2021 Nissan Ariya is a concept car you can own and drive
Meet Nissan's newest EV – the Ariya crossover
At last year's Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan introduced a new C-segment electric crossover concept called the Ariya. It featured unique futuristic styling, unlike any other model that came before it. Despite being called a concept at the time, the Ariya looked very much ready for production, featuring door handles and even proper side mirrors.
Fast forward to today and Nissan has finally introduced the production model Ariya. Needless to say, it looks very much like the concept we saw in Tokyo a year ago. The overall shape, styling and nearly all of the design cues have been carried over. Put the concept and production model side by side, and it is actually quite hard to tell them apart.
Styling-wise, the slim headlights upfront continue to be integrated into the closed-off grill. Interestingly, the new integrated LED daytime running light is the one that gives the grill a V-motion design. The bumper continues to feature large vertical vents on the side with black trim at the bottom for a rugged look. Though it's hard to tell, the Nissan logo on the grill is all new as well, featuring a much simpler but futuristic design.
Black cladding line the front and rear fenders, to give it that proper crossover look. Meanwhile, the unique large fan-style wheels further enhance its futuristic design. At the rear, the Ariya's most prominent feature is the one-piece LED taillight which runs the width of the tailgate. Meanwhile, the rear bumper features large black trim and an integrated diffuser. Unlike a traditional crossover, the Ariya has a sloping roofline, giving it somewhat a coupe-like styling.
Similar to the exterior, the interior has mostly been carried over from the concept featuring a minimalist design. Inside the cabin, the first thing you'll notice is the large digital display which has both the infotainment screen and instrument cluster integrated together. To keep with the minimalist design, there are barely any physical buttons on the dashboard. The center console is also separated from the dashboard, freeing up space in the front row. Thanks to the new platform underpinning the Ariya, it gets a very spacious flat-floor cabin.
The Ariya is offered purely as an electric vehicle, featuring two electric motors. The most powerful variant features a 90kWh battery with an output of 394 horsepower and 600 Nm torque and 580 km of range. A 2WD variant with the same 90kWH is also available. But, you do sacrifice power in exchange for range (bumped up to 610km). For the AWD variants, Nissan's e-4ORCE all-wheel drive ensures power is safely delivered to the wheels in any weather condition.
Nissan's ProPilot 2.0 safety suite of features, initially launched in the Skyline, is now available on the Ariya as well allowing for hands-free driving. This is complemented by ProPilot Remote Park, Nissan's Safety Shield system, and e-Pedal technology. Interestingly, Amazon's Alexa has also been integrated into the Ariya.
Deliveries of the Ariya is set to begin in Japan mid-2021. No official price has been announced just yet but Nissan says it will cost around Yen 5 million or PhP 2.3 million. With the Leaf set to arrive in the Philippines soon, perhaps the Ariya might follow suit.
