Nissan Ariya review

Is the Nissan Ariya a good car?

The ​Nissan Ariya is a fine effort from the Japanese brand. This all-electric family SUV boasts a breadth of capability that will come as a welcome surprise to buyers, and is up with both the best cars of its type and the best cars in the current Nissan line-up.

The Ariya is great to drive for a mid-size SUV, while decent practicality, refinement and a premium cabin add further appeal. Pricing is competitive compared to its close EV rivals, although its overall efficiency lags behind the best in class – which is a shame considering the healthy battery capacity the Ariya has. That aside, the Nissan Ariya is a fantastic choice that we can wholeheartedly recommend.

How much does the Nissan Ariya cost?

Nissan has an established reputation for producing capable family SUVs, while the Nissan Leaf all-electric family hatchback, (launched in 2010 and now in its second generation), has been a trailblazer in the electric car space. There’s no doubt that Nissan let its position as an EV leader slip a little by failing to follow up quickly on the Leaf, but the arrival of the Ariya in 2022 drew upon the brand’s SUV and EV know-how to impressive effect and put Nissan back in the game.  

Every model in Nissan’s passenger car range now includes some form of electrification: the smaller Nissan Juke crossover features both mild and full-hybrid set-ups, and Nissan’s innovative e-Power petrol/electric system drives the Nissan Qashqai and Nissan X-Trail.

The Ariya is similar in size to the X-Trail, residing at the larger end of the mid-size SUV class, and it combines family car practicality with the zero-tailpipe emissions of all-electric power. It benefits from a significant step up in quality over other models in Nissan’s lineup, too, so much so that we awarded the Ariya our Car of the Year title for 2022.

The Ariya is based on the CMF-EV platform, which also underpins the Renault Megane and the Renault Scenic under Nissan’s Alliance partnership with Renault. Two battery options are available in the Ariya: a 63kWh (useable capacity) model with a range of about 250 miles or a larger 87kWh (also useable capacity) unit with a claimed maximum range of 329 miles.

Front-wheel drive is standard and will cater for most needs, but if you’re after the extra traction reassurance of four-wheel drive in slippery conditions, you’re in luck. The top-of-the-range Ariya e-4ORCE uses a dual-motor set-up to drive all four wheels and deliver 389bhp. This version also features the largest 87kWh battery. However, the extra performance on offer and the weight penalty of the four-wheel drive system means overall range takes a small hit in these higher spec Ariyas, with Nissan claiming you’ll be able to cover around 310 miles before needing to recharge. There is also a flagship Nissan Ariya Nismo performance model that uses the same dual-motor powertrain but has 429bhp on tap. 

When it comes to the mainstream trim levels, things are kept relatively simple, with three core options to choose from: Engage, Advance and Evolve. The standard equipment level is generous, and a small selection of option packs is available. Just below the Nismo sits the Evolve+, but this is also only available with the e-4ORCE powertrain.

Price wise, the Nissan Ariya starts from just under £40,000 in Engage trim. From there, stepping up from the 63kWh battery to the 87kWh unit costs £5,000 and jumping from Engage to Advance trim commands a £3,500 premium. It’s then £4,000 to go from Advance to Evolve. The e-4orce 4x4 models all have the 87kWh battery and they start under £51,000 in Advance trim or just under £55,000 in an Evolve car. 

All this means that there’s a £20,000 price span across the Ariya range and that’s if you ignore the Nismo variant. 

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The Nissan Ariya is a highly competent electric SUV from a driver’s perspective. The ride is comfortable on all but the roughest road surfaces and yet it avoids rolling too much or becoming flustered through direction changes. It’s also fast in a straight line, particularly in the larger battery all-wheel-drive guises. You wouldn’t call it fun, with the sizeable kerb weight always in evidence and the Sport driving mode adding little except overly heavy steering, but it’s one of the better-driving EVs in the class, overall.  Read more about the Nissan Ariya's electric motors, performance & drive…

The Nissan Ariya should be relatively cheap to run, not least because it benefits from all of the inherent electric car tax advantages. However, newer rivals offer longer ranges and better efficiency, while the Ariya also struggles to match the best EV options for depreciation. Read more about the Nissan Ariya's range, charging and running costs…

The Nissan Ariya has distinctive exterior styling and a first class cabin that can stand comparison with premium brand rivals. The infotainment system is starting to show its age a little compared to the best systems employed by rivals due to the low resolution screen, but it’s still easy to use. Read more about the Nissan Ariya's interior, design and technology…

The Ariya’s roomy cabin, with its flat floor and sliding centre console, makes for a very practical family car. Four adults can sit very comfortably, and five can be carried without too much complaint from whoever gets the middle seat. The 4x4 models reduce boot capacity, which was only average for the class to start with, by quite a bit. Read more about the Nissan Ariya's boot space, comfort and practicality…

The Nissan Ariya has a very good level of safety kit, although we’d recommend upgrading to an Advance model for the ProPilot Assist technology and the 360-degree Around View Monitor that take things to another level. Warranty coverage is nothing special and neither is Nissan’s customer satisfaction rating in our Driver Power survey. Read more about the Nissan Ariya's reliability and safety…

Nissan Ariya long-term test

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Our head of digital content, Steve Walker, spent six months with the Nissan Ariya as part of our long-term fleet. Although it’s still a sturdy yet upmarket-feeling family car, Steve couldn’t help but feel that newer rivals are beginning to further highlight the ageing Ariya’s flaws. The Nissan’s dated infotainment system and mediocre efficiency were two key areas that proved particularly disappointing. 

On the plus side, Steve found the Ariya to be comfortable and spacious enough for his whole family. However, while it feels like a premium model in places, Nissan’s electric SUV is priced like one, too. Steve’s dual-motor e-4ORCE Evolve variant costs a whopping £57,580, including options. You can read the full long-term test here…

Nissan Ariya alternatives

Nissan’s electric SUV faced steady competition upon its arrival, and the market has continued to grow since then. Buyers in this mid-size SUV space can choose from models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ4X. There’s also the Renault Scenic, which shares its underpinnings with the Ariya.  

At the upper end, Nissan’s creation goes head-to-head with models like the Audi Q4 e-tron and Tesla Model Y on price, but in terms of quality, it’s not outclassed in that company. The Scenic, Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are aligned on price with the lesser Ariya models.

In terms of non-electric cars, the Nissan X-Trail is similar in size, and then you have the other larger mid-size family SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Kuga, which do a similar job. Unlike similarly sized and priced models like the X-Trail and Peugeot 5008, the Ariya isn’t available with seven seats.