2023 (23) Nissan Ariya 178kW Evolve 87kWh 22kWCh 5dr Auto

Nissan's Ariya is an often-overlooked choice in the upper-mid-sized part of the EV market. Jonathan Crouch looks at the updated version.

Ten Second Review

The Ariya, here lightly improved, has broadened Nissan's EV range up-market, an upper-mid-sized Coupe-Crossover that really seems to have the 'want one' factor missing from so many family-segment electric vehicles. It's boldly styled, has a cutting-edge cabin and offers a choice of battery sizes and drivetrain options. Think EV are dull? Check this one out.

Background

Every major brand has been developing Electric Vehicles over the last decade. But only a few have been doing so with actual customers, selling cars from actual showrooms. One of these brands is Nissan, who established the concept of an all-electric family car with the innovative LEAF all the way back in 2011. Before in 2022 bringing us a follow-up, that difficult second album, this car, the Ariya. Much of that time was spent creating the platform this car sits upon, the CMF-EV chassis that also underpins its very similar close cousin, the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. That car is positioned in size and price very similarly to the current-day Nissan LEAF, so this one, its name based on the Japanese word for 'honourable', must be a slightly larger, slightly more aspirational, more up-market thing. A mid-sized Crossover aimed at entry-level Tesla territory and the EV market's most over-crowded segment. In Spring 2026, a package of updates were introduced, creating the car we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience

There aren't really any engineering changes to this lightly updated Ariya, though Nissan says it has updated the suspension tuning for improved stability, reduced vibrations and a smoother driving experience, particularly over long distances. That should help the unsettled ride over poor surfaces we noticed on the original model, a failing that characterises quite a few EVs in this class. The car sits on a bespoke CMF-EV platform primarily created for front-driven models like this Nissan's Renault Megane E-Tech Electric close cousin - which isn't ideal for this Ariya in a class where some rivals are more maturely propelled from the rear. Still, Nissan says it set out here to 'amplify the fun-to-drive aspect' of electric mobility. A heavy old EV; fun to drive? That might be a new concept for you. If so, the brand wants to change your mind. This car is certainly weighty, tipping the scales at between 1.9 and 2.2-tonnes, depending on spec. But it counters with sharp steering and near-perfect 50-50 weight distribution. You're reminded of the class below by the size of the volume model's battery pack - 63kWh of usable capacity, in a class where 70 to 80kWh-sized battery packs are more common. For a chunk more cash, an alternative 87kWh battery pack's available, boosting the base version's rather mediocre 250 mile range figure to a more reasonable 329 mile total. The front axle motor puts out 214hp in the 63kWh model, enough to get you to 62mph in 7.5s en route to a top speed that as usual in EVs is limited, in this case to 100mph. The heavier 87kWh battery requires a slightly higher motor power output of 238hp, negated of course by the extra kilos, so the rest to 62mph figure in that version is actually a tenth slower at 7.6s. To achieve this kind of acceleration, you'll need to ignore the full-travel resistance from the throttle pedal and, of course, select the most sprightly of the three available drive modes, 'Sport', the other two being 'Standard' and 'Eco'. All variants get an 'e-Pedal' brake regen system that's so powerful it can almost slow the car to a standstill.

Design and Build

The Ariya remains quite a striking-looking thing and a few subtle visual changes mark out this updated version. There's a body-coloured front panel and a 're-interpreted' version of the 'V-Motion' nose section, plus Nissan has restyled the 19-inch wheels. Otherwise, things are much as before. From the side, there's a low-slung coupe silhouette and a single crease line linking the front and rear of the car. At the back, you get a distinctive C-pillar design, plus a high-mounted rear wing and a single-piece light bar. Thanks to its electric vehicle-specific CMF-EV platform, this is a slightly larger car than some of its class contemporaruies, 4595mm long, 1850mm wide and 1660mm tall. The 2,775mm wheelbase makes possible a decently large cabin too. It'll certainly feel futuristic, with 'Zero Gravity' slim profile seats and a very minimalist design, with almost all the physical buttons replaced by capacitive haptic-feedback switches integrated into the fascia surface. As part of this update, the centre console has been redesigned, which as increased storage space up to 3.2-litres; plus incorporated is the latest generation 15-watt wireless 'phone charger. More significant perhaps is that the 12.3-inch central touchscreen now incorporates the latest generation of NissanConnect with Google built-in, offering an enhanced connected experience inside and outside of the car. As before, there's a digital instrument binnacle display of the same size, plus what Nissan still reckons is one of the biggest head-up displays in the segment. There's also a fold-out centre stowage box beneath the main instrument panel. There's a reasonably-sized rear bench, but it would be more comfortable for two than three. The boot capacity is 466-litres for 2-Wheel Drive variants, but the e-4ORCE AWD derivatives lose some of that because of the extra motor they use: their cargo area is rated at 408-litres.

