This £57k SUV proves you shouldn’t always choose the most expensive version
Car changing is a big deal
You might be tempted to choose the most expensive, poshest version of the car you’re interested in, but after spending a week with the Nissan Ariya Nismo, senior reviews writer Mario Christou doesn’t think you should.
We’ve all been there, looking at an advert for a car that says ‘fully loaded,’ or ‘top of the line’ – as a way of making you believe it’s the best option. You know, making you feel as though you really need to empty your wallet and ignore the lower trim levels in order to choose the most powerful, poshest model around.
Well, sometimes there is some merit in that, but more often than not there simply isn’t. The Nissan Ariya is one such example, because it’s a brilliant choice of sensible, practical, all-electric family SUV… until you opt for the range-topping Nismo model – which is pointless.
I can see why you’d want one, that being said. At a first glance, it actually looks quite cool. Granted, I’m the Carwow reviews team’s serial car modifier (read: yob), but even my girlfriend and parents found the Nismo’s sculpted bumpers, deep side skirts and boot spoiler rather fetching. The ‘F1-style’ fog light is a pet-hate of mine, however, and deserves to go in the bin.
Things get more questionable inside. The regular Ariya’s cabin is plusher and more stylish than what you’ll find in a Skoda Enyaq or Tesla Model Y, and while the Nismo is even nicer in some ways, it’s aesthetically challenging in others.
It’s a little bit too dark and dour, with Nissan abandoning the light leatherette and warm colour options for the Nismo-typical black, grey and red. I understand there’s a sporty image to maintain, but if you’re going to throw Alcantara all over the place, at least make it bright red – like Honda does in the Type R models.
Otherwise, everything feels just as solid and premium in the Nismo as it does in the plain-Jane Ariya, though like the regular car there’s a dated infotainment system and slightly clunky touch controls on the dashboard.
The two-touch, customisable driver assistance ‘kill switch’ is a handy addition to the steering wheel, but the fact that most of the car’s settings are managed between the dials is odd, with a lot of scrolling and cycling through menus.
At least it’s just as practical as the regular car, with loads of room both front and back to get comfortable and plenty of storage space. The covered wireless phone charger is useless though, as it’s slow and lacks any cooling, so it just roasts your mobile as you drive along.
Where the Nismo is really spoiled compared to the normal car is from behind the wheel. It may be more powerful than the Ariya e-4orce, but it’s neither as exciting to drive – nor is it as fast – as the Tesla Model Y. Yet the Nismo offers a paltry 261-mile range on account of its powerful (ish) motors.
That means this ‘sporty’ Nissan is almost 70 miles down on the longest-range Ariya, and for what? Slightly quicker performance, less comfortable suspension, deeper bumpers, a less-pleasant cabin and a Nismo badge – that only means something in enthusiast circles when attached to a Nissan 370Z or Skyline GT-R.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a nice thing to drive; not so stiff as to be unpleasant in town and perfectly capable on a motorway cruise. The steering is also surprisingly darty for such a large car and makes the Nismo more agile than you might expect, but is that what you really want from a family SUV?
It isn’t up my priority list, that’s for sure. For £10,000 more than the updated single motor Ariya Evolve, which can go 322 miles on a charge and comes in a lovely shade of green with a light grey interior, the Nismo just isn’t worth the outlay.
Save your money, buy the regular Ariya – and a used Nissan 350Z with the change, for your weekend jollies.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.
*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.