Used Nissan Ariya 2022-present review

Like cooking a complex recipe or even retaking your driving test, sometimes a second attempt can be easier and more successful than the first. We say this because the Nissan Ariya is the Japanese brand’s second-ever electric car.

It followed the Nissan Leaf, which first arrived in 2011 as Nissan’s first electric car. It was groundbreaking at the time, and although compromised by its range, it helped develop the technology for vehicles like the Ariya we’re looking at here, which was launched in 2022.

Being an electric SUV, the Ariya is bang on trend at the moment, offering the high driving position that so many people crave. It’s a rival for the Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y.

Motors and batteries: The Ariya is available with two batteries: 63kWh or 87kWh (usable). The cheapest 63kWh option can officially travel 251 miles on a charge, which is slightly less than a Model Y RWD.

If you need a bit more than that, the 87kWh battery pushes the official range up to 329 miles, which is in line with the Model Y AWD and EV6 RWD. With ‘e-4orce’ four-wheel drive, it drops to 319 miles.

In our real-world winter range test, the bigger-battery front-wheel drive Ariya managed 269 miles, and we'd expect close to 300 miles in summer. We’re yet to test the real-world range of the 63kWh version, but we’d expect 170-210 miles depending on how warm the weather is.

With the 63kWh battery, you get a 215bhp electric motor and front-wheel drive. Performance is pretty nippy (more so than some petrol family SUVs, like a Nissan Qashqai), with 0-62mph taking 7.5sec. While it’s not as quick as a Model Y, it’s more than quick enough.

The 87kWh Ariya can be had with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The latter gets a 239bhp motor that can move it from 0-62mph in 7.6sec, while the latter gets 302bhp and a drop in the 0-62mph time to 5.7sec.

A more powerful Ariya Nismo sports SUV was added to the range in 2025. It gets sharper styling and a big boost in power, with 429bhp on offer with a rear-wheel-drive bias (despite being four-wheel drive). As such, it can do a 0-62mph dash in 5.0sec, but the official range drops to 261 miles (even with the big battery) because of the extra performance.

Ride and handling: The Ariya rides differently depending on the version you go for. With front-wheel drive models, the suspension isolates occupants from speed bumps well enough, but it does tend to thump clumsily over sharper bumps, and rock you back and forth in your seat along faster roads, no matter the wheel size. If ride comfort is a priority, try a Genesis GV60 or Skoda Enyaq instead.

Things improve in four-wheel-drive versions, which get tweaked suspension to deal with the extra weight of the second motor and larger battery. As a result, they're more controlled and calmer than single-motor versions, with less of the pogoing effect when driving at speed. The Nismo version gets much stiffer suspension that takes matters a bit too far, because it’s never settled at whatever speed you’re travelling at; you’ll notice yourself bobbing around in your seat as you drive.

In corners, the Ariya isn’t as composed through tight turns as an Enyaq or EV6, but it’s tidy enough. While the Nismo version is a little neater in bends and provides more grip, it still struggles to disguise its high centre of gravity.

Interior and practicality: The Ariya’s interior looks and feels very swish. There are plenty of soft-touch materials on the top of the dashboard and insides of the doors, along with a big slab of what looks like wood across the dashboard face. This houses touch-sensitive climate control buttons; they give haptic feedback, but it’s not as intuitive to use on the move as physical buttons, like you get with a GV60.

All Ariya’s come with a 12.3in digital driver's display and a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen mounted together. While the set-up looks very smart, the infotainment screen is slow to boot up and features the same dated graphics. It’s certainly not as user-friendly or crisp as the screens in the GV60 or Model Y.

Up front, there's loads of space for two people, with enough head and leg room for really tall occupants. It’s a similar story in the back, plus the floor is flat, so a middle rear passenger doesn’t have to splay their feet, as they would in a Volvo EX40.

In the boot, there’s 466 litres of space. While that’s less than what the Enyaq and Model Y offer, it’s still a good size. We managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases below the load cover, matching the BMW iX1 and beating the seven we squeezed into the EV6. Opting for four-wheel drive reduces the space to 415 litres, which is similar to the EX40.

