A couple more things: despite what its name suggests, the ‘e-Pedal Step’ system in the Ariya doesn’t provide one-pedal driving as with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6. It only brings the car to a slow creep. Also, the quiet of the cabin is repeatedly shattered by Nissan’s annoying ADAS tech, particularly the speed-limit warning and driver-fatigue monitoring.
Finally, while the Ariya’s drivetrain is smooth and packs enough power for a mid-sized electric SUV, it’s still not very efficient. During our testing across a variety of roads in warm, sunny Spain, and a lot of time in stop-start traffic using the regenerative braking, we averaged an unremarkable 3.0 mi/kWh. That equates to 261 miles from the long-range model we tested with its sizeable 87kWh battery.
Admittedly, Nissan only claims it delivers 329 miles, but rivals can go much further, as can the new Leaf. That offers up to 375 miles of range for a little over £32,000 – around £11,000 less than the Ariya. Its younger brother charges quicker, too, and with the Ariya only capable of reaching 130kW, a typical 20 to 80 per cent top-up takes roughly 40 minutes.
The ‘new and improved’ Nissan Ariya was due to go on sale in June, however it’s still not available yet. It should be soon, we’ve been promised, and when orders do open there will be a simple choice of just two models: Engage+ and Advance.
Prices will start from £37,000 without the Government’s Electric Car Grant that the entry-level model should get. As before, that car will come with a 63kWh battery good for up to around 250 miles of range, plus those two big displays, Google services built-in, heated front seats, a wireless charging pad, a full suite of driver-assist systems and Nissan’s latest ProPilot adaptive cruise control tech.
The range-topping Advance version doesn’t get the grant, so it will cost from £43,425. On top of the bigger battery, it adds a head-up display, Bose sound system, digital rear-view mirror, a hands-free tailgate, heated steering wheel and 360-degree camera system.
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Model:Nissan Ariya AdvancePrice:£43,425Powertrain:87kWh battery, 1x e-motorPower/torque:239bhp/300NmTransmission:Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive0-62mph:8.0 secondsTop speed:100mphRange:329 milesMax. charging:130kW (20-80% in 40 minutes)Size (L/W/H):4,595/1,850/1,660mmOn sale:Summer
