2023 Nissan ARIYA

A trim to avoid. You might think that upgrading to Ariya’s larger battery pack would maintain or enhance the specifications found lower down the range. Yet for reasons best known to themselves, Nissan has decreed that the supposedly mid-range Venture+ trim misses out on the heated, power-adjustable synthetic leather seats fitted to cheaper models. Despite being the cheapest way into the more powerful model, this is a trim to miss.

The rest of the Ariya range is impressively well-equipped. Base Engage models host the seats mentioned above, alongside heated power-folding outside mirrors and WiFi hotspot capabilities. Note that while Apple CarPlay is wireless, Android users still need to plug in a cable – at least there are plenty of USB sockets dotted around. Evolve+ adds wireless device charging and a heated steering wheel to a surround-view camera system and hands-free liftgate, making this our pick of the range.

A glimpse into a safer future. The second generation of Nissan’s Pro Pilot Assist platform combines cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors to provide technically hands-free driving on over 200,000 miles of TomTom-mapped highways across North America. It does require the driver’s attention, so expect your eye and head movement to be constantly monitored even through polarized sunglasses. At times it all feels a bit gimmicky (what’s the point of automatic lane changing when you have to touch the blinkers and keep both hands on the wheel?), but it’s indicative of progress in this aspect of highway safety.

The Ariya’s other safety aids include automatic braking at both ends of the vehicle, adaptive cruise with navigation-based settings, and blind spot monitoring. Unfortunately, we don’t know how safe it’ll be in a crash because neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has tested it yet.

A decent performer. Nissan designed the Ariya to feel more like a petrol car than anything else. That’s good because it means performance is linear and responsive, but bad because it’s not all that rapid. Anyone expecting breakneck acceleration will be disappointed by 0-60 times north of seven seconds from the 63kWh battery pack. A more powerful 87kWh system is also available, generating an extra 24hp but the same 221 lb-ft of torque. We’re intrigued to see how the forthcoming AWD dual-motor version performs when it goes on sale in 2023, though it’s hard to forgive its dreadful name – E-4orce.

For now, you’ll have to make do with FWD and no towing capacity – the E-4orce will be able to pull 1,500 lb. There’s a sense that Ariya’s suspension has been designed to cope with the AWD system that’s not here yet since it feels a bit springy. Road holding is poor at times, with the front wheels struggling for grip under acceleration and pitching into bends, while the steering is as soft as the suspension. At least journeys are comfortable. Fuel economy is exceptional; the base model will return 101 MPGe over a 216-mile range, while the 289-mile 87kWh version still delivers 98MPGe.

Final thoughts. When you consider the Ariya is Nissan’s first all-electric passenger car since the original Leaf, it’s been worth waiting for. There are lots to admire here – a stunning cabin, outstanding fuel economy, generous standard equipment (Venture+ trim notwithstanding), and 37 inches of rear legroom ahead of a tiered cargo floor with hidden storage. Higher models are luxuriously equipped, while every Ariya has a glorious floating screen extending two-thirds of the way across the dash. Safety is impressive across the range, and there’s a palpable sense that you’re driving the future.

Even so, the Ariya is far from perfect. Its looks are Model X dumpy, its performance is underwhelming and the wider driving experience is as you’d expect from an electric SUV. That’s not meant as a compliment, particularly since the hands-free driving functionality remains more a gimmick than a Godsend. The forthcoming AWD version will probably marry with the suspension better than today’s oddly spongy FWD models. It’s also disappointing that the warranty is a basic three-year, 36,000-mile affair, though at least the battery has eight years of coverage. The Ariya is undoubtedly a fine car, and it represents a huge leap forward for Nissan, but it’s not quite a masterpiece.

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