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Nissan's fastest Ariya EV, this Nismo model, isn't the quickest or most dynamic mid-sized performance electric crossover you could choose, but it might still charm you with its rapid pace, attractive looks and classy cabin.
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Driving experience
You might have thought that no niche had been left unaddressed in the over-crowded market for mid-sized electric crossovers, but Nissan thinks it's spotted one here. In terms of performance models in this segment, there's quite a performance gap between something like a Volkswagen ID.4 GTX (340PS) and a wild Hyundai IONIQ 5N (650PS), with most contenders (think Kia EV6 GT or Ford Mustang Mach-E GT) offering either just above or just below 500PS. Developing 435PS, this Ariya might not be quite as fast as you'd hoped, but it strikes a useful middle ground between these two extremes. Though it's worth pointing out that this output is only 130PS more than you'd get in the top standard Ariya model, the Evolve e-4ORCE. The only other rival to offer this kind performance balance is the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which has 459PS, but beats this Nissan's 5.0s 0-62mph time by around two seconds.
Nissan wants you to know that the more important 50-70mph overtaking stat increment (2.4s) looks a lot better (faster than the rorty old 370Z Nismo sports coupe). As in an ordinary top Ariya, there's a dual motor e-4ORCE four-wheel drive system, but here the torque output is more biased towards the rear, variable to the road surface beneath. The front can take up to 60% of motor output, the rear up to 75%. But there's no system to shuffle torque around between the wheels - and certainly nothing that would allow circuit drifts a la IONIQ 5N.
Disappointingly, Nismo hasn't uprated the brakes to better cope with the extra power (though the ABS has been re-tuned), but all the splitters and skirts apparently up downforce by 40%. Aided perhaps by the prodigious 2.2-tonne kerb weight. There's grippy Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. And the drive modes get a feistier top 'Nismo' setting. The fake powertrain noise (that apparently mimics Formula E racers) isn't fitted to European-spec cars.
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Design and build
One of the things that might well convince you into an Ariya Nismo is the way that it looks. Even in standard form, this is an attractive car and its form has been spoiled in any way by all the carefully integrated splitters and skirts of this top version. These have added 40% more downforce without affecting the standard version's sleek 0.30Cd drag coefficient. Red lower trimming, a subtle roof spoiler and big 20-inch Enkei wheels mark out this Ariya's Nismo status.
It's nicely done inside too, where the cabin's unlike anything else in the segment. There's more red detailing and red 'Andon' interior illumination, but Nissan's refused the temptation to add carbon fibre trim. The alcantara upper dashboard treatment looks classy and there are wood-like inlays (that look better than that sounds). The seats, trimmed in a suede-like material and featuring stitched NISMO logos, are specifically designed for sporting driving, offering enhanced support and body-hugging grip under hard cornering.
As usual with an Ariya, the dashboard has a very minimalist design, with almost all the physical buttons replaced by capacitive haptic-feedback switches integrated into the fascia surface. There's a 12.3-inch central touchscreen; and a digital instrument binnacle display of the same size, plus what Nissan reckons is one of the biggest head-up displays in the segment. There's also a fold-out centre stowage box beneath the main instrument panel.
The 2,775mm wheelbase length means rear legroom's reasonable and there's a reasonably-sized rear bench, but it would be more comfortable for two than three. The boot capacity is rated at 408-litres.
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Market and model
Nissan wanted £56,620 for this Ariya Nismo from launch. To give you some perspective in the segment, that's about £3,500 more than a Volkswagen ID.4 GTX and about £3,500 less than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. It's actually a bit less than the £59,000 price tag attached to the top model in the standard part of the Ariya range, the 87kWh 'Evolve' e4ORCE.
All the kit we've briefed you on in our 'Driving' and 'Design' sections comes included of course, plus everything you'd expect to find on a top Ariya. Including ultra-slim full-LED headlights which incorporate four 20mm projectors and are combined with animated indicators. Inside, there's a sophisticated centre dash infotainment screen which incorporates a 'digital assistant' incorporating Amazon Alexa voice control and activated by the phrases "Hello Nissan" and "Hey Nissan". This set-up includes 4G connectivity and can receive over the air updates for infotainment elements and chassis and EV settings. There's plenty of smartphone integration too of course, which will enable appointments to be fed to the car in advance any journey.
As you'd expect, you'll get Nissan's latest suite of 'Safety Shield' camera safety equipment. The front grille houses a whole range of sensors that drive Nissan's 'ProPILOT' driver assistance systems - features like Lane Keeping Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control.
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Cost of ownership
We gave you this Nismo model's 261 mile driving range figure in our 'Driving' section. That's significantly down on the 285 mile figure you'd get from a normal 87kWh 'Evolve' e4ORCE Ariya model. There are the usual controls for increasing the level of regenerative braking so that you can maximise this car's range potential. Like other Nissans, the Ariya operates with an 'e-Pedal' system when braking regeneration is at its maximum, meaning that in normal driving, you'll be able to launch, accelerate and decelerate only using the throttle pedal.
This car comes ready for 22kW three-phase AC charging, but it only DC charges at up to 130kW. That isn't especially fast but will allow around 230 miles of range to be added to this car's battery pack in around half an hour. A nice touch is the inclusion of an LED inspection light in the car's charging point so that owners won't have to rely on street lighting to connect their cars to an electric source at night.
The warranty is a conventional three year / 60,000 mile affair and the battery of this Ariya is covered by a separate eight year / 100,000 mile policy. Servicing is every year or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, so you'll save a bit on that compared to a combustion-engined model. And Nissan offers an 'Enhanced Servicing Plan', which can be had with either two, three or four-year packages.
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Summary
It's a strange confection this. Nismo spec is more than just an Ariya trim upgrade, but it stops short of being the properly engineered stand-alone performance model we might have hoped for from a sub-brand with 40 years of motorsport heritage. It's hard as well to see who it might sell to. Someone taken by an Ariya EV is unlikely to be a Nismo fan - and the reverse also certainly applies. If you do want a fast mid-sized EV crossover like this, it's hard to ignore the fact that for not much more than Nissan is asking here, you could get a lot more power with other rivals, notably Hyundai's IONIQ 5N.
But power isn't everything and it's true to say that this Ariya Nismo gives you as much of it as you can reasonably use. It also looks less 'Max Power' than many of its rivals - so you'll avoid the midlife crisis allegations that might come with purchase of something like an IONIQ 5N. We still feel though, that Nismo can do better than this. Apparently their engineers are open to the idea of a faster Ariya Nismo RS model. Perhaps that's a car this one should have been.
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