Nissan was early with electrification. The all-electric hatchback Leaf was launched back in 2010 and became an early player in the fast-growing electric car market in the coming years.
Today, there are lots of electric SUV options from a number of different countries. Building an electric car like an SUV is particularly well suited because the battery fits at the bottom of the car.
After many years of high demand for the Leaf model, Nissan chooses to launch another electric car – this time as an SUV and named Ariya.
Let’s find out if the Nissan Ariya has what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
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Our test car was in a really dark green. (Photo: Joel Sandberg)Lines like soft ice cream
Ariya’s design is permeated by soft lines that bring to mind something similar to a concept car.
The front is largely filled by the black plastic part that has replaced the place where the grill is normally placed on an internal combustion car.
The front lights are narrow and the long daytime running lights blend in with the body’s shape.
The most distinctive part of the rear is a narrow LED strip that sweeps across the entire tailgate and which forms the car’s taillights.
It is clear that Nissan has tried to achieve a clean and sleek design that is similar in profile Kia EV6 with a distinctly sloping roofline that partially masks the car’s height.
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Our test car was front-wheel drive. (Photo: Joel Sandberg) Touchen’s time meets Ariya
On the inside, you are greeted by a stripped-down design that basically completely lacks physical buttons.
Behind the two-spoke steering wheel are two screens, one that replaces the gauge housings and one for the infotainment system.
There is a physical knob for the volume and a button to change the song that is camouflaged in the ventilation grill.
If you want to adjust the temperature, fan speed or turn on the defroster in the back, there are touch buttons on the wooden inlay just below the infotainment screen.
It’s a unique solution that in my eyes looks good, but forces the driver to take their eyes off the road to make sure the finger hits the right spot.
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The interior is a lounge story. (Photo: Nissan) The Nissan Ariya is surprisingly quiet
The Nissan Ariya offers high comfort with relatively soft springs and soft seats that are comfortable to travel long distances in. In addition, the materials in the interior are of high quality and pleasant to the touch.
The model is far from sporty, but that is hardly what any potential buyer expects.
In addition, the noise level in the passenger compartment is extremely low. The drivetrain is not heard at all and the tire noise, which is usually a cause of noise in electric cars, is almost non-existent.
At highway speed, however, some wind noise seeps in around the rear-view mirrors.
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The rearview mirror is a digital story. (Photo: Joel Sandberg) Not very inspiring
If you choose the smaller battery of 63 kWh in the Nissan Ariya, the model is front-wheel drive.
This means that the driving experience is not as inspiring as its rear-wheel drive competitors.
In addition, the combination of high weight and a moderate number of horsepower hardly results in any breakneck acceleration.
However, the Ariya feels responsive on throttle thanks to the direct torque made possible by the electric powertrain.
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Ariya is nicer with four-wheel drive. (Photo: Joel Sandberg) Space in abundance
When it comes to practicality, there isn’t much to complain about.
The floor is completely flat and there are lots of smart storage spaces in the interior. A party trick that Ariya offers is a hidden compartment under the screen that opens and closes electrically.
In addition, the entire center console can be moved forwards or backwards, to maximize space in the back seat or in the front, at the push of a button.
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Complicated technology
The driver’s display is clear and attractive, but the infotainment system is sometimes difficult to use and the menus are messy.
Thankfully, there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to help enhance the experience.
It is possible to control some of the car’s functions via an app, which is unfortunately quite limited.
For example, you can remotely start the heating in the passenger compartment, but it is not possible to control the seat heating or the defroster for the rear and front windows. However, I can imagine that it is something that a software update could solve in the future.
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Ariya has some frustrating software. (Photo: Joel Sandberg)Nissan Ariya delivers on several points
The Nissan Ariya gives a good overall impression and is a welcome addition to Nissan’s narrow model range for electric cars.
The problem becomes apparent when you examine the fact sheet more closely and compare the price tag against the alternatives on the market.
Some of Sweden’s most popular electric cars in 2023 were the Kia Niro EV, the Volkswagen ID.4 and the gold medalist who topped the list of Sweden’s best-selling car in 2023, the Tesla Model Y.
All of the SUVs mentioned above cost roughly the same in basic trim, but both the Niro EV and Model Y have a longer range.
The competition is tough and the important issue of range does not favor the Nissan Ariya which is drawn with relatively high energy consumption.
If you like the soft design language and appreciate the good comfort it offers Ariya on a pleasant overall experience.
A strong recommendation is to choose the four-wheel drive version, which enhances the driving experience somewhat.
We tested Ariya for two weeks. (Photo: Joel Sandberg) Rating of Nissan Ariya: 3.5/5
Nissan Ariya 63 kWh Evolve (2024)
Engine: Electric motor, 214 horsepower, 300 newton meters.
Transmission: Automatic transmission, front wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 160 km/h
Battery: 63 kWh
Scope: 393 km WLTP
Weight: 1,980 kg
Dimensions (length/width/height): 4595/1850/1660 mm
Award: SEK 513,500 (Test car approx. SEK 620,000)