Nissan’s Ariya electric family crossover SUV arrived here last summer after many months of hype and speculation, writes Trish Whelan. Some call it a coupe crossover due to the car’s sloping roofline, but anyway it has a stand-out futuristic design, stunning good looks and very spacious cabin with a flat floor front and rear which adds to the roomy feel. It provided me with huge comfort and had all the connectivity and specification that I’d ever need in a car.
Ariya is bigger than it looks from the outside - larger than the brand’s hugely popular Qashqai SUV but not as big as the X-Trail. It is quite high and doors open wide. Features include a black grille, slim LED headlamps and daytime running lights, while at the rear lights from side to side show the width of the car.
Interior styling is premium all the way with beautiful upholstery, excellent fit and finish, tactile materials which add to the sense of wellbeing. A minimalist dashboard features two side by side large 12.3-inch screens that look superb. Colourful graphics are clear and informative. The home screen has three sections — a large one for maps, and smaller ones for radio and the current nearest ESB Group ecars charging station. Touch-buttons for functions including dual zone temperature controls, heated windscreen, are flush on the wood-like trim that stretches across the lower dash. A centre console includes storage areas, the drive mode selector (normal, eco and sport) and buttons for a storage drawer hidden under the dash. Door bins are generous but the glovebox is on the small side.
Seats provide very good support to your back. Front ones have power adjustments and both heating and ventilation. The driver’s has two memory seat settings. The rear outer seats can also be heated. The steering wheel has heating too. Tall people in the rear have comfort and very good head and legroom - the former despite the slope of the roof and the panoramic sunroof which doesn’t reach back far enough to interfere with passenger head space.
Boot space is a decent 466 litres. The floor can be removed to allow carriage of larger items. If extra luggage space is needed, a flat floor can be created by folding the rear seats. Charging cables can be stored under the floor or in an area on each side of the boot over the wheels.
Two grades are offered: Advance and Evolve. The entry level spec has LED headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot warning, a power tailgate, rear privacy glass, Nissan Connect Services, ProPilot with Navi link, and e-Pedal which allows drivers to launch, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal; Type A and Type C USBs front and rear, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charger.
Both grades get Nissan’s Safety Shield System which includes a 360deg monitor that is helpful in a tight space, forward collision warning, emergency braking (pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction assist), rear emergency braking and cross traffic alert technology. My top specced car added 20-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view mirror, a Head Up Display, synthetic suede seats, power memory 8-way front seats, the ProPilot Park which allows the car to ‘almost’ park itself, and a BOSE 10-speaker sound system.
Battery options are a 63kWh battery that delivers a WLTP rated range of 403kms and an 87kWh battery with a range of up to 519kms. The 87kWh battery pack has a 242ps electric motor that drives the front wheels and has 300Nm torque. When I collected my 87kWh car, the instrumentation showed the battery was 100pc charged with 371kms available to me. This version can charge from 10-80pc in around 35 minutes with a high speed charger. However, most electric car owners charge at home overnight. The charge port is located on the front passenger’s side of the car for convenience of parking.
All electric cars are quiet to drive but you can also get a strong acceleration from the Ariya which can go from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds. While it is agile around town, it comes into its own when cruising the motorway.
In the first few weeks of this year, some 75 units have found Irish homes. Nissan believes it will become a best seller in the not too far off future.
PRICE: Ariya has a start price €48,995 (Govt grant): my higher battery car from €66,995 (no Govt grant).
