Nissan Ariya Review

This is the brand new Nissan Ariya, and it's a big deal for the brand.

For starters, this is a fully and completely new model. The last new model introduced to Singapore was the Kicks, and even that was effectively a Juke replacement. The architecture underpinning the Ariya is all-new, developed jointly by Nissan and Renault.

The Ariya is a completely new model from Nissan, and marks the brand's clear intent to target a more upmarket EV positioning

And, the Ariya has also been a long time coming. Revealed in 2020, then delayed through the pandemic and chip shortages, the car only began production in 2022. Singapore, too, has been waiting. The Ariya was first showcased at last year’s Singapore Motor Show, and has finally just now begun to put rubber to tarmac.

So yup, there's quite a lot of riding on this new model.

The traditional Japanese geometric Kumiko pattern can be found within the front visor, and is echoed on interior trim elements as well

A different outlook

When first revealed, the Ariya impressed with its sharp, contemporary design, draped across a coupe-crossover body.

That, was 2020. Many new cars have been launched since, many also with design languages that share many of those same buzzwords.

In person, the Ariya still cuts a captivating figure (I think the copper paint would be even more attractive, but apparently so does everyone else because Nissan Singapore is struggling to get availability of those). I like that the exterior design embraces simple lines and clear forms. Admittedly, the overall shape is less stark as before (there's more than a hint of ID.5 to it), but I still think it's quite a looker.

The twin 12.3-inch screens offer plenty of functionality, but the graphics and typeface come across as dated especially when contrasted against the sleek and vibrant Apple CarPlay interface

Move into the cabin, and you can tell that this is very much a product designed and intended to break away from more traditional impressions of what a Nissan cabin can deliver.

Immediately, there is a sense of elevated quality. Plush materials abound, sleek design touches are everywhere you look, and build quality is impressive.

The Ariya features two 12.3-inch screens, one each for dashboard and infotainment. One design choice I do like is that many settings are actually toggled from the dashboard, using the steering mounted controls. This is quite intuitive, and less of a hassle then pressing a touchscreen.

The haptic controls are integrated under the wood trim, and allow you to adjust the (very chilly) air-con

The car also supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I will note that the infotainment, while functional and with built-in navigation, has an interface that is visually dated. This is especially stark when you look at a mirrored CarPlay screen with its vibrant colours and sleek fonts, then glance back toward a dashboard that has graphics and typeface that still feel stuck in the mid-2010s.

The Ariya also houses haptic controls for climate control within the wood-trimmed dashboard. I don't love haptic controls, but these work fine. I will point out that the air-con is extremely effective - I had it at fan speed 1, 25 degrees, and was pretty chilly throughout (on most cars I typically have it at 22 degrees).

The 466-litre boot is plenty deep for larger items, and can be further tweaked for more organisation options

Clever packaging also means that the Ariya has a flat floor, so three adults will lounge happily in the commodious rear cabin. And not just for rear passengers - it's true for the front too, which I guess gives you space to store bulkier items like a small handbag (or play footsie). Storage for bulkier items that won't fit within the cupholders has instead been transferred into a second glovebox, though that does present one issue.

There is both a USB-A and USB-C port at the front, but their particular placement near the base of the centre console, along with the general lack of immediately accessible storage cubbyholes, will likely mean that unless you reply solely on the charging pad, there will be some awkward cable mess.

Long drives are also going to be plenty comfortable thanks to the car's plush and neatly-trimmed Zero Gravity-inspired front seats.

The single-motor variant sends 160kW and 300nm of torque to the front wheels

Three drive modes are available, which affect throttle response and regenerative strength

Electric forward

Currently, the Ariya is offered in this single-motor variant, though a dual-motor setup is slated to come. In this form, you get 160kW (215bhp) and 300Nm of torque, which makes for a very brisk drive. 

The ride quality is mildly firm, but overall damping feels sophisticated and well-judged. At highway speeds, the car is planted and confident, and exterior noises are kept out quite well. 

I wish the steering wheel was perhaps 5% smaller in diameter, but otherwise it's a very easy car to drive. Steering is light, and the car is quite long but not that wide so judging road placement is not challenging. It's not the most exciting driving experience (which SUV actually is), but it is generally very pleasant. 

I wish the steering wheel was a tad smaller, but at least the majority of functions can be easily adjusted using the steering-mounted controls

Driven reasonably, the Ariya will return 400km of range on a single charge

The Ariya offers three drive modes, as well as an e-Pedal option. Chiefly, this affects the regeneration. Eco allows you to coast with regen off, while e-Pedal or Sport gives you notably more regen. Personally, I wish there was a more dedicated way to adjust regen on the fly (such as using paddle shifters), but I generally left the car in 'Standard' with e-Pedal off and found it fuss-free to use. 

Now, this single-motor variant comes with a 66kWh battery, which in today's market is about average-sized. Nissan quotes quite different range figures for City (502km) and Combined (383km) driving, and an energy consumption figure of 5.2km/kWh. Over a weekend's driving, I managed to achieve 6.1km/kWh, which would have put me at 406km on a full charge according to the car's on-board computer. That's a solid number.

High-quality materials and excellent build quality means that every passenger will find themselves amply comfortable within the Ariya

There are a few quirks about driving the Ariya, though. You do still have to manually turn on/off the car, whereas many EVs now can forgo that entirely (foot on the brake, engage D, go). And, you need to depress a button on the gear selector to engage R. It really should be simpler.

From a safety and driver assistance standpoint, the Ariya is reasonably well-equipped. Besides the usual sensors and warnings, you also get intelligent cruise control and intelligent lane intervention, though it's not quite the full suite of ProPILOT 2.0 (which offers hands-off single lane highway driving capability) that was part of the model's global launch.

Moving ahead

There's no denying that the Ariya represents a step upwards and forward for Nissan. It delivers a new level of style and interior polish, combined with an electric driving experience that takes a significant step forward from the previous all electric offering - the Leaf. Overall, it feels elevated over the rest of the present Nissan lineup (as it has every intention to be).

Yet, it's also hard to deny that the product feels like it was engineered in 2020 (because it was), and some aspects of it feel like it has already been marginally outpaced by newer, more contemporary rivals. 

And then there is the big elephant in this room, and that's the car's (big) price tag: $247,800. Just as many things about the Ariya is quite untraditionally Nissan, so is the price tag. (It's slightly hard to fully grasp that a more powerful, bigger battery and definitely more expensive variant will follow.)  

The Ariya is a well-accomplished EV that elevates itself above the current Nissan lineup, but that additional quality and functionality comes at a notable price premium

Sticker shock is going to be inevitable, though it's worth highlighting that the car's OMV is $50,000, bringing with it an additional tier of ARF taxes. That price tag (and OMV) moves the car into Audi/BMW/MINI/Tesla/Volvo/VW territory (the more compact models, that is), though admittedly the specific offering is still different. 

This is Nissan's new flagship - designed, positioned and priced as it is. It's distinct and splashy offering is slightly dulled by delays in market introduction, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that it is still high on polish, quality and capability.

More traditional buyers will gawk at the price tag, but the Ariya is the Nissan brand taking a step towards being more upmarket. On that front, it's not perfect, but it certainly succeeds. 

Here are other similar-priced coupe-SUVs that you may consider: 

The Volkswagen ID.5 is a competent and capable coupe-SUV

The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is a strong contender in the electric SUV segment

The iX2 is a capable, functional and practical electric crossover for buyers who want sharper styling, and a compact SUV that's not so ordinary