One of my first experiences driving an electric vehicle was the Nissan Leaf during a press event many years ago. And while the Leaf remains in the Nissan stable, the 2024 Ariya we recently tested is a far superior offering.
Offered in four trims, we were behind the wheel of the Evolve+ with e-4ORCE dual-motor power. As tested, it is priced at $73,043 before any government rebates are factored in.
The tester was outfitted with the Platinum+ package, which adds to an already lengthy list of standard features to include things like ProPILOT Park, Intelligent Rear View Mirror, a motion activated liftgate, front cooled seats (as well as heated as standard), a power centre storage with tray table, and more.
Powertrain: The Ariya we drove has a dual-motor setup and an available 389 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque on offer for drivers.
Power delivery through the single-speed electric transmission is lightning quick and smooth, which is what I have some to expect from EVs.
Equipped with an 87 kWh battery, the Ariya has an estimated range of 438 kilometres, which is quite good. Charging can be done several ways, and I was using a 110-volt home outlet and found the charging time to be quite long. If you were to own one, installing a Level 2 charger would be more than worth the added cost.
Exterior: I found the Ariya to be an attractive vehicle, and I appreciated the two-tone grey/black appearance (despite the extra cost for that option).
The tester featured 19-inch wheels with aero covers for improved aerodynamics, with a roof-mounted spoiler also intended to improve airflow.
It features LED lighting front and rear, with full-width illumination across the rear hatch. Up front, the Nissan badge lights up in the centre of the front fascia.
When viewed from the side, the rising beltline and curved roofline give off a sporty appearance for the Ariya.
Unlike some other EV models, when you open the hood, you do not get any extra storage space, however, but that is made up for thanks to the generous cargo area.
Interior: The crossover’s cabin is modern and minimalistic, with almost no physical buttons. In fact, many of the controls are invisible to the driver until you turn the Ariya on, illuminating soft-touch switches for the HVAC system.
Dual 12.3-inch displays are a focal point of the dash, acting as the gauge cluster and infotainment screen.
The Ariya features Nissan’s zero-gravity seats, covered in leatherette in our tester. While overall a spacious cabin, those seated in the back will be a bit more cramped.
The optional power storage tray that pulls out of the centre of the dash is a pretty cool feature and allows you to store items out of sight. The centre console also slides forward and back at the touch of button, allowing for flexibility in the cabin.
Infotainment: The second half of the screen is used to access the infotainment system, paired to a Bose Premium Audio system with 10 speakers,
It comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and in-dash navigation, as well as satellite radio and built in Amazon Alexa.
While the setup of the Ariya’s infotainment system is a little different than the Rogue we tested recently, which was a very good experience, the Ariya’s is equally good. One passenger of mine who experienced both systems did prefer the one in the Rogue, however.
Menus are easy to navigate and scroll through using pictograms, and the response time for the inputs have no lag whatsoever.
Drive: The Ariya with e-4ORCE pulls away from the line in a flash thanks to the dual-motor setup, and the overall drive is enjoyable without being overly sporty. The regenerative braking was quite intense at first blush, until I adapted to it. And the brake feel also took some time getting used to, with harder pressure required than I was accustomed to.
The suspension setup is acceptable, but the Ariya does get a little bouncy on rougher pavement, and the steering feel is a little numb.
The cabin is extremely well insulated, meaning any road noise intrusion is quite minimal.
Conclusion: Our tester was well equipped, and I did enjoy the interior layout and design more than some other EVs tested.
2024 Nissan Ariya Evolve+
2024 Nissan Ariya Evolve+
2024 Nissan Ariya Evolve+
If offers a good range that should meet the needs for most people, but the charging times seem slower than other vehicles.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the Nissan Ariya. It’s a giant leap forward from the Leaf, but does enter an increasingly crowded market for electric vehicles.
2024 Nissan Ariya Evolve+
Price as tested: $73,043.00
Freight: $2,095.00
Configuration: Dual motor/all-wheel drive
Transmission: Single-speed electric
Power/torque: 389 horsepower/ 442 lb-ft of torque
Battery capacity: 87 kWh
Estimated range: 438 km
Warranties: 3-years/60,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4
Website: Nissan Canada