Nissan’s Newest Electric Vehicle

Base MSRP: From $40,000

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EPA Range: 300 miles of range
Charging Acceptance Rate: TBA kWh

The All New Nissan Ariya

Intro

The Nissan lineup is already full of sport utility vehicles – five to be exact. Yet there is nothing that will rival the newest model – the 2022 Nissan Ariya. The Ariya is a five-passenger compact SUV that is expected to be available to U.S. car buyers in the second half of 2021.

What separates it from the standard Nissan SUVs – Kicks, Rogue, Murano, Pathfinder, Armada – is that the Ariya is the company’s first all-electric SUV. Considering the success of the Nissan LEAF, a compact EV hatchback that has sales of nearly 142,000 entering 2019, one might ask what took so long for Nissan to debut an SUV.

Naturally Nissan is hoping the Ariya can compete in the ever-changing EV landscape. The number of pure electric cars or plug-in hybrids keeps multiplying and that includes the SUV category. Ariya will experience some stiff competition from the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevrolet Bolt-based SUV, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Nissan designers gave its new electric SUV a cool exterior look that many believe is sportier than the Rogue and cooler than the attractive Murano. The Ariya has a low, wide stance that features distinct, futuristic headlights and smooth, glossy exterior surfaces. It’s 1 inch shorter than the Rogue, but is 2 inches wider, an inch taller, and has a nearly 3-inch longer wheelbase.

The Ariya looks great and will deliver an impressive range, estimated at 300 miles with the larger of its two battery offerings. That tops the LEAF, which has a range of 226 miles. More importantly, the Ariya’s 300-mile range exceeds others in its class and keeps it on par with most of its contemporaries.

Price is another plus for the Ariya. It’s estimated to start at around $40,000 – and note that $7,500 will be subtracted due to a federal tax credit.

Power and Speed

The Ariya also has two motor choices – a single motor that will deliver 215 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque and a dual-motor version that generates 389 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the dual motor is expected to go 0-60 mph in a quick 5.0 seconds. The single motor is front-wheel drive and can’t match the double one for acceleration.

Like many EVs, the Ariya will have autonomous driving as an option. The ProPilot 2 is hands-free and the system employs a small camera to make sure the driver’s eyes stay on the road.

The camera is not the Ariya’s only safety feature. It comes standard with blind spot, forward collision, and lane departure warning. It also has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic warning with automatic braking, and automatic high beams.

Interior Space

The interior that features ambient lighting and wood trim is another strength of the Ariya. Nissan feels the SUV’s flat, low floor increases the feeling of space inside. The Japanese automaker has also added what it refers to as slim zero-gravity seats that give the Ariya more head and leg room for rear passengers.

The Ariya has a 12.3-inch display that serves as an infotainment system as well as the driver’s instrument cluster. Nissan gave the cabin a no-nonsense look by utilizing almost no buttons and giving the dashboard a sleek, smooth appearance.

Cargo space is not expansive, measuring 16.5 cubic feet (14.5 cubes in AWD mode). The Ariya has a good standard package that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Charging

The two batteries are the standard 63.0-kWh one and a larger 87.0-kWh optional pack. The Ariya can be charged at home on a 110-volt or 240-volt outlet, and public DC fast-charging ports as well. Nissan has yet to offer estimated charging times.

Conclusion

Nissan’s first attempt at an all-electric SUV is a good one. The 2022 Nissan ARIYA delivers strong performance, offers good range, has an upscale interior, and seems to be priced about right.

— J.W.