Nissan has revealed its second standalone electric vehicle, the Ariya crossover.
Sitting alongside the Leaf in Nissan’s global EV lineup, the Ariya measures in at 4595mm long, 1850mm wide and 1655mm tall, with a 2775mm wheelbase – slotting it in between the small Qashqai and medium X-Trail in the brand’s SUV lineup.
Two battery options will be offered with the Ariya, measuring either 63kWh or 87kWh in capacity. Entry-level models are front-wheel-drive, while Nissan’s e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system can be optioned.
The all-paw system’s electronics automatically alter the torque split and the amount of regenerative braking under deceleration between each axles to stabilise cornering and reducing pitch/dive under acceleration and braking.
Five drivetrain options will be available to European buyers – there’s a lot of numbers to cover, so check out Nissan’s helpful table below for full specifications.
130kW CCS DC fast-charging is available, as is 7.4kW and 22kW AC charging depending on whether the small or large battery is optioned.
Standard, Sport and Eco modes are available on all variants, with AWD models adding a Snow mode for winter conditions. The Leaf hatch’s ‘e-Pedal’ one-pedal driving system is also standard.
The production Ariya looks virtually identical to the concept with which it shares its name. Up front there’s a large, 3D-effect ‘shield’ grille flanked by LED headlights with seperate LED daytime-running lights, while a sloping roofline feeds into a sleek rear end with a full-width LED tail-light and large rear spoiler.
19- or 20-inch alloy wheels are available, both of which feature Nissan’s new logo.
Inside, the dashboard is dominated by two 12.3-inch displays mounted on a freestanding black panel. The infotainment system supports over-the-air updates, includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and features a voice-controlled personal assistant activated by “Hey Nissan” or “Hello Nissan” that can control media or navigation functions.
The touch-based climate controls have been mounted high on the dashboard to eliminate a traditional centre console and enable a ‘floating’ dashboard and flat floor. Drivers grip a unique two-spoke steering wheel.
Boot space is rated at 466 litres in 2WD Ariya models and 408 litres in all-paw variants.
Nissan’s ProPilot 2.0 driver-assistance suite is available, featuring adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist that can accelerate, brake and steer the Ariya within its motorway lane. There’s also blind-spot monitoring, remote parking, autonomous emergency braking and a 360-degree camera.
The 2021 Nissan Ariya will go on sale initially in Japan in mid-2021, with Europe, the US and China to follow later in the year. An Australian debut has yet to be confirmed.
