Nissan Ariya review

The Nissan Ariya is an all-electric family SUV, and the modern-looking model has all the factors to be a useful car to live with. With alternatives like the Volkswagen ID4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6, the Ariya has some stiff competition. 

As arguably the smartest electric SUV currently available, the Ariya sets out its stall early. The large grille housing the sensors and cameras, the sloping roofline and rear light bar all contribute to a very clean design. You can also choose a contrast roof design as an additional style choice. 

Inside, the stylishness continues, and you get clean lines across the dashboard, two large displays and a moveable central console means that you get plenty of simplicity and space, making the Ariya a very nice place to be. 

You’re able to get seats with NASA-inspired technology – specially-placed ridges and cushioning – to help reduce fatigue on longer journeys, which are very comfortable. There’s also decent headroom despite the sloping roof, while legroom is very impressive as there’s no transmission tunnel. 

The boot is where the Ariya loses ground to alternatives, as you get up to 466 litres with the front-wheel-drive model (408 litres in the all-wheel-drive version). All of its alternatives have more to offer in this segment – with the Skoda Enyaq offering 585 litres at the top end. 

You can fold the split rear seats down for a flat floor, but there’s no through loading and no extra space under the bonnet either, like you get with some electric cars. 

With the Ariya, you get the choice of front- or all-wheel-drive, as well as two battery sizes – 63kWh and 87kWh. The all-wheel-drive versions come exclusively with the 87kWh model, and you can get the ‘e-4ORCE’ performance version for maximum thrills.

All versions are well-equipped, but the Advance trim with the 87kWh battery pack offers the best overall package.

The entry-level power option offers 217hp, while the most powerful option has 394hp – pretty ferocious for a family SUV.

What’s pretty important with an EV though is how far it can go on a charge, and the Ariya is pretty competitive here. With the front-wheel-drive and 87kWh battery, Nissan claims a 310-mile range, but in the real world expect closer to 250 miles. Alternatives like the Polestar 2 and VW ID4 do have a claimed higher range. 

On DC charging, the Ariya can charge up to 130kW, which isn’t the fastest, but Nissan claims it charges at a more consistent rate compared to other EVs. 

Driving the Ariya is pretty relaxing, with only minor wind noise making its way into the cabin. But there are some jitters that come through the suspension that can make it a little unsettled over smaller bumps and cracks in the road. 

Around town, the handling is light to help with manoeuvring, while the electric power helps with getting out of junctions easily. However, there’s a large blind spot at the rear, while the rear window isn’t the biggest. You can get a rear view display instead of a mirror to help out though. 

With plenty of choices in the family EV segment, the Nissan Ariya is a smart option that will certainly provide plenty of comfort for passengers – just look into other options if you’re after more practicality too. 

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