From minimalist electric to sports car: Ariya Nismo is the performance version of the Nissan crossover. How it drives and what it offers in our road test.
"Nissan Ariya, the electric car that blends minimalism and efficiency" — that was the headline of the article we published in the summer of 2022, telling the story of the Italian debut of the Japanese electric crossover. Three years on, Nissan revisits the subject with the Ariya Nismo, an acronym for Nissan Motorsport International, a name little known in Italy but one that has identified the most sporting models in the range since the 1980s.
"A dynamic, agile car with a bold personality and exhilarating performance" — that is how Nissan describes the new Ariya Nismo, still a crossover, still (and only) strictly electric, but with sportier design and performance. The result? We'll see it shortly in our road test, from which emerges the portrait of an electric car that is the ideal blend of efficiency, comfort and fun (take that, all those who still think only a petrol car can deliver thrills…).
Let's start with a brief portrait of the Ariya Nismo. Visually, it is the electric crossover we already knew, sharing its base with the most performance-oriented version already available in the range — the e-4orce 4WD with an 87 kWh battery — but with an injection of energy and the Nismo DNA. We're talking about 2 electric motors (one per axle) with a power output increased by over 100 horsepower, up to the current 320 kW (435 in old money). The battery remains the 87 kWh unit.
We don't usually quote pure performance figures, but one stat above all says it all: the Ariya Nismo reaches 100 kilometres per hour from a standstill in 5 seconds, in silence, without vibration — serenity and adrenaline combined. Add to that the safety of all-wheel drive across all 4 wheels and some of the most advanced driver assistance systems available. The Ariya Nismo is one of a kind: a single version, a single (and exclusive) exterior colour, "Stealth grey", and a single price, starting from €53,850.
Inside, too, the atmosphere is different, with red accents hinting at greater dynamic performance, yet still inspired by that timeless Japanese futurism, with clean, essential lines free of unnecessary embellishments — the same "refined" design shared with the exterior that had already earned the Nissan Ariya two prestigious accolades: the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Award. In this Nismo version, material quality steps up, the seats take on a more sporting shape, and the "brushstrokes" of red — visible in the numerous exterior details as well as on the steering wheel and other cabin features — add character. For all other details and functions, the observations already highlighted in the first Ariya road test remain valid.
Anyone who loves spirited driving knows it: having more power at the rear wheels means a car with a sportier character. Et voilà. That is precisely what the Nismo division has done — among the many refinements, it has modified the 4×4 drivetrain so that the greater power goes to the rear wheels. As a result, the Ariya transforms from a relaxed weekend crossover into an electrifying sports car for those who want efficiency, sustainability and fun from an electric vehicle.
The result is clear. If in 2022 we told you about the Ariya's unexpected ease of driving, the benefits of the elevated seating position, the stress-free manoeuvring thanks to cameras, sensors and a steering that makes parking a breeze, this Nismo version adds excitement without taking away anything — or almost nothing — from efficiency, while improving aerodynamics by 40 per cent to the benefit of energy consumption.
Indeed, even though the attention to detail has also extended to the suspension — stiffer and sportier — a lower ride height, and more direct (and slightly heavier at low speed) steering, the Ariya remains an enjoyable, relaxing and pleasant electric car. Ready, however, to change character at the touch of the new i-Booster function, or by selecting Nismo driving mode: harness more energy regeneration under braking (there are several regeneration levels depending on the chosen driving mode, though none quite like the one-pedal function found on other models), or unleash the full performance potential? The choice is yours.
Pay attention only to the range (which, even in the declared figure, drops from 515 km of the standard Ariya to 417 km of the Nismo): given the performance, it's easy to get carried away, with the risk of seeing the real-world figure fall to around 350 kilometres. But it's simply a matter of knowing this — anyone who already owns an electric car knows how to pace themselves (and their driving) according to the type of journey ahead. Speaking of pacing… On charging times, if you use rapid DC charging the maximum accepted power has remained the same as the standard Ariya, i.e. 130 kW (22 kW at home), with rather long charging times; other competitors do better.
The new Ariya Nismo completes Nissan's electrified offer — a brand that has been committed to the ecological transition of the car for years (its first electric model dates back to 1947) and whose strategy is summed up in the Nissan Green Program 2030. A lineup that from today also includes the new X-Trail Mild hybrid, which positions itself as the new entry point to the range: a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with the e-Power electrified component, new driver assistance systems and 5- or 7-seat versions. Since the days of the first electric Leaf, Nissan has offered a wide range of electrified models that harness the efficiency of the e-Power hybrid system, such as the Qashqai or the more compact Juke.