Update: ‘Nissan Ariya undergoes safety tests in Japan’ section added.
Nissan Ariya deliveries were scheduled to begin mid-2021, with Japan as the first market. However, due to component shortage, the first units will come out “this winter (December 2021-February 2022),” Nissan revealed in the announcement of a limited-edition model on June 4, 2021. Moreover, the company has pushed back customer deliveries of the Ariya in the United States to the final months of 2022.
Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming Nissan electric car.
Design
The Nissan Ariya looks like no other Nissan model in the market, and that’s because it follows a new design theme – Timeless Japanese Futurism. The all-electric SUV-coupe exudes powerfulness with grace and simplicity, easily relatable to Japanese designs. A sleek silhouette and smooth, seamless surfaces make it look built to cut through the air with a breeze.
The Nissan Ariya has a chic design, but at the same time, it also has some attributes that portray dominance and sportiness. The thin LED headlamps built of four 20-mm mini-projectors, the giant “aerodynamic shield” in place of a traditional grille, and the drop-down LED DRLs let onlookers know exactly what’s coming their way. The new brand logo, positioned at the center of the aerodynamic shield, is illuminated, adding to the vehicle’s sci-fi first impression.
Black underbody cladding goes from the front all the way to the rear and complements the chunky alloy wheels in contributing to the classic SUV traits. At the rear, a steeply raked C-pillar merges flawlessly into the deck. That and the quickly sloping roofline are principal to the Nissan Ariya’s low-slung, sporty stance. The rear combination lamps had to have drama like the front lights, and the combined light blade with a blackened treatment ensure that.
Interior
The Nissan Ariya has its own identity and lays a foundation for future Nissans. The dedicated BEV platform has a flat floor, which means an uninterrupted and practical cabin that gives more legroom and easier interaction between the front- and rear-seat occupants. However, there are some raised sections in the middle, and those are because of the harness for some systems (like ProPILOT 2.0) that need to draw power from the sub-battery. Hikaru Nakajima, the chief vehicle engineer of the Nissan Ariya, revealed this in an interview with blog.evsmart.net in September 2020.
The Ariya raises the bar for minimalism at Nissan. Image Source: Nissan
Nissan says that the interior is closer to a sleek cafe lounge on a starship than an ordinary vehicle cabin (no reason to argue on that!). The dashboard has been designed to look sleeker and virtually merge with the door panels seamlessly. It aligns with the vehicle’s minimalist nature, perhaps in the highest degree of all parts, with almost no physical controls. The company has integrated the primary climate control functions into a wooden center dash – premium and close to nature – with capacitive haptic switches.
The steering wheel is a fancy two-spoke unit, underscoring the less is more philosophy of the EV. Two large displays – a fully digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen central display – are positioned upright to allow the driver to view information and easily access the infotainment system.
In the U.S., Nissan will offer the Ariya in Venture+, Evolve+, Premiere, and Platinum+ grades. ProPILOT Assist 2.0, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, and Nissan Safety Shield 360 will be among the available features.
Range & Performance
Along with a striking exterior and an exceptionally minimalist interior, the Nissan Ariya rides on a brand new Alliance platform, the CMF-EV. Nissan has announced four configurations for the Ariya, with 63 kWh and 87 kWh battery pack options and one or two motors with 160 kW – 290 kW of power and 221.2 lb.-ft. – 442.5 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the battery packs of the Nissan Leaf, the battery packs of the Nissan Ariya are liquid-cooled.
Japanese specificationsNissan Ariya (2WD)Ariya (2WD)Ariya (AWD)Ariya (AWD)Battery capacity(estimated; subject to homologation)65 kWh(nominal)63 kWh(usable)90 kWh(nominal)87 kWh(usable)65 kWh(nominal)63 kWh(usable)90 kWh(nominal)87 kWh(usable)Output160 kW178 kW250 kW290 kWTorque300 Nm/221.2 lb-ft300 Nm/221.2 lb-ft560 Nm/413 lb-ft600 Nm/442.5 lb-ftAcceleration(0-62 mph)7.5 s7.6 s5.4 s5.1 sTop speed100 mph100 mph124.2 mph124.2 mphEstimated range based on WLTC Japan cycle; subject to homologationUp to 279.6 miUp to 379 miUp to 379 miUp to 379 miCommon specifications (across variants)Length4,595 mm (180.9 in)Width1,850 mm (72.83 in)Height1,655 mm (65.15 in)Weight1,900 kg – 2,200 kg (4,188.7 – 4,850.1 lbs)Wheelbase2,775 mm (109.25 in)Luggage capacity466 L (2WD) / 408 L (AWD)Tire size(front and rear)235/55 R19255/45 R20 (optional)
Nissan Ariya Japanese specifications (Source: Nissan)
In the United States, Nissan estimates the Ariya to receive approximately 300 miles from the EPA. The peak power for DC fast charging is 130 kW, although the charging times aren’t out yet. Both 2WD and AWD configurations would be available to American buyers, as detailed in the table below:
Nissan Ariya U.S. AspectSpecificationLength 182.9 in.Width74.8 in.Height65.4-65.7 in.Wheelbase109.3 in.Drivetrain LayoutFWD/AWDNo. of MotorsOne (FWD)/Two (AWD)Power238 hp (FWD)/389 hp (AWD)Torque221 lb.-ft. (FWD)/442 lb.-ft. (AWD)Battery Pack Capacity87 kWhRangeUp to 300 miles (FWD)/265 miles (AWD)Max. DC Charging Power130 kW
Nissan Ariya U.S. specification table (Source: Nissan)
Release Date & Price
The component shortage has significantly affected the Ariya’s production schedule, which has impacted its delivery timeline, both at home and in the U.S.
