2022 Nissan Ariya

Hello, electric car lovers! In this blog, I cover all the latest tech news surrounding electric cars. I cover the background, feel and drive, the current selling price, and the specs and engineering that go into making each car. If you have an electric car that you’d like me to cover let me know in the comments below. In today's article, I’m reviewing the upcoming Nissan Ariya. I'll be covering the most important features to see whether it’ll crush the competition or not with its sex-E exterior and interior Japanese design and its intelligent autopilot technology. and one more thing before I start - My wife is so negative. I remembered to plug in the EV at night, I set up the car seat, the stroller, AND the diaper bag. Yet all she can talk about is how I forgot the baby.

Okkaayyyy...  Now back to the article.

The Nissan Ariya is a battery-electric compact crossover SUV that will be manufactured at Nissan's Tochigi facility in Japan beginning in July 2020. The Ariya's introduction in the United States was originally scheduled for the second half of 2021 but has now been pushed back to 2022.

Yep, The Nissan Leaf is no longer the company's only all-electric vehicle. The all-new 2023 Nissan Ariya is an electric crossover coupe that not only demonstrates the company's aim to compete with industry leaders like Tesla, but also a potential new design direction. It's a tough task for a carmaker in financial trouble, but the Ariya might be just what the doctor ordered to get things back on track.

The Ariya not only has the newest battery-electric technology, but it also has autonomous driving capabilities, voice personal assistance, and a range of up to 300 miles. The Ariya is also Nissan's first vehicle to get over-the-air upgrades. The Ariya is without a doubt a huge step forward for Nissan, and it is likely to be a popular seller when it hits showrooms.

The Ariya production version was announced in July 2020 and was originally scheduled to enter the market in 2021 at a starting price of $40,000. Ariya's introduction was pushed back from 2021 to 2022 due to a chip scarcity caused by the lockdown.

Pricing for the US market was released on November 17th, 2021, with a starting price of $47,125. Deliveries in the United States are planned to begin in the fall of 2022 for the 2023 model year. The Ariya will compete with other EV crossovers of comparable sizes, such as the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Kona Electric, in 2022.

Design and engineering

Some electric vehicles, such as the BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQA, are based on current petrol and diesel-powered models, while the Ariya was built from the bottom up to be an electric vehicle. This eliminates the need for huge intakes or other airflow-disrupting features in the front grille. As a result, starting from scratch has offered Nissan's engineers greater creative freedom in designing the Ariya, and it shows. The Nissan Ariya appears significantly more futuristic and purposeful than the Mercedes EQA or BMW iX3, from the clean front end to the swoopy roofline.

The roof spoiler and full-length rear taillight are sporty additions to this family-friendly SUV's overall appeal. It looks more like the new Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe than the usual boxer SUVs already on the market.

The Nissan Ariya is the "ultimate manifestation of style and technology," according to Nissan. It's difficult to disagree. The Ariya's V-Motion grille has a 3D pattern with the brand's new emblem that lights up due to 20 LEDs, in keeping with its "Timeless Japanese Futurism" design philosophy. This aerodynamic grille also serves as a cover for Ariya's ProPilot sensing equipment.

The LED running lights are integrated into the grille, while a broken horizontal line connects the front and rear fascias on the sides of the car.

A raised C-pillar and a one-piece blade with a blacked-out appearance when not in use add to the rear end's appeal. Nissan offers six two-tone paint and four full-body color choices, including the distinctive Copper paint, for even more flair. With two-tone paint, a black roof is provided. Sporty 19-inch aluminum wheels are standard, with 20-inches available as an option.

When compared to the Tesla Model Y, the exterior style is unmistakably dramatic, and it's easy to see where the eyes would first be drawn.

The inside is decorated in a Japanese-inspired style. The infotainment screen and the driver's instrument gauge cluster both have big 12.3-inch monitors. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa are all available as standard features. Because all of the key functions are incorporated into the touchscreen, the minimalist dashboard lacks traditional buttons. 

One especially inventive approach was to have mechanical-related operations vibrate when pressed, simulating the action of pressing a button. Thankfully, the heating settings are separate touch-sensitive pads on the dashboard, rather than being incorporated into the touchscreen (which may be difficult to operate while driving). The majority of the car's functions will be managed via the central touchscreen or the new 'Hey Nissan' voice command system, which is similar to that used in recent Mercedes, BMW, and Volkswagen vehicles. Without taking your hands off the wheel, you can set up the sat-nav, make phone calls, and alter the temperature settings.

