Overview

Nissan is expanding its line of electric vehicles with the Ariya concept, recently announced at the Tokyo auto show—and it could go on sale in the U.S. as soon as next year. The new SUV—which ultimately may receive a different name in production—will join the Leaf hatchback, which boasts up to 226 miles of driving range. Nissan hasn't released all of the details on the Ariya, but the design of the compact crossover is a shift from the current sharp, angular lines seen on many of Nissan's vehicles. The low, wide stance of the Ariya differentiates it from the Rogue and gives it a sportier look. The Ariya should build on what Nissan has created in the Leaf, and if Nissan delivers on the technology it has described, the Ariya will be an impressive electric vehicle that should be worth the wait.
What's New for 2022?

The Ariya is an all-new vehicle for Nissan. It features Nissan's new semi-autonomous driving system, ProPilot 2.0, which recently made its debut in the Japanese-market Nissan Skyline sedan. The Ariya will be powered by a dual front/rear motor drive configuration and could deliver up to 300 miles of driving range.
Pricing and Which One to Buy

S: $40,000 (est.)
SV: $42,000 (est.)
SL: $45,000 (est.)

Nissan hasn't released pricing, but look for it to start around $40,000, putting it above the Leaf and other affordable EVs. The Leaf has three different trims and while it's hard to say what the Ariya will offer, it's fair to expect it to follow a similar product plan.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The drivetrain on the Ariya will be just one of the major points differentiating it from the Leaf. Instead of a simple, front-wheel-drive arrangement, the Ariya will pull from features developed in other cars, including the GT-R sports car's torque-split system, and all-wheel drive will be provided by a dual front/rear electric motor configuration. We estimate that the Ariya will go from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds, a feat that is similar to higher-end electric vehicles.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The Ariya could offer up to 300 miles of driving range per charge, and if that turns out to be true, it would be quite the step up from the Leaf's maximum range of 226 miles. Similarly sized vehicles include Jaguar's I-Pace and Audi's E-Tron, which have 234 and 204 miles of range, respectively.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Ariya's interior looks futuristic and minimal. Nissan appears to have forgone every button possible in pursuit of a smooth dashboard that favors a sleek look that matches the design of the exterior. For all the information that Nissan has held back in the announcement of the Ariya, it has given us the car's dimensions. It's four inches shorter in length and height in comparison with the Rogue, but is more than three inches wider. The Rogue performed admirably in our carry-on luggage test and held 22 carry-ons with the rear seats folded, but we anticipate the slightly shorter Ariya will offer less cargo space.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Nissan also divulged the details of the infotainment and connectivity systems, and from what was described, it's pretty exciting. The SUV will feature what Nissan calls Door-to-Door Navigation, which allows drivers to set a destination on their phone which then automatically transfers the directions to the Ariya's infotainment display. The Ariya can sync with the schedule of the driver, so it can pre-heat or pre-cool the interior while it's parked and charging, and therefore not drawing on the power from the battery. Drivers will also be able to use their phone to park the Ariya automatically from a nearby location using ProPilot's Remote Park, a system similar to Tesla's Smart Summon feature.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have performed crash tests on the Ariya, but Nissan is bundling in plenty of driver-assistance features. The Ariya will feature ProPilot 2.0, Nissan's second generation of the ProPilot semi-autonomous technology. The system allows drivers to remove their hands from the wheel in certain driving scenarios, but C/D staff hasn't tested the setup. We liked the original ProPilot system when we used it in 2017—and if that's any indication of how the ProPilot 2.0 will perform, our expectations are high. Key safety features include:

Available automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/ariya

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