All-new electric SUV takes on Kia’s EV6 with a competitive range and an upmarket interior On sale Now Price from £43,845
Dan Jones Dan.Jones@haymarket.com
WHEN NISSAN LAUNCHED the Leaf in 2011, it was such a radical step forward that it made existing electric cars look like golf buggies. Unfortunately, while the Leaf was ready for the electric motoring revolution, very few car buyers were, and it was slow to take off. That might explain why Nissan waited more than a decade before adding a second electric car – the Ariya SUV you see here – to its line-up.
We tried a late-stage prototype of the Ariya a few months back, and while we were impressed by the interior, we felt the choppy ride on the optional 20in wheels needed to be addressed. We’ve now driven a production car on 19in wheels, and sadly that’s still an issue.
The Ariya is not uncomfortable, but there’s a subtle and constant movement as you drive along, almost as if you’re feeling the grain of the Tarmac passing under the wheels. This isn’t something you’ll experience in the equally firm-riding Kia EV6, but at least the Ariya deals with larger imperfections and undulations well, never thudding or wobbling around.
It’s also good to drive on twisty roads, because the firm set-up minimises body lean, and the otherwise light steering weights up enough to give you the confidence to push on.
The brakes deserve a special mention. They’re easy to judge and use smoothly, never suffering from the inconsistency you get on some electric cars as they recover energy during deceleration.
Of course, to slow down, you need to speed up first – and, for that, the Ariya takes power from a 63kWh or 87kWh battery. The smaller of the two can officially take you up to 250 miles between charges (about the same as the Skoda Enyaq iV 60). The 87kWh battery offers up to 329 miles, matching the EV6 and getting close to the Tesla Model Y Long Range’s 331 miles.
Both batteries are available with a 215bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels and is good for 0-62mph in 7.5sec; you won’t struggle for pace on a motorway slip road. However, there’s also an ‘e-4orce’ model, which pairs the bigger battery with two motors for four-wheel drive, 222bhp and 0-62mph in 5.7sec. Just bear in mind that the range falls to 310 miles.
All Ariyas can charge up at a maximum rate of 130kW – slower than the 239kW