Trims and equipment: There are four trim levels available: Engage, Advance, Evolve and Nismo. The entry-level Engage trim is very well equipped for the money and includes 19in alloy wheels, automatic windscreen wipers, fabric upholstery, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and an EV heat pump (for more efficient warming of the interior).

Mid-spec Advance trim is even better equipped. It adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a heated front windscreen, a powered tailgate, wireless phone-charging and rear privacy glass.

Top-spec Evolve trim adds all the bells and whistles, including ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, a head-up display and an upgraded Bose stereo system. The sportier Nismo trim adds larger 20in wheels, grippier Michelin tyres, a bodykit and red highlights inside and out.

"The question everyone wants to know is, is it like an all-electric Qashqai, and in some ways, I think it is. It feels solid, chunky and decently practical. The only problem with it is the strength of its main rivals." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor.

If you're interested in finding a used Ariya, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

A budget of £20,000 will get you a Nissan Ariya with the 63kWh battery in Advance trim, with around 30,000 miles on the clock. At this sort of price you’ll be getting a 2022 car as well, with 2023 and 2024 models rising to around £23,000. Newer 2025 cars start from £25,000.

If you want the larger 87kWh battery, expect to pay around £24,000 for a two-wheel drive car. Mid-spec Advance cars jump the price up to £27,000, while four-wheel drive models go for upwards of £30,000.

For a Nismo, prices start from £47,000. These are still very new, though, so there are less available on forecourts.

To keep up to date with used Nissan Ariya prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

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Charging

All versions of the Ariya can charge at up to 130kW from a CCS public charging station. That's on a par with the BMW iX1, but the EV6, GV60 and Model Y can all accept well over 200kW.

As such, the 63kWh version of the Ariya takes just over half an hour to charge from 10-80%. The larger 87kWh battery will take around 35 minutes. By comparison, an EV6 can do the same charge in around 20 minutes, with a suitably powerful charger.

If you’re charging an Ariya at home, a 7kW home wall box should deliver a 0-100% charge in about 10 hours with the 63kWh model and 14 hours with the 87kWh.

Insurance and servicing

The 63kWh battery versions of the Ariya are insurance groups 30 and 31 (depending on trim), which means it will be cheaper to insure than equivalent versions of the EV6 and Model Y. That said, 87kWh models are more expensive to insure; these sit in group 41.

For two annual services at an authorised dealer, Nissan will charge you £436.77. That’s pretty standard for an electric SUV of this type.

Safety

The Ariya was awarded five stars out of five for safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022. In terms of safety kit, every Ariya has automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and rear cross-traffic alert (to warn you of the presence of other vehicles when you’re reversing).

Warranty

From new, every Ariya comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is pretty standard for the class. By comparison, an Ioniq 5 gets a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, while the EV6 has cover for seven years or 100,000 miles.

Reliability

Real-world owner reviews, gathered through our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, reveal mixed experiences with the Ariya when it comes to dependability.

Some drivers have encountered persistent warning lights, battery alerts and software glitches, with one reporting a full system shutdown. While not all faults were major, they often led to repeated dealer visits. Feedback on Nissan’s aftersales support was inconsistent – some found staff helpful, but others faced long delays and poor communication.

Although a few owners had a trouble-free time, overall reliability seems hit-and-miss.

Find out more about used Nissan Ariya reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Motor and battery

For sheer value for money, the front-wheel drive 63kWh version of the Ariya is the best choice. However, if your budget can stretch to it, we wouldn’t sway you from choosing the 87kWh model for its longer range and superior ride comfort.

Specification

Mid-spec Advance is our recommended trim, but only with the 63kWh version. If you want it with the 87kWh model, you’ll have to pay a considerable premium.

Our favourite Nissan Ariya: 63kWh Advance

A Kia EV6 is a good alternative. In RWD form, it has a longer range and quicker charging speeds, while used prices are more competitive. You also get the benefit of a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, which is transferable between owners when buying used.

The Skoda Enyaq is one of the more spacious electric SUVs. It’s also really good to drive, with a comfortable ride, tidy handling and whisper-quiet driving manners. Used prices are very tempting, too.

There are a lot of used Tesla Model Ys available on the used market now, with prices to keep the Ariya on its toes. Along with this, it has a very spacious interior and a good reliability record, but it’s not the most comfortable option, with a jittery ride.

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