- the 2022 nissan ariya is a new electric crossover model similar in size to the rogue.
- it promises up to 300 miles of range and a starting price of $40,000.
- nissan says it will go on sale in the u.s. in late 2021.
last year, nissan showed the ariya concept and said it would bring this new electric crossover model to production soon. now the company is fulfilling that promise by showing the production 2022 ariya, which looks remarkably similar to the concept car both inside and out. the ariya also claims up to 300 miles of driving range on a single charge, and nissan says it will start at around $40,000 when it goes on sale in the u.s. late next year.
both one-motor and two-motor configurations will be available. the single-motor version offers 215 horsepower, 221 lb-ft of torque, and front-wheel drive, while the dual-motor version makes a total of 389 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque and uses nissan's e-4orce all-wheel-drive setup. two battery packs are available, regardless of drivetrain: the standard battery is a 63.0-kwh unit, while a larger 87.0-kwh battery pack will be offered as an upgrade. the front-wheel-drive model with the larger battery pack will provide the longest range estimate, which nissan claims will be around 300 miles—and that estimate is based on the u.s. epa cycle. one-pedal driving capability using the regenerative braking system will be standard.
looking far more futuristic than anything else in nissan's current lineup, the ariya ushers in several new design trends such as the "shield"-style front grille which features a new nissan logo. at 182.9 inches long, the ariya is similar in size to the rogue compact suv, but the ev has a longer wheelbase and is also lower and wider than its more conventional gas-powered stablemate. nissan has not released interior dimensions, but the ariya seats five passengers and has a flat floor that looks to create an airy cabin feel. claimed cargo space is a curiously small 15–17 cubic feet.
the dashboard has a pleasingly minimalist design that incorporates two large 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauge cluster and another for the central infotainment display. a simple row of touch-capacitive climate-control buttons are nicely integrated into the wood trim of the dash. wireless apple carplay and android auto functions are standard.
a more advanced version of nissan's propilot driver-assistance system, called propilot 2.0, will be offered on the ariya. it allows for hands-free driving in certain circumstancesand can execute lane changes. automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and other driver-assistance features are standard.
the ariya will go on sale in japan first, sometime in the middle of next year. it will reach the u.s. later in 2021, with a starting price of around $40,000 that will likely reach closer to $50,000 when optioned up with the larger battery pack and all-wheel drive.