2026 Nissan Ariya Features, Specs, Review – The new 2026 Nissan Ariya is supple and stylish because it puts comfort and style above performance. Despite being a latecomer—well, a very latecomer—to the compact electric crossover market, the 2026 Nissan Ariya makes a stunning debut. Despite its peculiarities, the Ariya is a lovely ship in and of itself, but you’ll discover much more to enjoy after you settle inside her peaceful, comfortable stateroom.
Since style is a personal opinion, I’ll let you judge whether the Ariya is beautiful. Curiously, though, the Ariya isn’t always as big in person as it seems in pictures. At 183 inches, the Ariya is the same length as a, but it offers far less space for people and luggage than I had anticipated.
On the interior, though, the Ariya appears to be a much bigger SUV. The interior appears fairly roomy because to the low dash, sloping windshield, almost flat floor, and open area between the firewall and power-sliding center console. The haptic controls beneath the multimedia display have few buttons and are brightly lit by the open-pore wood (think BMW iX). 2026 Nissan Ariya Features
2026 Nissan Ariya Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
The Ariya has a really unique vibe because of its attention to detail. Nissan built this enclosure so that the cable could be neatly wrapped around the base. The entertainment system’s USB connections are located on the front bottom of the console, out of the way. To the left of the glovebox is a secret cubby that is electrically actuated and can hold a wallet or phone before being concealed from view.
The visually appealing single line of copper trim that separates the air vents and the two-spoke steering wheel that allows you to look down to your feet further open up the cabin. The inside is breathtaking when you add the ergonomic Zero Gravity chairs and plush leather from Nissan. It is evident that the Ariya was initially intended to be an.
Some criticisms: The plastic cup holders have a shoddy feel and appearance, and the previously stated haptic feedback for the backlit controls is sluggish, creating the false impression that pressing the required command requires a lot of effort. Nissan’s electronic gear changer appears weak and hollow, and after only a few hours of driving, the glossy black sides of the steering wheel turn into a mass of thumb smudges.
This is another issue I recall from the Rogue. Additionally, Nissan should install hard buttons on the console or dash for the heated seats. It’s rude and annoying to have to use the touchscreen to activate stuff.
With strategically positioned tiles on the home screen and a column of icons along the left for services like music, navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto (only the former connects wirelessly), the 12.3-inch center screen runs a new version of Nissan’s infotainment software. Two large screens on each Ariya, even the entry-level model, display a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a variety of relevant statistics.
The revised Nissan ProPilot Assist 2.0 driving aid, which is exclusive to the top two trim levels, is the Ariya’s most impressive technical feature. Like GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise, this is a more sophisticated variant of Ford’s Level 2 driver-assistance package, which allows for legal hands-free driving on highways.
Nissan is looking at the prospect of implementing similar technology in Canada and claims to have over 200,000 miles of US pre-mapped roads saved in its system.
The ProPilot 2.0 operates smoothly and quickly, and the steering wheel incorporates both touch and torque sensors for when hands-on driving is necessary. Hold on, a hands-off system and hands-on driving? Yes, but only if you’re changing lanes automatically, which the driver can initiate or which the system recommends as a pass. It’s pretty strange that you have to place your hands back on the wheel for it to function.
The Ariya drives like a very capable little SUV when you have control. The main conclusion after a day of testing the Ariya in Tennessee is that it is quiet. The steering is light and imprecise, the body movements are well-controlled, and so on. really silent. Driving is quite soothing.
In order to replicate the acceleration characteristics of, say, a Rogue, Nissan deliberately adjusted the Ariya to feel as much like a gas car as possible. This implies that when you get off a stoplight or into a highway, you do not get the usual EV surge of rapid torque.
Rather, speed increases gradually; Nissan estimates that the front-wheel-drive, single-motor Ariya will reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. In a few months, Nissan will install a dual-motor setup, which should be significantly quicker, if you do feel the need for speed. 2026 Nissan Ariya Features
2026 Nissan Ariya Specs
Engine & Performance
The Ariya lacks sufficient regenerative braking to bring the vehicle to a halt, in contrast to the vehicle that gained notoriety for its one-pedal driving. Although there is a button on the console to toggle the E-Pedal on and off, there are no customizable regen settings.
Additionally, the Ariya has a very uncomfortable system that automatically shifts the brake pedal according to the amount of regen being utilized. This takes some getting accustomed to and results in uneven pressure from your foot on the pedal. Mercedes-Benz also uses this function, which I detest and hope other businesses won’t utilize.
There are two battery sizes available. Only the base trim level comes with the 66-kilowatt-hour (63 kWh usable) battery; all other trim levels upgrade to a bigger 91-kWh (87 kWh useful) battery. Although both models are stated as 221 pound-feet of torque, the larger arrangement produces 238 horsepower, while the smaller version produces 214 horsepower.
As a result, the power output is pretty equal. The highest DC charging speed that each battery can withstand is 130 kW, which is adequate but not very noteworthy considering that significant competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 can charge much more quickly.
Range is the primary difference between the two batteries. Nissan claims that the 91-kWh model will go 304 miles and the 66-kWh Ariya will travel 216 miles with front-wheel drive, however official EPA data is not yet accessible on the government agency’s website. This might be the reason Nissan only provides the basic model’s 66-kWh battery.
2026 Nissan Ariya Release Date & Price
When it comes to models, the many Ariya versions have the most unusual names, which don’t correspond with other Nissans’ normal S/SV/SL trim levels. (Once more, an Infiniti was meant.) The standard Ariya Engage costs $44,485 plus $1,295 for delivery, while the next AWD version will cost an additional $4,000.
The prices of the Venture Plus, Evolve Plus, Empower Plus, and Premiere, the next four front-drive trim levels, are $48,485, $51,485, and $55,985, respectively. A high-end Platinum AWD version that costs over $60,000 will soon be available. Oh, I see.
Because of all of this, the Ariya is slightly more costly than the majority of its rivals. Even worse, new regulations intended to encourage American EV manufacturing have eliminated the Japan-built Ariya’s eligibility for the standard $7,500 federal tax credit. The Ariya order books have been suspended by Nissan “indefinitely.” I hope you locate one. 2026 Nissan Ariya Features
Conclusion
The good news is that you’re in for a pretty special vehicle, if you find an Ariya or are one of the few who have already purchased one. Compared to the boring Volkswagen ID 4 or the strangely formed (inside and out) Toyota BZ4X, I would much prefer live with one of them. Even if it’s late, the Ariya deserves to be in the limelight.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
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