2022 Nissan Ariya revealed: price, specs and release date

May 24, 2021 by

The new Nissan Ariya electric car is on the way. It’s Nissan’s first electric SUV and promises up to 310 miles of range and a 394hp performance model. Read on to find out more.

  • Nissan Ariya to go on sale in late 2021
  • Brand’s first all-electric SUV
  • Both AWD and 2WD variants to be offered
  • 217hp to 394hp options will be available
  • Between 211 and 310 miles of range
  • All new voice-command tech
  • Advanced ProPILOT driver assistance systems
  • Pricing to be confirmed

The Nissan Ariya is the brand’s first purpose-built electric SUV. It’s similar in size to the popular Qashqai SUV and will be an alternative to the Volkswagen ID4, Skoda Enyaq and the upcoming Tesla Model Y when it goes on sale in late 2021.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV design

Check out the Nissan Ariya in this video

Some electric cars are based on existing petrol- and diesel-powered models, such as the BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQA, but the Ariya has been designed from the ground up to be an electric car. This means the front grille need not feature large intakes or other airflow-disrupting additions.

So, starting from a clean slate has given Nissan’s engineers more creative leeway in creating the Ariya, and it shows. From the smooth front end to the swoopy roofline, the Nissan Ariya looks far more futuristic and purposeful than the Mercedes EQA or BMW iX3.

The sloping roof and extended rear spoiler give the Ariya a coupe-like silhouette.

The roof spoiler and full-length rear taillight are sporty touches that add further visual appeal to this family-friendly SUV. It bears some resemblance to the upcoming Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe rather than the traditionally more boxy SUVs currently on sale.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV interior

The Nissan Ariya’s interior is about as minimalist as it gets.

The pleasantly sporty and futuristic design theme is carried through into the cabin as well. The Nissan Ariya is a case study in elegant minimalism. The LED strips highlight the simple yet functional layout, with twin digital displays taking care of most in-car functions.

The wooden dashboard trim and centre console panel incorporate touch-sensitive controls that replace physical buttons. It’s as simple and well-organised as Marie Kondo’s filing cabinet.

These heating controls should be easier to use than the on-screen controls you get in many new cars. 

Thankfully, the heating controls aren’t built into the touchscreen (which can make them tricky to use on the move), instead they’re separate touch-sensitive pads on the dashboard.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV infotainment and touchscreens

The Ariya’s two large screens are the largest fitted to any Nissan. 

The Nissan Ariya’s infotainment system will be as radical a step on from other Nissan setups as the drivetrain. Two 12-inch screens stretched across the dashboard will take care of the functions of a conventional dashboard and centre console touchscreen.

Over-the-air updates mean your Ariya will always have the latest software available.

The majority of the car’s features will be controlled through the central touchscreen, or by using the new ‘Hey Nissan’ voice command system – similar to the systems in the latest Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen cars. This lets you program the sat-nav, make phone calls and adjust the heater settings without taking your hands off the wheel.

Over-The-Air updates will also be part of the Nissan Ariya’s comprehensive infotainment system, so important software changes or upgrades will be taken care of via the built-in 4G connection. This means you needn’t take your car back to the dealership to install the latest updates.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV motors and performance

The Ariya will be available with two- and four-wheel drive.

The Nissan Ariya will be available with one or two motors, making it two- or four-wheel drive. Two-wheel-drive cars with a 63kWh battery produce 217hp and will take 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 0-60mph. The 87kWh models will produce 242hp, but take 7.6 seconds to reach 60 from rest due to their heavier battery pack.

Dual-motor cars with a 63kWh battery produce 278hp and can manage the 0-60mph sprint in 5.9 seconds, while 87kWh versions take 5.7 seconds thanks to their 306hp motors.

If you want even more there’s also a Performance model. This also uses the same 87kWh battery pack but produces 394hp from its two motors and reaches 60mph from zero in just 5.1 seconds.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV range and charging

The most long-legged Ariya can manage up to 310 miles between charges.

The cheapest 63kWh two-wheel-drive Nissan Ariya can manage up to 223 miles between charges while the 87kWh version can manage up to 310 miles.

Opting for a four-wheel-drive Ariya reduces the range by a few miles. The 63kWh model has 211 miles of range while the 87kWh car will manage up to 285 miles. Performance versions with the 87kWh battery pack have 248 miles of range.

The 63kWh cars come with a 7.4kW home charger while 87kWh models get a faster 22kW 3-phase charger for even faster home charging. You’ll also be able to plug your Ariya into a 130kW public fast charger to rapidly add a few extra miles of range to get you to your destination. Nissan hasn’t yet confirmed how long it’ll take to charge the Ariya using any type of charger.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV bootspace and practicality

Four-wheel drive versions of the Ariya sacrifice a little boot space, but they’re still pretty roomy.

The Nissan Ariya is an electric car that needs to be able to carry enough luggage for a family weekend away – at least. Two-wheel-drive cars can carry 466 litres of luggage while four-wheel-drive versions are limited to 408 litres. That’s not too bad when you compare it to the 430-litre boot you get in a Qashqai, but it’s some way behind the X-Trail’s 565-litre load bay.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV e-pedal

The Nissan Ariya comes with the same e-pedal tech as the latest version of the Nissan Leaf hatchback (shown above). This uses brake regeneration (a system where the car’s motor is used as a brake to simultaneously slow the car and recharge the batteries) to automatically slow the car to a stop when you release the accelerator pedal. It means you can get around using only one pedal in most normal driving conditions.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV safety tech

Numerous sensors will help the Ariya park itself. 

The Nissan Ariya comes with Nissan’s ProPILOT suite of driver assistance systems. This combines active lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and data from the sat-nav to accelerate, brake and steer for you on motorways and in traffic. It’ll also slow down automatically when you approach sharp bends, roundabouts and junctions.

2021 Nissan Ariya EV specs

Expect the new Nissan Ariya to go on sale before 2022 and cost from around £40,000. 

Below is a table showing the specs for each of the five Nissan Ariya models:

Nissan Ariya
Ariya (2WD) Ariya (AWD – e-4ORCE)
Battery 63kWh 87kWh 63kWh 87kWh 87kWh Performance
Power 217hp 242hp 278hp 306hp 394hp
Torque 300 Nm 300 Nm 560 Nm 600 Nm 600 Nm
0-62mph 7.5 sec. 7.6 sec. 5.9 sec. 5.7 sec. 5.1 sec.
Top speed 99mph 99mph 124mph 124mph 124mph
Range Up to 223 miles Up to 310 miles Up to 211 miles Up to 285 miles Up to 248 miles

2021 Nissan Ariya price and release date

Nissan hasn’t confirmed how much the Ariya will cost when it goes on sale in late 2020 or early 2021, but it’ll probably be one of the most expensive cars the brand makes. Expect to pay from around £40,000 to £45,000 for an entry-level two-wheel-drive 63kWh car and closer to £60,000 for a top-spec Performance model.

None of these new cars is expected to qualify for the Government’s £2,500 plug-in car grant because they’ll cost more than the £35,000 price cap.

If you can’t wait for the Nissan Ariya, check out carwow’s pick of the best electric cars on sale now. 

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