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Nissan Ariya

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Expert Rating

Nissan Ariya

(2022 - present)

    Summary


    The Nissan Ariya is a mid-sized five-door SUV, and the Japanese manufacturer’s first attempt at a large all-electric (EV) family car. After a year of delays due to supply shortages, the Ariya arrived in the UK in the middle of 2022.

    Customers can choose from two battery grades – the standard 63kWh unit or the ‘extended range’ 87kWh battery, which Nissan promises can travel 250 miles and 329 miles respectively from full charge. While entry-level models use a single 160kW electric motor to power the front wheels, the faster range-topping variant is all-wheel drive, with a motor in the front and the back.

    Nissan’s first big EV launch since the introduction of the current-generation Nissan Leaf in 2018, the Ariya has been well-received by the British motoring media so far – Auto Express describes the SUV as “a great leap in the right direction for Nissan” that Car says “looks set for a battle royal at the top-end of the class.”

    “The Ariya is a great-looking and well-equipped electric family SUV”, Carwow explains, “but its boot is a bit on the small side and other EVs have better charging capabilities.”

    Reviewers agree that the Nissan is well-equipped and refined inside, but a few comment that the Ariya might struggle to stand out from a very competitive all-electric SUV class, as it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. “It’s no better than anything that’s already been out there for a while”, The Sun comments, adding that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are better choices.

    Pricing is another frequently raised issue – the entry-level Ariya is around £3,000 more expensive than the cheapest version of the Skoda Enyaq, which is the current class-leader.

    That said, Driving Electric argues that the Ariya is still a great all-electric option worthy of consideration. “This is by no means the cheapest zero-emissions family car around, but it’s a premium-feeling product that gets loads of kit for the money.”

    As of December 2023, the Nissan Ariya holds an Expert Rating of 74%, based on 31 reviews published by UK media sources.

    Ariya highlights

    • Refined, spacious and well-built interior
    • Well-equipped entry-level models
    • Competitive battery range
    • Eye-catching exterior styling
    • Comfortable ride

    Ariya lowlights

    • Expensive, base price and up
    • Rivals offer more boot space
    • Charging rate isn’t very fast
    • Not exciting to drive
    • Infotainment controls rather fiddly

    Key specifications


    Body style: Large SUV
    Engines:
    electric, battery-powered
    Price:
    From £39,645 on-road

    Launched: Summer 2022
    Last updated: N/A
    Replacement due: TBA


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    The Car Expert

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    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Business Car

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    Car

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    Car Keys

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Driving Electric

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    Electrifying.com

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    Green Car Guide

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    Heycar

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    Honest John

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    Move Electric

    +

    Parkers

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    The Sun

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    The Sunday Times

    +

    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

    +

    What Car?

    +

    Which EV?

    +

    Which?

    +

    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 5 stars
    Date tested: November 2022
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 86%
    Child protection: 89%
    Vulnerable road users: 74%
    Safety assist: 93%

    Eco rating


    Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

    Model tested: 87 kWh Electric FWD Automatic

    Overall score: 5 stars
    Date tested: April 2023
    Read the full Green NCAP review

    Clean Air Index: 10 / 10
    Energy Efficiency Index: 9.3 / 10
    Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.5 / 10

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    As of August 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Nissan Ariya to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Ariya, we’ll publish the score here.

    Running cost rating

    Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

    Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

    Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
    EV models285 milesA247 – 330 milesA – B
    Electrical efficiencyAverageScoreVariationScore
    EV models3.9 m/KWhC2.9 – 4 m/KWhC – E
    Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
    All models45D33 – 50C – F
    Service and maintenanceCostScore
    Year 1£199B
    Year 2£421A
    Year 3£739A
    Year 4£837A
    Year 5£1,121A
    Overall£3,317A

    According to numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data, the Nissan Ariya is very cheap to run.

    It’s electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is good, and while insurance premiums might cost more than you might expect, the SUV’s scheduled servicing costs are excellent.

    In addition, an official battery range of 285 miles (which varies from 247 miles to 330 miles, depending on which model you choose) is well above average. So you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving.

    Awards


    Trophies, prizes and awards that the Nissan Ariya has received

    2022

    • The Car Expert Awards – Best Medium SUV
    • Auto Express Awards – Car of the Year + Best Mid-sized Company Car
    • Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Electric Car
    • iF Awards – iF Design Award
    • Red Dot Awards – Red Dot Design Award

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the Nissan Ariya, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Polestar 2 | Skoda EnyaqTesla Model Y | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo XC40 Recharge

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    The Nissan Ariya is a capable all-rounder and a serious EV contender, but its closest rivals have more storage space, and it is by no means cheap.Nissan Ariya