Seriously. The cabin is open and airy. It is filled with elegant surfaces and textures. Tech and function are integrated into the design. It lights up beautifully at night. The Nissan Ariya sails along the highway effortlessly.
You don’t have to buy an electric car to get all this modern technology and beauty; we found features in the Nissan Ariya we’ve only seen in much more expensive cars. And with a base price of about $40,000, and just over $50,000 for our Empower test model, which is the middle of the line, it feels well priced for what you get. I spent a week in the Ariya, shown here in two tone Boulder Gray and Black Diamond, and this is what I discovered, and what I loved.
The Nissan Ariya’s Open, Airy Interior Is Fresh, and Refreshing
Stepping into the car is more like stepping into a beautiful salon or boutique. Our test Ariya, the mid-line Engage model, was upholstered in light gray leatherette (I like that Nissan just calls it leatherette and skips giving it a name that tries to sound fancy). I’m a fan of leatherette, having owned cars with it. It wears well, cleans easily and looks good. Here, the leatherette is light gray, which I would also choose.
Controls and Technology Are Integrated into the Nissan Ariya’s Design
Slip behind the wheel and the modern tech in the Nissan Ariya greets you. The wide screen houses a driver display and the multimedia system. A tool bar on the left side of the multimedia screen allows you to choose your function—from navigation to radio, vehicle settings and more. Just under it the air vents are anchored by a rose gold piece that spans the entire dash, and under that, a touch panel for climate is integrated into the wood trim. I’ve seen this before. In the much pricier BMW iX. I loved it there, and I love it here.
These same type of controls are also integrated into the wood panel center console, or command center, as I like to think of it. Just between the arm rest and the gear selector is a panel of controls that are lighted so they are easy to see. Notice also, the rose gold metal grip on the retractable cup holder cover. So elegant!
She Lights Up Beautifully at Night!
I was taken by all the light features that make finding things easy in the dark. From the steering wheel controls to the touch sensitive controls on the command center to those on the dashboard, and even backlit panels on the doors and under the dash, it creates a very refined feeling in the Ariya.
Here’s a Closer Look at the Lighted Door Panel
Nissan didn’t have to add fun details like this, but clearly they wanted to make the Nissan Ariya feel special. This mesh panel just between the arm rest and door handle lights up, adding even more dimension to the interior.
This Command Center is Simple, and Brilliant
I was instantly taken with the command center’s flush controls panel, but then I saw this: the wireless phone charger sits at an angle just between the command center and the cubby under the arm rest. You can slide your phone in with the arm rest closed and it’s out of site but charging. And, the cubby offers a small place to tuck away a few small things.
Another Brilliant Detail
This one took me a minute: There’s a button on the side of the center console that slides it forward and back. So you can open up the space on the floor between the front seats, or open up more legroom in the rear seat. I really love the flexibility that this feature offers and, sliding it back a bit reveals another thoughtful detail, one I’ve never seen before but I hope I will again.
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The Nissan Ariya has a Cord Keeper Next to the USB Outlets
I can’t tell you how much I love this detail. Set your phone in the cubby, plug it in and wrap the cord around the cord keeper. The cord keeper, topped with a graphic texture design, also has cutouts on either end so you can push the cord in to keep it tightly wrapped. There’s also a 12V outlet if you really need to plug in something else.
Look at All This Floor Space in the Front Seat!
Slide the center console back and the front floor really opens up. Now, I’d say, yes, this is a great place to stow a handbag, but no, it’s really not. A handbag can tip and spill; a good storage place needs a bin that is anchored to the floor so nothing can slide around. It’s a tough call; this open space is so lovely and I can see its allure to its designers. And, there is another good place to stow a small handbag.
This Drawer Was the Perfect Place for My Crossbody Bag
I appreciated that there was a convenient place to put a small bag. And, I liked that I can close the drawer, so when I go for a walk with the dog or run into Starbucks, I can tuck it away and not have to carry it.
I put my large tote on the passenger’s seat—not the greatest place— or on the rear seat. It would be nice to have someplace dedicated for my large bag, but I did really appreciate this drawer for my small bag.
The Rear Seat Is Wide and Child Car Seat Ready
I was kind of shocked to see just how large the rear seat space is. It is wide, with lots of legroom or space for kids car seats. In fact, I measured more than 32″ seat back to seat back behind the driver’s seat, which was set for me and I’m 5’8″ tall. This means it should fit at least one rear-facing kids car seat with no issues. Probably, it’ll fit two.
The seats are spacious because the batteries fit under the cabin floor, and the space required creates a large cabin. Win, win.
This Digital Rear View Mirror Is Large, Clear and Easy to See
I’ve become a fan of digital rear view mirrors. You probably don’t need one in the ariya, but it complements all the rest of the tech in this car. And, its rectangle design with crisp corners feels native to the Ariya. If you don’t like the video image, just flip the tab on the bottom and you’ll get a reflective image.
The Rear View Camera Presents a Sharp Image
And, it has guidelines to make it easy to back into a spot. The charge door on the Ariya is on the front passenger side panel and I found that I needed to back into several spots in order to charge it, including my garage. That was when I really appreciated the rear view camera.
Ample Cargo Space is Welcome, Too
The cargo space in the Nissan Ariya is as you would expect from a crossover this size—23 cubic feet. And, the cargo floor removes for added space or hidden storage.
All Electric For the Win
The Nissan Ariya has an electric range of 289 miles (267 in AWD models), will charge overnight at a level 2 240V outlet (which is what I have installed in my garage) and can charge to 80% in about 35 minutes at a DC fast charger.
The Ariya was a delight to drive. That open and effortless feeling in the cabin extends to the drive experience. For a little more fun and efficiency, tap the e-step button on the command center and increase the regenerative braking. This gives you a bit more control both over the drive feel as well as the power usage, which I really like.
But the design was what really swayed my opinion. And, made me think, I can live this life. I can go all electric, be that person for whom tech is second nature, who thrives in an uncluttered, zen environment. Who has a place to put her small bag, whose tote looks at home on the beautiful leatherette seat. And that’s the magic of design: To transform your sense of place and, to transform you.
