Nissan was a pioneer in the early EV industry with the debut of the LEAF in 2010, but since then, the market for battery-powered cars has grown to be larger and more competitive than ever. The Ariya is the brand's first attempt at a more grown-up EV to challenge newer industry leaders.

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A Fresh Look For Nissan

Unlike its nerdy LEAF ancestor, the Ariya wears clean and contemporary sheetmetal that introduces an evolved design direction for future Nissan vehicles. The V-motion grille that dominates the faces of gas-powered Nissans has been reduced to almost nothing, serving as a suble nod to the Ariya's battery-powered roots. Slim daytime running lights underline the main headlight units before extending along the sides of what would usually be the grille, while an illuminated Nissan emblem fills in the empty space on the SUV's nose. The Ariya has compact dimensions, and its overall length of 182.9 feet lands it just under Rogue territory. A chrome accent tracing the top the compact greenhouse descends until almost reaching the full-width taillights, giving the effect of a sloping roofline.

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Performance Isn't Class-Leading

The Ariya isn't nearly as sporty as it may look, especially when opting for the base models, but the majority of regular EV buyers aren't likely to notice. The electric SUV performs the least in front-wheel drive guise, with a middling 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds, which lags behind the thrilling acceleration times that most other EVs boast. More expensive all-wheel drive models are expected to deliver much more rapid acceleration, though the base Engage model we tested was simply front-wheel drive. Nonetheless, all Ariya models have a smooth, serene ride with excellent noise cancellation, but buyers will have to get past the lack of excitement in its handling. In terms of range, the Ariya varies widely, and it all depends on the trim level. The base Engage offers the least range with just 216 miles per full charge. Meanwhile, the Venture+ trim, which sits just above the entry-level model, includes the most range at 304 miles. The next three trims, Evolve+, Empower+, and Premiere all come with 289 miles of range, which is acceptable for everyday errands, while the range-topping Platinum+ offers a slightly lower 265 miles of range.

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Pros: Fresh design, ride is smooth and quiet, expansive cabin

Well-Executed Cabin

The Ariya's cabin is tastefully minimalistic with very few physical buttons, but it manages the look better than most rivals. A curved touchscreen display houses the digital gauges and infotainment system under a single piece of glass, sitting atop a stylish dashboard with a set of haptic climate controls. Its EV powertrain is evident with the flat floor, which affords passengers ample room in both the front and rear seats, while a detached center console takes the Ariya's spacious layout even further, containing a handful of essential controls. Nissan also integrated its comfortable zero-gravity seats, which are said to minimize muscle fatigue. It's also worth noting the splattering of cool lighting elements throughout the cabin, inspired by Japanese paper lanterns.

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Plenty Of Space Inside

Interior dimensions are one of the Ariya's greatest strengths despite its smaller footprint, thanks to the advantages that under-floor batteries bring. The floor is low and flat, and the absence of an engine in front allows for ample legroom in front. While the rear quarters don't feel quite as cavernous as the front seats, it's still plenty comfortable for two adults. The spaciousness even extends into the cargo area, with around 22.8 cubic feet of storage available, but the Ariya's low-slung roofline at the rear hinders it from beating class leaders like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4.

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Cons: FWD variant is slow, cheaper models sacrifice range, so-so driving experience

With Tech, The Ariya Doesn't Disappoint

The Ariya offers dual 12.3" screens to serve as the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, while a head-up display and wireless smartphone charger are available. All Ariya models come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the infotainment system offers its own native navigation system and voice assistant, alongside Amazon Alexa integration. Compared to gas-powered Nissans, the Ariya boasts impressive screen real estate, and its infotainment system both looks modern and feels intuitive. Like almost every new EV out there, the Ariya does come with a few party tricks, including a self-park feature. It requires a lot of supervision, just as today's hands-free driving systems do, and while it performs well in your run-of-the-mill parking lot, the Ariya acts like many drivers when parallel parking— it finds the process challenging.

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Verdict: The Ariya isn't for full driving enthusiasts, especially not in front-wheel drive, but it still fulfills its general mission of being a great EV alternative to the Rogue.