Nissan Ariya 2022: Orders Open for the Electric SUV

With a one-year delay, the brand new Nissan Ariya electric SUV opens its orders in France starting at €46,400.

The Leaf can now breathe a sigh of relief. The compact, launched in 2011, was somewhat alone in supporting Nissan’s electric offerings. And it wasn’t the e-NV200, limited to professionals, that could lend a helping hand.

READ OUR TEST OF THE NISSAN ARIYA

Finally, its big SUV brother joins the lineup. With a one-year delay, as it was introduced in fall 2020, the Nissan Ariya is now available in France, with orders now open.

3 Versions at Launch

This family-sized SUV, measuring 4.60 meters, is based on the CMF-EV platform of the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric. It has nothing in common with the thermal counterparts like the Nissan Qashqai or X-Trail. Most notably, it sports a much more futuristic style, even inside where two large screens sit atop the horizontal dashboard.

For the French range, the Ariya offers 3 of the 5 available versions. Its entry-level model is the two-wheel-drive with a 63 kWh “Advance” battery, exceeding 400 km of range. The more powerful Evolve with an 87 kWh battery offers 520 km per charge.

The only all-wheel-drive variant, the Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE Evolve, adds a second motor at the rear for a total of 225 kW / 306 hp (and 600 Nm torque). This reduces range to 493 km and the trunk capacity from 468 to 415 liters. But all models feature fast charging at 130 kW, while the 22 kW three-phase charger is optional on the Evolve.

The brand does not import the Ariya 62 kWh e-4ORCE nor the Performance version with 394 horsepower (290 kW).

The Price of the Nissan Ariya

At launch, the Nissan Ariya is only offered with a small battery version. The electric SUV starts at €46,400, placing it well above a Volkswagen ID.4 (€41,500) and closer to a Ford Mustang Mach-E (€50,450). However, the Japanese model cannot match the power or range of the American. It narrowly misses out on the €6,000 ecological bonus available under €45,000. Too bad. In long-term rental (LLD), offers start at €340/month with a 36-month/30,000 km contract and a €7,000 bonus included.

With an 87 kWh battery, the Ariya rises to €57,400, or €60,400 for the e-4ORCE version. This positions it more like a Tesla Model Y, starting at €62,990, which again offers more range and higher performance. Nissan also publishes a partial €2,000 bonus for its high-end model, which is just €400 above the limit.

The Nissan Ariya Facing Its Rivals

Also read: Tesla Model 3: info, range, and price of the electric sedan