Makoto Uchida, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO, Nissan, confirmed during the fiscal year 2020 financial results announcement in May 2021 that the production of the Ariya will begin this year. “As we introduce the Nissan Intelligent Factory in Tochigi this year, we are going to start production of Ariya,” he said. The company has changed the SOP date because of the ongoing semiconductor shortage worldwide.
“We assume an impact of 500,000 units from the semiconductor shortage,” Uchida said later, during the analyst session for discussing the fiscal year 2020 financial results. “The magnitude of impact is largely due to the “double negative impact” of supply shortage, new product launch timing, and the fact that we have more models using more semiconductor,” he added.
Uchida revealed during the FY2020 financial results announcement that there are around 200,000 hand-raisers for the Ariya globally. That’s double the figure when it announced Q3 FY2020 results on February 9, 2021. Customer interest should rise further as media reviews emerge and sales open next year.
Nissan launched the Ariya in Japan in four configurations (limited B6 2WD, limited B6 e-4ORCE, limited B9 2WD, and limited B9 e-4ORCE. The Nissan Japan website says that the company will start deliveries of the base configuration this winter and the remaining configurations from the summer of 2022 (June-August 2022).
Reservations & Deliveries in the U.S.
In the U.S., Nissan opened Ariya reservations on November 17, 2021. Prices of the Ariya in the U.S. start at USD 49,950 and go up to USD 58,950, as you can see in the table below:
ConfigurationBattery PackPerformanceRangePriceAriya Venture+ FWD87 kWh238 hp/221 lb.-ft.300 milesUSD 45,950Ariya Evolve+ FWD87 kWh238 hp/221 lb.-ft.285 milesUSD 48,950Ariya Premiere FWD87 kWh238 hp/221 lb.-ft.285 milesUSD 53,450Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD87 kWh389 hp/442 lb.-ft.265 milesUSD 58,950
Nissan Ariya U.S. prices and specifications (Source: Nissan)
Nissan plans to begin Ariya deliveries in the U.S. in fall 2022. The company will ship the Ariya FWD to dealerships first, and then the Ariya AWD in late fall the same year.
Nissan is conducting some marketing activities for its VW ID.4 rival to incite consumer interest before the launch. It showcased the all-electric crossover at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show in July 2021, at the 2021 LA Auto Show in November 2021, and at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show in Feb 2022.
Video Source: YouTube/EV Buyers Guide
The Nissan Ariya will go on sale when the demand for electric SUVs is witnessing a boom. Given its SUV body style, range, price, and high-end technologies, it should go on to become Nissan’s best-selling electric car. Nissan sold less than 15,000 units of the Leaf in the USA in 2021, and it should see a much higher uptake for the Ariya in its first full year of sales.
Nissan Ariya undergoes safety tests in Japan
Safety tests are crucial for EVs to ensure that critical components do not pose fire and explosion risks. Image: Nissan
Recently, Nissan conducted a safety test for the Ariya at the brand’s technical center in Atsugi, Japan. All Nissan vehicles undergo impact tests from all sides and real-life scenarios like pedestrians crossing the road are simulated to test pedestrian safety systems. A Nissan official stated that more than 100 data points are evaluated on the Ariya and the brand will conduct over 400 tests before market launch. Nissan says that engineers have taken measures to ensure the battery’s structural integrity after a crash to avoid leakage of the electrodes.
Nissan U.S. electrification strategy
The Nissan Ariya is the first model to incorporate the new design language called ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism.’ Image Source: Nissan
“I’m signing an executive order setting out a target of 50 percent of all passenger vehicles sold by 2030 will be electric,” U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the noon of August 5, 2021. The same day, Nissan announced that it plans to convert 40% of U.S. vehicle sales to pure electric models by 2030. The announcement followed the January 2021 statement that confirmed electrification of entire Nissan product line-ups in key markets like Japan, China, the U.S., and European countries by the early 2030s. The Japanese automaker’s ultimate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050.
Nissan Ariya and Leaf to co-exist
The Ariya and the Nissan Leaf will co-exist in the brand’s American line-up. Aditya Jairaj, Director of EV marketing and sales strategy, Nissan’s U.S., quoted to Green Car Reports on January 13, 2022, that the Ariya was never meant to replace the Leaf. Both models have distinctive positioning.
The Ariya with the large 87 kWh battery starts at USD 45,950, while the future variant with the smaller 65 kWh model is expected to start at around USD 40,000, before the federal tax credit. The base variant of the Leaf meanwhile starts at USD 28,375, while the Leaf Plus comes with a sticker price of USD 33,375, making it the cheapest electric car model in the United States.
If customers can avail of the USD 7,500 federal tax credit, the Ariya would cost USD 33,500, while its extended range version would retail at USD 38,450. With this, Nissan would have two affordable and premium electric car models, well under the USD 40,000 mark. With this aggressive pricing, the Ariya is likely to be a strong contender against the U.S.-made VW ID.4 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Nissan Ariya FAQs
What is the Nissan Ariya release date?
Customer deliveries of the Nissan Ariya in the U.S. market will begin in fall 2022.
Which electric SUVs will the Nissan Ariya compete with?
The Nissan Ariya rivals in the United States will include the Toyota bZ4X, VW ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the Tesla Model Y.
What is the base Nissan Ariya price?
Prices of the Nissan Ariya in the USA start at USD 45,950.
Featured image: Nissan
Keyword: Nissan Ariya U.S. deliveries postponed to Fall 2022, confirms Nissan