The Ariya concept car from 2019 had a function that allowed the car to sync with the driver's schedule, allowing it to preheat or pre-cool the cabin while it was parked and charging, saving battery power. The idea also demonstrated technology that would let the driver use ProPilot's Remote Park to autonomously park the Ariya from a nearby place, akin to Tesla's Smart Summon feature. Nissan has not stated whether or not these features will be included in the production vehicle.

The Nissan Ariya's extensive infotainment system will include Over-The-Air updates, so crucial software modifications or upgrades will be handled via the built-in 4G connection. This means you won't have to return to the shop to get the newest upgrades installed. The center console, like the seat placements, may be adjusted to the driver's preferences and recorded as part of the driver's profile. There's lots of storage, including a huge box concealed behind the center instrument panel and a laptop-friendly fold-out tray.

The Zero Gravity chairs' compact form helps to give more legroom for both fronts- and rear-seat occupants. Engineers were able to free up interior space in unusual ways because of Ariya's EV base, such as placing the temperature control system under the hood, where a combustion engine would have been. Electric vehicles do not require a transmission tube, and Ariya's flat floor provides even greater passenger and freight room.

Performance

Unlike the Leaf, which only has front-wheel drive, Nissan is using technology developed for previous cars, including the torque-split system used in the GT-R sports car, to provide optional all-wheel drive via a dual-front/rear-electric-motor layout. The all-wheel-drive Ariya is expected to go from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds, which is comparable to higher-end electric vehicles. The standard front-wheel-drive vehicle will most certainly be slower, but it will have the quick acceleration that EV powertrains are known for.

The base Ariya will generate 160 kilowatts and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the improved version will generate 289 kilowatts and 443 lb-ft of torque.

Drivers may choose from three driving modes to find the best setting for the road and weather circumstances. The near 50:50 front/rear weight distribution, another benefit of the hefty battery pack beneath the floor, will allow for excellent handling.

The standard ProPilot Assist 2.0 suite of features, which includes lane centering, navigating stop-and-go highway traffic, and assisting in maintaining vehicle speed depending on impending road conditions, will appeal to safety-conscious purchasers. Intelligent Around View Monitor, Forward Collision Warning, and Emergency Braking are all included in the Nissan Safety Shield package.

Battery life

The Ariya will be available in two battery sizes: 66 kWh and 87 kWh, as well as front- or all-wheel drive. On a single charge, the FWD 87 kWh is estimated to go roughly 300 miles. AWD variants use Nissan's innovative e-4ORCE system, which borrows technology from the Nissan GT-torque-split R's system

The Venture+, according to Nissan, has a driving range of up to 300 miles per charge, which is a significant improvement over the Leaf's maximum range of 226 miles. The Evolve+ and Premiere versions are said to go up to 285 miles on a single charge, while the Platinum+ is said to go up to 265. Jaguar's I-Pace and Audi's E-Tron, which offer 234 and 204 miles of range, respectively, are similarly sized automobiles. Tesla's main competitors claim ranges of over 300 miles. 

The Ariya will be able to charge at home, at public charging stations, and even at DC fast-charging ports, using 110- or 240-volt outlets.

Price and Model Range

The Ariya's starting price of $47,125 puts it beyond the Leaf and other inexpensive EVs, but it will be less expensive than the Tesla Model Y Long Range, which starts at about $50,000. Even with a shorter range, the Ariya and Model Y will fight for customers. 

People could continue with the entry-level Venture+ trim, which has the longest driving range among Ariya's four trim levels because the prevailing mentality is that range is crucial to effectively switch from gasoline to electricity. The official price will start at around $40,000, of course, this does not include a few thousand dollars in federal and state tax incentives. Here’s the price of each of the four trims:

• The Venture+ trim starts from $47,125

• The Evolve + will cost you $50,125

• The Premiere trim costs $54,625

• The Platinum+ is the costliest trim with $60,125

Of course, Model Y won't be the only competitor for Ariya. The incoming Volkswagen ID.4 will be a strong competitor, as will the Audi Q4 Sportback e-Tron, albeit the latter will be more expensive. The Fisker Ocean, which is expected to start at roughly $37,500 before any tax incentives, is another probable future competitor.

The age of all-electric crossovers with a sporty appearance is here!

This wraps up my review of the Nissan Ariya, let me know what you think of it. Thank you for sticking it out through to the very end of this article! Nothing helps out my blog more than you all reading the entire article. These articles take a long time to make and are a labor of love. If you would like to see my blog grow, please help spread the word and until next time, remember, the best experiences aren’t about where you end up, but who you’re lucky enough to be on the journey with.