform, said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissans senior vice president of global design at the Tokyo motor show. The surprisingly short overhangs, large cabin, large wheels and tailored two-tone paint scheme provide an elegant appearance that balances sport and luxury.

Its an entirely new design direction for Nissan, the first example of our new vision for our design language, which we call Timeless Japanese Futurism, said Albaisa.

And inside?

The Ariya isnt all joysticks and VR headsets, it features close to production interior that outlines a car that has semi-autonomous capability of the near future. This can car lives in a world where you still can engage and drive with the tactile feel of the steering wheel, Arroba assured us. Theres a touchscreen, digital cockpit and wheel-mounted buttons, and apart from some glowing switches on the dash, the Ariya cabin is grounded in reality.

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The Ariya is a one-pedal car to drive, just like the Leaf. It can accelerate, and brake following the car in front and keep within lane, as well as undertake hands-off driving between highway junctions so long as youve set the navigation just like the current Japanese-market Skyline. But next-gen features include automated overtaking, lane diversions and piloted exiting of the highway.

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Drivers okay the transfer to automated driving via a button; the pared-back interior lighting switches at that point to signify a more relaxed state. Whether the driver stays that way depends on how polished and bulletproof ProPilot 2.0 turns out to be assuming it can be homologated for use in Europe.

What are the autonomous car levels?

The Ariya gets the latest version of ProPilot. It also has a series of connected features. As soon as the key is detected, the seats and vehicle settings change to match the drivers preferences. It's connected, too, and offers 'hey Nissan' and Alexa voice command functionality.

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More space inside

Like many other electric cars, its interior is also more spacious than youd expect: Nissan has been able to move A/C components from the interior where theyd usually be packaged to the engine bay and given back the occupants some real estate in the process. Remove the transmission tunnel, and theres considerably more space in the Ariya than its outside shape suggests. In fact, its more D-segment inside, than its C-segment exterior.

Im sold when can I have one?

Nissan isnt saying exactly. But Albaisa promised you will soon be able to drive it. And thanks to the new platform which can be pushed and pulled into multiple sizes, expect it to step up the proliferation of pure EVs from the Japanese.

It needs to get a shift on, else its EV lead will disappear as Ford unleashes its Mustang-inspired electric crossover and Volkswagen its ID.4. Hopefully in a years time well be well on our way to experiencing the new Nissan Ariya.

This article was originally published on carmagazine.co.uk

2022 Renault Megane E-Tech Electric: Nissan Ariya's French cousin makes debut

The funky Renault Megane eVision concept car from last fall spawned its production version this week at the Munich auto show.

Called the Megane E-Tech Electric in production guise, the electric compact crossover goes on sale in markets where Renault operates starting in 2022. Unfortunately, the U.S. isn't one of them.

It's not all bad news as the Megane E-Tech Electric is based on the CMF-EV modular platform for future battery-electric vehicles from the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance, and we'll see the platform locally in the slightly larger Nissan Ariya crossover due out later this year as a 2022 model.

The Megane E-Tech Electric can best be described as a tallish hatch, similar to the recently revealed Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Bolt EUV, though like those vehicles it is being marketed as a crossover. The vehicle isn't a replacement for the current Megane hatchback, however. Instead it forms part of an extended Megane family.

Nissan Ariya

The vehicle will be offered with battery sizes of 40 and 60 kilowatt-hours. The latter should deliver a range approaching 200 miles on a charge. Charging at up to 130 kilowatts is possible, and the driver also has four levels of brake energy regeneration to choose from, with the selection done via paddles behind the steering wheel.

Power comes from a single electric motor, though Renault hasn't said whether the motor is mounted at the front axle or rear. What we do know is that two outputs will be on offer, with the more potent of these coming in at 214 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. This should see the Megane E-Tech Electric hit 62 mph from rest in about 7.4 seconds.

The Megane E-Tech Electric isn't the only EV planned by Renault. The French automaker is also developing a subcompact hatch previewed by the 5 Prototype unveiled in January, and billed as the spiritual successor to the classic R5 (known as the Le Car in the U.S.). This one is due in 2024.

For more from the Munich auto show, head to our dedicated hub.

New Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE 2022 review

The Ariyas tall, coup-like shape means rearward visibility isnt so generous, but you do get a digital rear-view mirror that displays a widescreen rearward view from a camera at the back rather than the letterbox look you get if you switch back to just using the mirror.

There are other star features inside this Evolve trim Ariya including a powered central storage unit that slides back and forth, and power for a secret compartment in the centre of the dash, alongside a traditional glovebox.

A digital dash display sits ahead of the driver, although this model gets a head-up display, too, while a responsive infotainment screen is present and correct.

Nissan has opted for separate heating and ventilation controls on the dash, but in a case of style over substance theyre touch sensitive pads rather than traditional buttons wed much prefer the latter to make sure you know youve actually adjusted the temperature.

The rest of the interior design is much more successful minimalist, but with a few unique design features such as the Japanese criss-cross patterning on the doors and in the centre of the full-width footwell, all tastefully lit at night.

That flat floor really does give a feeling of spaciousness in the front and the back, where access is good and theres plenty of head and kneeroom.

So all that we like about the Ariya is present and correct and, if you dont want to go the whole hog with Evolve trim, you can save yourself nearly 4,000 for the slightly less plush and lower tech e-4ORCE Advance.

But much as we like the Ariya, unless that extra grip is really necessary where you drive, the e-4ORCE isnt the sweet spot of the range. Wed stick with two-wheel-drive and let you decide on the battery size depending on the range you need.