Nissan Ariya is a front- or all-wheel drive electric C-class coupe-crossover (by European standards) with a "sporty bias", which the Japanese automaker himself calls nothing less than a "new chapter for the brand" ... It boasts a spectacular design, a modern interior, and also a progressive technological and technical component ...
The official presentation of the fully serial Nissan Ariya took place on the morning of July 15, 2020 in Yokohama, but for a wide audience it was held in a virtual format. At the same time, in a conceptual form, the five-door was demonstrated in the fall of 2019 at the International Tokyo Motor Show.
This electric SUV has become an important part of the Nissan Next strategy, while it will prove to be a truly "global product", which will be presented in both left-hand and right-hand drive, and even in five different versions, differing from each other in the performance of electric motors, the type of drive and the capacity of the traction battery.
The exterior of Nissan Ariya is decorated in a new style of the Japanese automaker called Timeless Japanese Futurism, and I must say that the electric car looks attractive, fresh, original and bold, and in its appearance there are many memorable details. The "physiognomy" of the five-door is adorned with spectacular headlights made of a chain of LED mini-spotlights, a deaf radiator grille with a cunning ornament and a raised bumper, and its "sirloin" part bears stylish lanterns made in the form of a single narrow strip and an intricate trunk lid.
In profile, the crossover "flaunts" a balanced, energetic and elegant silhouette with a short sloping hood, a sloping roofline, expressive "folds" on the sidewalls and imposing wheel arches that can accommodate "rollers" measuring 19 or 20 inches.
Size and weight
The length of the Nissan Ariya is 4595 mm, the width reaches 1850 mm, and the height does not exceed 1660 mm. The wheelbase of the electric SUV extends to 2,775 mm, and its ground clearance is very modest (even by light standards) 150 mm.
The curb weight of the machine varies from 1.8 to 2.3 tons, depending on the modification and configuration.
Interior
The interior of the Aria boasts a stylish and futuristic, yet minimalist design, and the main emphasis here is placed on two 12.3-inch widescreen displays: one serves as a dashboard, and the other contains infotainment functions.
The absolutely smooth front panel is crowned with a non-trivial "control panel" of the air conditioner, the buttons of which begin to glow after turning on the "ignition" (they respond with vibration to pressing), and the driver is directly guided by a two-spoke multi-steering wheel with a beveled rim at the bottom.
Inside the electric crossover, an almost record-breaking reserve of free space is promised in the class, both in the front and in the back. In the front part of the cabin there are ergonomic Zero Gravity seats with a well-developed side profile, “integrated” head restraints and a large number of adjustments. On the second row there is a full-fledged three-seater sofa with a folding armrest in the center, a completely flat floor and its own ventilation deflectors.
The Japanese electric car boasts a luggage compartment of the correct shape, and even quite a normal volume: in single-engine front-wheel-drive versions, in its usual form, it holds 468 liters of luggage, and in twin-engine four-wheel drive versions - 415 liters.
The rear row folds down in a 60:40 ratio, more than doubling the cargo capacity of the compartment, resulting in a completely flat area.
Specifications
For Nissan Ariya, five different modifications are announced at once:
The first two versions are front-wheel drive, with one electric motor driving the front axle:
- by default, the motor produces 218 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque, and is "powered" by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 63 kW / h, providing a range of up to 360 km (WLTP cycle);
- and on a more efficient version - 242 hp. and 300 Nm, and even docked with a battery of 87 kW / h ("range - up to 500 km).
In both cases, the maximum speed does not exceed 160 km / h, and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h varies from 7.5 to 7.6 seconds.
The remaining three options are all-wheel drive, with two electric motors (one for each axle):
- in the "base" units develop 279 hp. and 560 Nm of peak thrust, receiving energy from a 63 kW / h battery (this is enough for 340 km of run);
- in an intermediate version with a battery of 87 kW / h (distance on a single charge - 460 km) - 306 hp and 600 Nm;
- and on the "top" Performance version - 394 hp. and 600 Nm, which, together with a battery with a capacity of 87 kW / h, provides "autonomy" at the level of 400 km.
The first "hundred" AWD-crossover obeys after 5.1-5.9 seconds, and the peak of its capabilities falls on 200 km / h.
It is also worth noting that modifications with the "junior" battery relies on a standard 7.4 kW charger from the home network, and with the "senior" one also comes with a charger for a three-phase network with a capacity of 22 kW.
Design features
At the heart of the Nissan Ariya is a brand new scalable electric platform from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, designed for a whole line of electric vehicles. Both front and rear, the crossover has independent suspensions with passive shock absorbers and transverse stabilizers: in the first case, standard McPherson struts, in the second, a multi-link system.
The electric SUV is equipped with rack and pinion steering with active electric power steering. All wheels of the five-door are equipped with disc brakes (ventilated at the front), working with ABS, EBD and other modern assistants.
Options and prices
Sales of Nissan Ariya in Japan and Europe should begin in mid-2021 (complete set with prices will most likely be announced closer to that moment), after which the electric crossover will reach other countries, including Russia.
A wide range of options is declared for the car: a scattering of airbags, 19 or 20-inch wheels, full LED optics, panoramic roof, dual-zone climate control, virtual instrument cluster, media center with a 12.3-inch screen, head-up display, voice assistant, track autopilot ProPILOT and much more.
