Nissan was one of the pioneers in the electric vehicle (EV) space with the first-gen Leaf coming to market more than a decade ago in 2010.
This predates the Tesla Model S, and at one point in the not-too-distant past, the Leaf was the best-selling electric car in the world.
But Nissan’s lead has since eroded, thanks to the Tesla Model 3, as well as competition from rivals in more popular body shapes – i.e. SUVs – like the Hyundai Kona Electric, MG ZS EV and a myriad of premium models like the Mercedes-Benz EQA, Jaguar I-Pace and Polestar 2.
So, what is Nissan’s play to stay at the forefront of electric technology?
The answer is the Ariya, a mid-size SUV that competes again the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Toyota bZ4X.
But will it come to Australia? Right now, the answer is unclear, but it is available in right-hand-drive markets like the UK.
Nissan Australia boss Adam Paterson told CarsGuide late last year that the business case is still being worked on.
“We’re still working to secure the car for the market and determine timing,” he said.
“We are absolutely looking at any EV platforms and products that are within the announced Nissan EV portfolio, and how we can perhaps make them work here.”
But just how much could the Ariya cost if and when it gets to Australia?
Pricing announced in the UK, another right-hand-drive market like Australia, could be the best indicator, and it points to a premium price point.
In the UK, five variants of the Ariya are on offer, split between the 63kWh and 88kWh versions.
Pricing kicks off from £41,845, which coverts to around $A80,139, and extends all the way to £58,440, or $A111,921.
To be fair, overseas prices very seldom translate so directly to Australian pricing, but in the UK the Ariya is positioned above the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, which start from £36,995 and £40,895 respectively.
Its also important to note however, that the Ioniq 5 and EV6 are positioned differently in Australia, wearing recommended retail prices of $71,900 and $67,990.
What’s all this mean for the Ariya? Well Nissan’s electric mid-size SUV will likely sit clear above the Hyundai and Kia rivals, and could even sit atop the brand’s pricing tree.
To justify the cost, the base Ariya comes fitted with a 160kW/300Nm motor that drives the front wheels for a zero-to-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds.
With its 63kWh battery in place, the base Ariya can travel up to 359km on a single charge, while its 130kW DC fast-charging ability means it can recoup 10-80 per cent of its battery in as little as 30 minutes.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, synthetic leather interior, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, powered tailgate, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view monitor, and a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay support.
Customers can also opt for the front-drive 87kWh version, upping driving range to 499km, while the flagship all-wheel-drive e-4orce Performance grade ups outputs to 290kW/600Nm to cut the 0-100kmh acceleration time to just 5.1s.
Keyword: Should Nissan offer the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Toyota bZ4X-rivalling Ariya electric car in Australia, and at what price could you be expected to pay for one?