Market and Model

Both mainstream Ariya models qualify for the government's £1,500 Electric car Grant. Before that grant is applied, prices start from £37,000 for the entry-level 'Engage+'-spec 63kWh model. Prior to grant deduction, you'll need £43,425 for the alternative 'Advance'-spec model with the larger 87kWh battery. As you'd hope given these prices, there's plenty of kit included course, including ultra-slim full-LED headlights which incorporate four 20mm projectors and are combined with animated indicators. Inside, there's a sophisticated centre dash infotainment screen which now incorporates the latest generation of NissanConnect with Google built-in, plus there's easier travel with the In-Car Route Planner by Google Maps. As before, you also get a 'digital assistant' incorporating Amazon Alexa voice control and activated by the phrases "Hello Nissan" and "Hey Nissan". This set-up includes 4G connectivity and can receive over the air updates for infotainment elements and chassis and EV settings. There's plenty of smartphone integration too of course, which will enable appointments to be fed to the car in advance any journey. As you'd expect, you'll get Nissan's full suite of 'Safety Shield' camera safety equipment. The front grille houses a whole range of sensors that drive Nissan's 'ProPILOT' driver assistance systems - features like Lane Keeping Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control. The Ariya now comes with V2L functionality that allows compatible external electrical devices to be powered directly from the vehicle via a dedicated connector, providing up to 3kW of output when stationary - to do things like power an electric cooker or charging a laptop.

Cost of Ownership

We mentioned range mileages in our 'Driving Experience' section: just to reiterate, the base 63kWh 'Engage+' model manages up to 250 miles, while the 87kWh front-driven 'Advance' version makes up to 329 miles. There are the usual controls for increasing the level of regenerative braking so that you can maximise this car's range potential. Like the LEAF, the Ariya operates with an 'e-Pedal' system when braking regeneration is at its maximum, meaning that in normal driving, you'll be able to launch, accelerate and decelerate only using the throttle pedal. As you'd expect with an electric car, there's a special smartphone app allowing you to remotely check on battery status and set climate controls to precondition the temperature of the cabin before you reach the car. The 63kWh version features a 7.4kW AC charger for home connections, while the 87kWh variant has a 22kW three-phase setup. The Ariya can still support no more than 130kW DC charging, technology that will allow around 230 miles of range to be added to this car's battery pack in around half an hour. Hooked up to a 7.4kW garage wallbox, you'd need 10 hours to charge the 63kWh version - or 14 hours with the 87kWh model. A nice touch is the inclusion of an LED inspection light in the car's charging point so that owners won't have to rely on street lighting to connect their cars to an electric source at night.

Summary

At its original launch, the Ariya represented a massive step forward for Nissan. The problem for this brand though, is that every one of its rivals have since made almost similarly seismic and well-funded improvements in order to move into the EV era. Having kicked the whole thing off with the LEAF back in 2011, you might have expected this Japanese maker to use the Ariya to set a longer-lasting significant benchmark for competitors to strive after. Perhaps in driving range, charging speed, cabin space or value. But none of those areas were really advanced here and haven't been since, even by the updated version of this model: indeed the Ariya struggles to compete in some of them, notably driving range. Which is a pity because there's lots to like about this car - striking looks, some clever cabin touches and a classy vibe positioning this model as a more expensive thing than it actually is. Still, the fundamentals are undoubtedly here for a very appealing family EV and no brand ought to be better placed than Nissan to deliver on that promise.