Nissan Ariya Advance+ 2025 Review

It’s no coincidence that Nissan decided to launch the 2025 Nissan Ariya in Australia on World EV Day, as the brand hopes to reignite interest in its EV offerings.

The Nissan Leaf was the world’s best-selling EV for four years running, between 2011 and 2014, and was the first EV to snaffle a World Car of the Year award.

However, that EV leadership has since been appropriated by Tesla and BYD.

Nevertheless, the Ariya is finally on sale in Australia, after its planned 2023 debut was pushed back due to homologation hurdles and other factors, according to Nissan.

We spent a lot of time at the 2025 Nissan Ariya national launch in the Advance+ version but the Ariya range starts with the Engage at $55,840 plus on-road costs.

This entry-level Ariya Engage uses a 63kWh Lithium-ion (LFP) battery and a single front-mounted motor producing 160kW and 300Nm, delivering a WLTP range of 385km.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloys, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, and twin 12.3-inch displays.

The Advance ($59,840 + ORCs) adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power adjustment, Bose audio, and a hands-free tailgate.

Advance+ ($63,840 + ORCs) upgrades to an 87kWh battery (178kW/300Nm, 504km range) and adds a panoramic roof, ventilated seats, heated rear seats, and a head-up display.

The flagship Evolve e-4ORCE ($71,840 + ORCs) features dual motors (290kW/600Nm), AWD, 487km range, and premium touches like 20-inch alloys, adaptive LEDs, and Blue Nappa leather.

The entry-level Ariya Engage closely matches the Kia EV5 Air Standard Range on specs, but the Kia undercuts it by around $4000 drive-away – making the Ariya a tougher sell on price alone.

Stepping up to longer-range variants pushes pricing into the $70K territory, where competition is fierce and the tech is often more advanced – especially when it comes to recharging speeds.

All Ariyas include wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, USB outlets, ProPILOT driver assist, and a full safety suite: AEB with pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind spot intervention, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and seven airbags.

It holds a five-star ANCAP rating (2022 protocol) and is backed by a 10-year/300,000km warranty, five years of capped-price servicing, and eight-year battery coverage.

Early buyers (first 400) get a free home charger and three-phase onboard charger if ordered before September 30.

CEO Andrew Humberstone called the segment “still a niche”, despite 40,000 electric SUVs sold locally this year – around 10% of the medium SUV market.

The 2025 Nissan Ariya scores early with its design, depending on who you ask. I like it and think it’s modern, clean and confident, especially considering it was first revealed in 2019, which feels like a geological era ago.

The styling has aged well and sits comfortably alongside more recently-launched rivals while still looking unmistakably like a Nissan. Not everyone agrees but I think it strikes the right balance between family SUV and modern EV.

Step inside and Nissan’s clever packaging becomes immediately clear. By pushing the wheels outward and relocating the HVAC system, the Ariya offers a flat, open front floor that feels airy and pragmatic.

The absence of a transmission tunnel creates a genuinely useful space – ideal for bags, laptops or even an oversized handbag. Boot space is also competitive: 466L in the 2WD and 408L in the AWD, expanding to 1350L and 1280L respectively with the rear seats folded.

Tech is another highlight with two crisp 12.3-inch screens joined by a curved panel, which Nissan says was done in a bid to bring the infotainment screen closer so you don’t have to lean forward awkwardly to reach it.

Thoughtful details are very welcome, like the sliding centre console, which frees up legroom for the rear middle passenger, and ambient lighting in a lantern-style pattern, which enhance cabin ambience at night.

On the road, the Ariya is more about calm than excitement. The steering is light, the ride stays composed even on the larger wheel sizes and highway refinement is excellent. It feels smooth and mostly quiet, which would make daily driving a relaxed and stress-free affair.

The ADAS systems are well calibrated, avoiding the overzealous alerts and warnings some rivals suffer from. Lane-keeping support is subtle and effective when needed, and the driver monitoring system doesn’t overreact to the odd yawn.

Quality is another strong point.

Materials feel durable yet premium, with highlights like the blue suede door inserts and copper accents in the Evolve trim. A strip of hard plastic through the middle of the door of the Evolve does cheapen the effect slightly, but it’s not enough to spoil the upmarket vibe.

For a car around $60,000, the 2025 Nissan Ariya’s sub-400km driving range feels a touch undercooked – especially when direct rivals from mainstream brands, like the Kia EV5, will buy you more kilometres for less money.

Charging bandwidth maxes out at 130kW and while that’s not the lowest in the class it’s not exactly rapid. In the real world, this means plugging into a public DC fast charger from the likes of ChargeFox or Evie, will take between 35-40 minutes to go from around 20 to 80 per cent battery charge.

There is an upside though – range accuracy. On the launch, the Ariya matched its quoted WLTP consumption very closely, something not all EVs can claim.

Performance is adequate rather than impressive. The single-motor versions will handle commuting fine but don’t have the punch you might expect from an EV in this price range. You get a lot more bang for your buck from challenger brands in this respect.

Even the more powerful dual-motor versions, while quick on paper, focus more on stability than excitement. If you’re looking for playful handling or that fun surge some rivals deliver, the Ariya won’t scratch that itch.

While on the topic, the high pitched frequency of the dual-motors at high acceleration is noticeable but nothing that can’t be drowned out by some background music.

Another quibble are the haptic climate controls – a prime example of tech that might not be required.

It all works but could’ve been made more intuitive and feels like puzzle pieces that might just be something extra that would add to the cost of repairs if it did implode. This is not a dealbreaker, but a case of “why fix what isn’t broken?”

Buttons would’ve done the job, just like those meetings that could’ve been sorted quickly with a single email.

Interior space is good… but there’s a couple of caveats. Headroom isn’t especially generous and Nissan spins this positively as an ‘upright seating position’.

Taller passengers over 190cm will notice it most and might not find that explanation plausible.

Rear legroom is fine but foot room is tighter than expected unless you slide your toes under the front seats. The sliding centre console helps offset this a little by freeing up knee space for the middle rear passenger, but overall it’s more about clever packaging than class-leading space.

It’s hard not to think the Ariya would’ve made a bigger splash had it launched in 2023 as planned. Back then, it might’ve carved out space before the Kia EV5 and a wave of Chinese newcomers like the Xpeng G6 and BYD Sealion 7 flooded the segment.

But hindsight can be a trap (what if I’d bought a house in 1996?) and what matters is that the Ariya is finally here.

The sharp design and thoughtful tech still feel fresh and Nissan counters the delay with a potent 10-year warranty, smart interior packaging, and upmarket cabin vibes – features that carry real weight.

If peace of mind and a well-considered cabin top your list, the Ariya makes a strong case. Still, after such a long wait, it enters a market that’s moved fast, with sharper-value rivals now crowding the field.

2025 Nisan Ariya Advance+ at a glance:
Price: $63,840 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 178kW/300Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 87kWh lithium-ion NMC
Range: 504km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 17.2kWh/100km
Safety rating: 5-star (ANCAP 2022)

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