Nissan pioneered electric motoring with the Leaf. Ian Lamming enjoys the latest evolution with the marque’s first fully electric SUV, the Ariya
THIS is going to sound strange but it is like being in a nice relaxing hot bath.
A bath-top coachline of LED surrounds the driver courtesy of ambient lighting. Soothing light also emits from the door trim and front bulkhead.
The heated seats warm the spine, while the heat pump looks after your feet as tiredness ebbs away. The seating position is glorious thanks to multiple electrical settings and there’s even a little centre table that emerges from the dash at a dab of another button.
Just the sounds to take care of now and that comes via my phone over Bluetooth, pumped out of 10 high quality Bose speakers around the cabin. This isn’t motoring it is leisure cruising at its best.
The world glides by and everything is just fine thanks to Nissan’s first all-electric SUV, the Ariya, an out-and-out superyacht of luxury for our troubled waters.
Years after pioneering the electric vehicle with the Leaf, Ariya takes this modern technology a huge step further and into the most popular automotive segment of all, the cross-over vehicle.
What a delight. To look at, the Nissan EV is bold, strong and imposing, while also being sleek, appealing and contemporary.
Slim but powerful LED headlamps seem to disappear completely when turned off leaving the signature Nissan LED daylights to dominate the nose. Side-on Ariya is sculpted, beautifully proportioned with short overhangs and coupe silhouette. Huge 19in alloys, with aero covers, complete the picture of a design that might well have just slipped off the concept drawing board.
Inside is a feast for the senses. Tactile trim hides haptic switches both on the fascia and centre console, which moves electrically, by the way, for your consummate convenience. The floor is flat and under the armrest lid lies a cordless induction charger for your phone. Beneath the whole unit, and the excellent virtual dashboard, are charging sockets for your other electronic devices. It is all so neat and tidy and so well thought out that it could be an artform.
Flawless to look at and inhabit, Ariya also proves to be peerless to drive. The 87kW motor offers instant and seamless power, tremendous sprint capacity and breath-taking overtaking ability, thanks to 238HP and 300Nm of torque.
Power goes to the front wheels only unless you opt for the twin motor e-4ORCE, which offers more than 306HP and 600Nm torque, a 124mph top speed and up to 310 miles driving range.
To be honest the lesser model is more than enough. On paper it boasts 329 miles of range but this varies depending on your driving style, which the car remembers. So full charge for me equates to 270 on the first day but as it romps along motorways this figure drops to 240. Hills and head winds also impact so the first school run sees the Ariya chomp through 100 miles of charge in just 60 miles, though when the breeze abates consumption falls markedly.
On greasy cold roads the tyres will scrabble for grip under power but this is soon rectified with an upward twitch of your right foot. Steering, ride and handling are superb and ‘e-pedal’ gives the driver one pedal control (there’s no need to use the brake pedal, just lift off the throttle to slow down) while maximising the regenerative powers of deceleration.
Ariya is something special; it feels like no other Nissan I have ever driven and oozes quality and prowess. It’s as comfortable and relaxing as a soak in the tub and leaves you feeling calm and contented.
Fact File
Nissan Ariya Evolve
Engine: 87kW electric
Power: 238HP, 300Nm
0-62mph: 7.6 secs
Top speed: 100mph
Range: 270 miles
Transmission: automatic, 2WD, front
CO2 g/km: 0
Price: £54,335.00
