Is the Electric Nissan Ariya Worth Paying Attention To?
The Nissan Ariya made its debut, but no one seemed to notice. Attention seems to be on the new Ford Bronco and other models instead. However, does the electric Nissan Ariya deserve a chance in the spotlight to compete against the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y?
The 2021 Nissan Ariya is coming
The 2021 Nissan Ariya is the all-new electric SUV that people haven’t seemed to notice yet. However, its bold new look with confident headlights and refined, luxurious interior should be turning heads.
One of the most noticeable features of the Nissan Ariya includes the large grille in a sunken, subtle area that resembles the Japanese Kumiko design. Also, it has the new Nissan logo that lights up.
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The Nissan Ariya is the second Nissan EV to enter the U.S. market, after the Nissan Leaf. The Ariya is a more substantial option than the Leaf and has a similar shape and size to the Nissan Murano, which has seating for up to seven passengers.
2021 Nissan Ariya performance
The 2021 Nissan Ariya will be offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It will also have two battery options available, including a 63-kilowatt hour battery pack and an 87-kilowatt battery pack.
The 87-kilowatt battery pack should provide a range of about 300 miles, but Nissan didn’t release the estimated range for the smaller battery pack. The Nissan LEAF SL Plus offers a range of about 215 miles.
If you want the more robust battery pack or all-wheel drive, you will need to opt for the e-4ORCE trim that’s powered by twin motors. The motors should provide enough power for the Ariya to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. This is two seconds behind the Ford Mustang Mach E.
2021 Nissan Ariya features
Nissan hasn’t released information about how long it will take the 2021 Nissan Ariya EV to charge. The pressure is on because the amount of time it takes to charge is an important selling point for most buyers. Hopefully, the Nissan Ariya will gain an 805 charge after 15 to 20 minutes to compete against rivals.
The Nissan Ariya is getting the ProPilot 2.0 driver assistance feature to control speed, distance from other cars, and lane-keeping assistance with minimal work from the driver. But please note that you still have to actively drive this car.
Cameras will assist with tracing lane lines, keeping up with highway speeds, and not changing lanes until the driver takes direct action. Maybe this will help drivers remember to use their turn signals.
The interior of the Nissan Ariya is incredibly spacious. There is seating for up to five-passengers with enough space to stretch out thanks to not having to make room for an internal combustion engine.
There are two 12’3” screens in the Nissan Ariya. One is behind the steering column, and the other is in the center of the dash to be easy to reach. It can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and will receive over the air updates.
There are a few manual switches to control the HVAC system, but the Nissan Ariya is primarily electronic. It’s expected to start around $40k, which is cheaper than its rivals. Unfortunately, we will have to wait to learn more about the Nissan Ariya to decide if it’s worth it.
