Verdict
Coupe SUVs are often derided for insensibly messing with a proper working formula - flattening an originally boxy form into something slightly misshapen - all in the name of chasing trends. The Nissan Ariya, however, is so beautifully proportioned that you couldn't imagine it as anything else except a coupe SUV.
Arriving in Singapore this year at last - nearly two years since its preview at the 2023 Singapore Motor Show - Nissan's first all-new nameplate here in years still manages to feel fresh. It's only the brand's second fully electric passenger model to ever go on sale here, and rightfully feels light years ahead of its spiritual forebear (the Nissan Leaf) in terms of desirability, quality and even its quiet luxury.
You get the sense that the Ariya resulted from Nissan digging deeper into its roots. ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism' may sound like a bunch of buzzwords thrown together, but they actually make sense when beholding the car's sleek and minimalist form. As a special delight, traditional kumiko patterns - inspired by a Japanese woodworking technique - are dotted all over the car, starting from the car's front ‘grille', and continuing into its interior.
On the inside is where you'll get to experience that sense of quiet luxury mentioned earlier. Kumiko patterns aside, lending weight to the sense of heightened quality is the generous use of wooden surfaces - most notably across the dashboard's control panel, where illuminated buttons with haptic feedback offer a function yet upmarket. Built atop of a dedicated EV platform, the cabin is plush and spacious too, thanks to the flat floor both up front and at the rear.
All of that lightness and ease persists still when the Ariya hits the road.
Though not the fastest EV on the road, power is still plentiful thanks to the 150kW and 300Nm of instant torque from its single electric motor. Coupled with the car's light steering and supple suspension, every drive feels comfortable. What's more, the Ariya has it in itself to go the distance too, with its 66kWh battery providing us with a real-world range of between 400km to 450km.
Admittedly, the Ariya isn't the flashiest or buzziest new kid on the block. Nevertheless, this definitely feels like a confident step upwards and forward for Nissan, delivering newfound style and interior polish that elevates it over the rest of its modern-day siblings.