KUALA LUMPUR: For a long time, Nissan has been a leader in EV sales with only one soldier on the front - the Nissan Leaf hatchback. It all changed with the arrival of a new electric crossover with around 610 km of range in hand, the Ariya.

Nissan first introduced it in concept form last year, and now the production version is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in mid-2021, followed by Canada and the US later that year. What's interesting is that Nissan introduced the Ariya amidst the backdrop of plummeting sales, executive turnover, pandemic-related cost-cutting, and corporate turmoil. A significant part of 2019 headlines for the automaker was covered with the news of Carlos Ghosn's arrest and his subsequent escape. In a sense, Ariya is Nissan's first major launch post-Ghosn period and a chance to add a new wing to its EV cap.

According to the automaker, Ariya is a crucial milestone in its four-year plan, wherein it aims "to achieve sustainable growth, financial stability, and profitability."

Now let's get into the details and see what Ariya electric SUV has on the plate. But before that, we'll like to quote Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's Senior Vice President, views on the company's latest EV. He said, '"I'm not afraid to say this is probably the most technologically advanced car that Nissan has made in its history. So we're putting all of our resources and know-how behind this car."

Nissan Ariya design (inside-out) -

• It features the company's new electrified brand identity and is built on a new, dedicated EV platform
• It gets a brand new grille (called shield) and logo design
• The shield grille comes with a 'kumiko' pattern that hides the sensors that are a part of the car's ProPilot autonomous driving features
• The side profile showcases a clean look with a single shoulder line connecting the front and rear ends
• At the rear, it gets a blacked-out full-width tail light that stays on permanently while driving, as part of the car's tight safety profile
• Elements like sporty tailgate spoiler subtly flared fenders and sporty tailgate spoiler add to the car's rugged rear

• As per Nissan, the Ariya offers the most spacious cabin in the class that besides being clean and uncluttered offers plenty of legroom
• The cabin design also calls for natural interaction between the passengers who'll enjoy the comfort of the company's ultra-comfortable Zero Gravity seats
• Conventional switches and buttons are replaced by captivating controls that when not use seamlessly blend into the wood trim, justifying the uncluttered point
• Taking care of the driver's comfort is an adjustable armrest and a pebble-like selector whose job is to make things more comforting

Nissan Ariya advanced tech

• Empowering the Ariya EV is the latest version of Nissan's advanced driver assistance system, the ProPilot Assist 2.0 that uses 12 ultrasonic sonar sensors, seven cameras, and 5mm-wave radar, all to get a fair idea of the car's surroundings. It works together with the navigation system and 3D map data. Also, this new system facilitates hands-off single-lane highway automated driving

• The Japan-spec model on top of the ProPilot Assist 2.0 will get ProPilot Park, through which owners will be able to park their car using the Intelligent Key automatically
• Both the infotainment and information cluster measures 12.3-inch. These units come with a new user interface and a hybrid voice control system with advanced natural language recognition
• Ower can also use Amazon's Alexa to make calls, control music, and operate smart home appliances

Nissan Ariya performance, battery, and range

• The Ariya drivetrain features multiple configurations, including a twin electric motor setup and a two-wheel-drive setup. The former enables all-wheel-drive performance that the company calls the 'e-4ORCE'
  Also Read: Nissan e-4ORCE technology makes electric vehicles speedy and sporty
• The customers to choose between a 63 kWh battery and an 87 kWh options, available with either rear or all-wheel drive

• The company claims a driving range of 300 km, though independent verification from Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure and US Environmental Protection Agency is still pending
• A 130 kW CHAdeMO fast charger will be offered in Japan that is claimed to draw an additional range of 375 km in 30 minutes

Performance (power & torque)	63 kWh battery	87 kWh battery
Single motor variant	215hp/300Nm, 0-100kmph in 7.5 sec	239hp,  0-100kmph in 7.6 sec
Twin electric motors	335hp/560Nm, 0-100kmph in 5.6 sec	388hp/600Nm,  0-100kmph in 5.1 sec

 

Overall, the Nissan Ariya is one of a kind EV, mainly for its far-from-boring design language and unique motor setup. We believe that it'll be a success in the segment, just like Leaf.