EV Journey With The Nissan Ariya

The Ariya is an impressive and futuristic EV.

The Nissan Ariya EV stands out with its unique design, blending the appeal of a concept car with practicality. It’s not just another electric vehicle; it’s a standout design in the market, as showcased at a recent Blast to the Past car show in the sleek Boulder Gray finish. The Ariya embodies futurism both inside and out, with an intuitive and forward-thinking interior that sets it apart from other vehicles. 

Nissan’s design philosophy for the Ariya is Timeless Japanese Futurism, a fusion of Japanese sensibilities in a contemporary, powerful form. The interior features a minimalist yet functional instrument panel, seamlessly integrating capacitive haptic switches into a wooden center dash. These switches provide a tactile response reminiscent of mechanical switches. The cabin offers exceptional space, with a completely flat floor ensuring ample leg- and headroom. Innovative storage solutions include an adjustable power-sliding center console, a unique center storage box, and a fold-out tray—features embodying the vehicle’s futuristic ethos.

My first experience of charging outside my home at a public charger was far from ideal.

In a city like Houston, EV charging options are limited. However, I was excited to try out the new BP charging station, conveniently located nearby and known as BP Pulse. Soon, my excitement quickly turned to frustration when I found the station occupied by a film crew using the space for an undisclosed production. The crew’s lack of clarity and support when I inquired about accessing a charging slot added to my disappointment.

As I navigated through the crowded station, I found most of the convenient spots occupied by gas vehicles, leaving the few charging stations available inaccessible or poorly positioned. I struggled to position the Ariya correctly, even contorting the charger to reach the car’s charging port on the passenger side. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t get the BP charger to engage, adding to my frustration. It’s disheartening to see how the city’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure can be mismanaged. After several minutes of struggling to detach the charger due to its tight fit and short cable slack, I left the station feeling thoroughly annoyed and let down by the experience. This incident underscores EV drivers’ challenges and shortcomings in cities like Houston, where reliable and accessible charging infrastructure is still a major issue.

This EV definitely turned heads on the road.

I got plenty of compliments at drive-thrus and car washes. It’s a standout NISSAN, no doubt about it. However, with a price tag of around $50K and a range of under 300 miles, I’m not completely convinced it’s worth the investment. The base model starts at $39,590. However, when you get on the Nissan site to build a model, there are almost a dozen variations to start from. I just wish they put forward their best ARiya model to customize and deliver this appealing EV’s best version.

One thing I didn’t realize about Nissan EVs is that they don’t have a frunk (front trunk). 

The front hood is packed with electrical components, so there’s no extra storage space like with Tesla or the Ford Lightning. I was told this was the case for the Ariya to allow for more cabin space, which makes sense. On the bright side, it does have a neat hidden console that pops out from the front dash and an electrically adjustable armrest. But it would have been nice to have some extra storage under the armrest, especially since the front seating is bench-like and leaves the floorboard completely open. I should mention that with the back seats down, the trunk space was more than enough for my needs. I easily fit two fold-out tables, a pop-up tent, traffic cones, weights, and a couple of boxes for setting up at my car show.

The performance of this EV really impressed me. With 238 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, it’s agile and really takes off when you need to overtake on highways. The suspension is also top-notch, providing a very comfortable ride. This is because the front suspension has an independent strut with coil springs over shock absorbers and a stabilizer bar, and the rear features an independent multi-link setup with coil springs over shock absorbers and a stabilizer bar.

Verdict

I give the Nissan Ariya 4 out of 5 stars. It’s an impressive EV, but a couple of things hold it back: range and charging infrastructure. Here in Texas, EVs don’t have a lot of appeal yet, but the Ariya is a great starting point for Nissan as the industry works towards building superior electric vehicles.

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