Ian Lamming lets the Nissan Ariya take the strain
THREE hundred and sixty one miles to empty, now that’s more like it.
Battery technology is coming along and Nissan’s full EV, the Ariya, makes long commutes stress-free thanks to a healthy range.
It’s not too surprising really, if you think about it, as Nissan did after all pioneer electric motoring with the Leaf.
With range like this I don’t have to think about charging twice a day and can drive past prohibitively high priced supermarket chargers with impunity.
Do not underestimate the power of that one little readout as it transforms EV motoring into a real possibility. It takes away the vagaries of charging because you can simply plug the Ariya into the three pin socket at home overnight, make the most of the super-cheap tariffs and never worry about queues at the public chargers again.
With those annoyances and frustrations safely tucked away in the annals of history it is easy to enjoy Ariya’s many attributes as it is a great car to drive and very easy to live with.
Ariya has grown from the electric car that is the Leaf into a fully-fledged SUV and a large one at that – it swallowed my bicycle no problem at all without even needing to take out any wheels.
It oozes road presence with its imposing chunky looks which make it appear every bit a car for the 21st century.
The interior is as well designed and relaxing as they come. LED ambient lighting soothes the nerves while heated seats warm the soul. The seating position is perfect thanks to multiple electrical settings and there’s even a little centre storage unit that emerges from the dash at a dab of another button.
The fascia buttons are strange and clever as they are built into the trim, so flush to touch, yet operate with a push of the finger as normal. It’s an innovative way of combining traditional and contemporary offering the best of both worlds.
If the lighting is perfect then so are the sounds courtesy of 10 high quality Bose speakers through which I can listen to the radio or my fave tunes on Spotify.
Tactile trim and a centre console which moves electrically add to the overall sense of pleasure. Under the armrest lid lies a cordless induction charger for your phone and beneath the whole unit are charging sockets for your other electronic devices. It is all neat and tidy and so well thought out.
To drive Ariya is flawless. The 87kW motor offers instant and seamless power, tremendous sprint capacity and breath-taking overtaking ability, thanks to 238HP and 300Nm of torque.
It gambols along motorways, tackles hills and head winds with aplomb and leaves internal combustion engine cars for dead at the lights.
Steering, ride and handling are superb and ‘e-pedal’ means there’s little need to use the brake pedal, just lift off the throttle to slow down, which also helps regenerate the battery by the way.
Ariya is a cracking EV which oozes quality and dynamics. Its extended range makes it a viable and enjoyable alterative to ICE motoring and shows, perhaps, that electric vehicles can have a part to play in our transport future.
Fact File
Nissan Ariya Evolve
Engine: 87kW electric
Power: 238HP, 300Nm
0-62mph: 7.6 secs
Top speed: 100mph
Range: 361 miles
Transmission: automatic, 2WD
CO2 g/km: 0
Price: £52,140.00, £55,530.00 including two-tone paint and sport pack
