Does the Nissan Ariya bring desirable qualities to the market? This impressive electric SUV could be a great option, but you’ll want to learn more about it.
The Nissan brand delivered the first mass-produced EV with the Leaf. The second model took more than a decade to arrive, but it doesn’t seem like it should have taken that long to hit the market. The Nissan Ariya is good enough to have been in contention with many other SUVs for the MotorTrend SUV of the Year award. The AWD model is eligible for contention for 2024, giving us a new all-electric SUV to enjoy.
Nissan provides an impressive cabin in this EV
You don’t expect to see advanced tech features and touch-sensitive buttons combined in a cabin with wood trim, but that’s exactly what we find in the Ariya. This new Nissan EV offers the desired packaging and controls that make it extremely useful. Nissan understands that not every driver wants the sterile environment found in a Tesla. Instead, most drivers would rather have a vehicle filled with great features and a roomy cabin. This is precisely what this new electric SUV brings to the market, giving us a new choice.
Where’s the frunk?
If you’re looking for reasons to question the new Nissan Ariya, you’ll want to open the hood. Unlike most other electric vehicles, this Nissan SUV doesn’t have any storage space, affectionately referred to as a frunk. Under the hood, all you’ll see is the HVAC system, which makes you wonder where all the space went. Because the Ariya is built on an EV platform, the lack of an engine opens up the interior space, giving passengers more room. Some drivers might feel that Nissan should have included a frunk, while others admire the added space found in the cabin.
The regenerative braking leaves a lot to be desired
Another challenge found in the new Nissan electric SUV is the one-pedal regenerative braking system called E-step. This system seems to turn on and off at will and moves the brake pedal to match the regenerative force, which can be troublesome for those with their feet in this area. It would make a lot more sense to have the regenerative braking system work independently of the regular braking system.
The Ariya offers hands-free driving
Isn’t hands-free driving a feature reserved for high-end luxury vehicles? Not anymore. The Nissan Ariya has ProPilot 2.0, which offers a limited hands-free driving experience on premapped highways. As expected, you still need to pay attention to the road and anything happening, but it’s possible to take your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals during the drive. This makes the Ariya more enjoyable, especially if your commute takes you on some of these premapped roads.
Is there enough driving range in this Nissan SUV?
The AWD system of the Ariya can be had with either of two battery packs. The larger battery is an 87-kWh unit that makes 230 miles of driving range, which is average in the EV market. This Nissan electric SUV is also capable of fast charging at a DC public charger, but it does this at 130-kW, which isn’t considered fast in today’s market. Thankfully, the Ariya uses the CCS standard connection, which is widely utilized and accepted. Will Nissan adopt the Tesla charging connection in the future? That’s a question for another day.
Comfortable seats for a long road trip
Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats make their way into the new Nissan Ariya, making this electric SUV comfortable and easy to drive during long road trips. These seats help maintain a neutral posture, which is found in a weightless environment, making these some of the most comfortable seats in a non-luxury vehicle. If you’ve got a long road trip ahead of you, these seats help make the ride more bearable.
Get started right with EV Carefree+
Nissan adds the benefits of EV Carefree+ to the Ariya, making it easy to enjoy a great way to get things started. This package includes one year of unlimited charging with the EVgo charging network and at Nissan dealerships. You’ll also enjoy an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile flatbed towing coverage if you run out of juice while on the road.
Could the Nissan Ariya be the right electric SUV for you to drive? This SUV has an e-4orce AWD system to send power to all four wheels and an excellent build. You’ll find a few drawbacks, but that’s typical of any vehicle. Will you give a lonely Nissan electric SUV a new home? If you do, it will give you several years of excellent driving on every road.
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