Nissan Ariya Nismo review

Nissan Ariya

Nissan Ariya Nismo review.

***
£56,620
For – handsome, fast, reassuring, brilliant regenerative braking
Against – usual motorway and uphill moans
Competition – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Kia EV6 GT, VW ID5 GTX, Cupra Tavascan, Skoda Enyaq VRS, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, Polestar 2

There is such a thing as a free lunch. 
The Nissan Ariya Nismo is a souped-up electric SUV and it is certainly very fast – zero to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds – but it also offers a very user-friendly and powerful regenerative braking system.

Nissan has revived its Nismo performance brand for this version of its Ariya EV. It is so well equipped there are no options, but the price is an eye-brow-raising £56,620. For that you get many goodies including four-wheel drive, electric seats and a head-up display. 

Most modern EV’s have some form of regenerative braking. My own BYD Dolphin has a very feeble version of this, which just produces a vague, braking sensation. The Ariya Nismo’s produces an instant braking impact which allows one-pedal driving and is so good, it produced gains reminding me of the old adage that lunches can never be free. Wrong. On my 38-mile test run over the rolling hills of west Sussex the system made a 21% gain by only removing 30 miles from range availability. 

Range down amongst the Chinese serial offenders
OK, so the uphill performance was standard EV, with my 17-mile route to Devil’s Dyke costing 29 miles, but the reverse trip only cost 15 miles. The high but legal motorway cruising was disappointing, generating a 40.5% penalty for a range of 128.5 miles, down amongst the Chinese serial offenders in this category.

Overall, the car was very impressive. The cockpit arrangements looked terrific, with the little drive mode selector nicely positioned. One click for Drive, one more for regenerative braking. The 12.3” computer control screen was incorporated into the dashboard, a nice change from the detached and dominating Tesla style. I rarely drive at night, but a recent foray after dark pointed to a weakness these big, high screens have. Because they are so bright, they seriously impair the quality of the driver’s vision to the near side. After some hard googling, I found out how to darken the screen, at least in my Dolphin.

The Nismo is seriously fast and the steering reassuringly sharp. The suspension is harsh, but on our pothole-infested roads, that’s a positive not a negative. The interior quality doesn’t really say £56,620. Not if your previous test car was a knockout £36,000 Geely EX5. 

Inspired great confidence in harsh weather
The Nismo was mine during a week of wind, rain and floods, and this big SUV inspired great confidence. 

There’s only one colour – Stealth Grey. Nissan said the car uses its strong Nismo heritage to deliver an enhanced experience for drivers and passengers. 

“Its advanced e4ORCE four-wheel drive system combines with finely tuned suspension to offer precision, control and confident handling in varied road conditions, offering a superb drive no matter what the weather. The steering system has been optimised to provide more direct feedback, enhancing the connection between driver and vehicle for a more engaging drive,” Nissan said.

I can’t argue with that.

What to buy
An electric SUV designed for performance is a bit of a tautology given that most of them seem scarily fast anyway. The most obvious competitors are the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Kia EV6 GT, VW ID5 GTX, Cupra Tavascan, Skoda Enyaq VRS, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Polestar 2 Long range dual motor. But at these prices you can afford to look at SUVs from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi and even these entry-level machines are seriously quick. The price and brand suggest the Ariya Nismo will be confined to a few dealer principals rather than much natural demand, although it was clearly a brilliant all-rounder and a pleasure to live with.   

Nissan Ariya