Five reasons we can’t wait for the Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya EV concept hogged the limelight at the 2019 Tokyo motor show last week and not just because of its striking exterior and high-tech cabin.

Underneath the mid-size SUV is an all-electric two-motor powertrain that delivers a claimed 227kW of power and no less than 680Nm of torque, making this not only Nissan’s first battery-powered SUV but its first high-performance EV.

According to senior execs at the Tokyo motor show, the concept is a thinly veiled production car that could be on sale in Australia as soon as 2021.

The Nissan Ariya gets twin electric motors that are rumoured to generate enough thrust to shame a supercar. The Japanese car-maker’s chief designer let slip that the mid-size SUV is “almost as quick” as the Nissan GT-R supercar, meaning it could hit 100km/h in less than three seconds.

We’ve driven an early prototype and it’s clear that the Ariya is shaping up to be a seriously engaging car to drive. That’s thanks to its twin electric motors -- one for each axle -- that mimic a high-performance all-wheel drive system and gives more traction and better agility. In other words, it does stuff the current GT-R’s all-paw system can’t dream of.

In most EVs, regenerative braking can be a jerky affair. You either get too little or too much as the car’s electric motor attempts to claw back energy to extend range. The Nissan Ariya’s set-up is more sophisticated than most, seamlessly transitioning between acceleration and energy regen, making braking smoother and more progressive.

Like the stylish exterior of the Nissan Ariya, the classy cabin’s minimalistic layout will also be carried across to the production car. It represents a new approach from Nissan, with a pared-back controls and a single dial to manipulate the big 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

Better still, the X-TRAIL-sized SUV will offer more interior space for all occupants as the lack of a conventional engine and gearbox creates more room inside.