Our Cape Schanck backdrop for this launch is the kind of place where modern design meets nature—off-grid eco homes with clean lines and glass walls overlooking the sea and idyllic countryside. It made the perfect backdrop for the all-electric Nissan Ariya, a car that feels just as forward-thinking for the Japanese brand.

Our day drive took us on a three-hour loop through Melbourne's city and countryside, combining open highways with twisting scenic roads—ideal conditions to test Nissan’s latest SUV, which according to Warwick Daly, Deputy Director Marketing & Mobility, Nissan Australia is a combination of "incredible design [and] clever and spacious interior".

Need to know basis - About the Nissan Qashqai

Price when new: $55,840 - $71,840 before on road costs.
Seats: 5
Powertrain: 2WD Electric single motor front-wheel drive or AWD Electric dual-motor

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Cost to service: $299 for the first five services.
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Cost to insure: $184.36 per month or $2106.33 per year
Based on a 35 year old female living in Mosman with a 2025 Nissan Ariya Engage with Stella Insurance. Get your quote today.

A year of comprehensive insurance coverage with Stella Insurance is quoted at $2106.33 based on a comparative quote for a 35 year old female, living in Mosman, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, vehicle, driving history and personal circumstances.

Normal underwriting terms and conditions apply. Any advice provided is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs and may not be right for you. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determination (TMD) available at stellainsurance.com.au. Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance is distributed by Stella Underwriting Pty Ltd (Stella) (ABN 72 633 811 319) as an Authorised Representative (AR No 001282046) of Virginia Surety Company, Inc. (ARBN 080 339 957, AFSL 245579), who is the insurance issuer.

First impressions & design of the 2025 Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya is a turning point for the brand—a completely new design language that has already shaped future models like the next-generation Leaf. It’s the kind of car that will make people double take (in a good way) when one drives past. In the rose gold with black roof, it screams modern chic and minimal effort kerb appeal, feeling more like a fashion statement than a commuter SUV. The slim LED headlights, sculpted lines, and minimalist front grille give it a sleek, futuristic look that’s very much on trend for electric cars in 2025.

In size, the Ariya sits between the Qashqai and X-Trail, making it the sweet spot for couples or small families who want practicality without feeling oversized. It’s stylish without being intimidating—big enough for weekend getaways but still easy to manoeuvre in city car parks. It has plenty of safety and tech as standard but emphasised in the higher grades with leather-accented seating, color accents in the cabin and nice-to-have features like heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel perfect for winters in Melbourne.

Driving experience: How does the 2025 Nissan Ariya drive?

On the launch I had the chance to test the Ariya Advance+, a two-wheel-drive model powered by an 87kWh battery and an electric motor producing 178kW and 300Nm of torque, if that means nothing to you don't worry. What you need to know is it's more powerful and has more grunt than the Nissan QASHQAI and Toyota RAV4 (both hybrid models yes but chances are you've test driven one or the other for comparison). On paper, it’s good for around 500km of range (WLTP) we didn't get a chance to run to flat so when we have it in the garage in early 2026 we will provide an update to energy efficiency figures, but it’s the on-road character that stands out most.

The drive is smooth and composed, with instant throttle response that makes overtaking effortless - understandably an electric car given but something if you're jumping into an electric car for the first time you will notice. While it's not the fasted EV on the market by a long shot (0-100km/h in 8 seconds) it's still enough to overtake and enter a freeway easily.

Around Cape Schanck’s winding roads, the Ariya felt planted and confident, gripping well through corners even without the all-wheel-drive setup. For everyday use, the 2WD feels perfectly suited—it’s quiet, quick, and responsive without needing the extra traction most drivers won’t use.

Compared to Nissan’s Qashqai hybrid, which mimics the feel of an EV through its generator-style petrol system, the Ariya feels even more refined and linear. The transition from acceleration to coasting is seamless, and while the steering is on the firmer side, it gives the Ariya a more connected, confident feel on open roads. For me, the only trade-off was a touch of arm fatigue after long stretches—something enthusiasts may love but comfort-seekers might notice if you have a long-distance commute multiple times a week.

The ProPILOT system (Nissan's fancy talk for their safety suite) remains one of the strongest semi-autonomous aids in the market—calm, predictable, and not overbearing which is what I've come to expect from Nissan. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and blind-spot assist all work seamlessly without that constant ‘nannying’ tone many newer systems fall into. The only feature I could live without is e-Pedal, Nissan’s one-pedal drive system. It’s brilliant for regenerative braking and battery efficiency, but for those of us prone to car sickness, it takes some getting used to. It's easily toggle-able with a button on the centre console so don't make this a make or break for your purchase.

Interior & cabin design of the 2025 Nissan Ariya

Inside, the Ariya feels calm and contemporary—a minimalist design where every feature according to Nissan is placed with intention. The open flat floor (thanks to the EV platform) makes the cabin feel far larger than it looks from outside, with plenty of light from the panoramic roof (in the higher grades) and soft ambient lighting and woodgrain finishes that adds warmth to the cabin.

Storage is cleverly thought out, from the adjustable centre console (available in the top-spec Evolve)—which slides front and back to suit your driving position—to the dual glove boxes that give you extra hideaway space for everyday essentials. Small touches like kick-foot tailgate access, keyless entry, and under-boot storage for first aid kits or emergency flats make the Ariya feel designed by someone who actually lives with their car.

As standard across the range, you get two 12.3-inch curved screens that blend the instrument cluster and infotainment system into one sweeping panel, giving it a high-tech yet uncluttered look. The Advance+ adds a head-up display, bright and clear, showing navigation, speed, and safety alerts directly on the windscreen– a feature I would have liked to see as standard across the range but alas. The overall ergonomics are good—everything is within easy reach, and there’s even a subtle curve to the screen’s edges to make tapping controls feel more natural.

Apple CarPlay performed without a hiccup during our drive, and the Bose 10-speaker audio system (standard from Advance models and higher) was crisp and immersive—ideal for an afternoon playlist on the open road.

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Other features across the range mentioning include...

2025 Nissan Ariya Engage features:

• 19” Alloy Wheels with Aero Cover
• Battery Usable Capacity: 63kWh
• Tyre repair kit
• Keyless entry with walkaway locking and unlocking
• Dual-zone climate control
• Sunshade mirror with lights
• Lighting for the footwell and front doors
• Rain sensing wipes
• Adaptive cruise control
• Built-in satelite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Rear-view camera
• ProPilot with
  
  • Predictive Forward Collision Warning
  • Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention
  • Blind Spot Warning & Blind Spot Intervention
  • Lane Keep Assist
  • Driver Attention Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Back-up Collision
  • Front and rear parking sensors

2025 Nissan Ariya Advance features:

• Bose 10-speaker premium sound system
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Hands-free kick foot tailgate
• Charcoal cloth and Black synthetic leather-accented< seats

2025 Nissan Ariya Advance+ features:

• Battery Usable Capacity: 63kWh
• Optional 3-Phase Onboard Charger (launch promo)
• Black synthetic leather with Ultrasuede inserts seats
• Windscreen Head-Up Display
• Panoramic glass roof
• Heated and Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats

2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve e-4orce features include:

• AWD dual motor set up
• 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds
• 3-Phase Onboard charger as standard
• 20" alloy wheels
• Blue Nappa Leather seats
• Digital rear view mirror camera
• Power sliding centre console

Space, practicality & everyday fit of the 2025 Nissan Ariya

For a mid-sized five-seater SUV, the Ariya makes the most of its dimensions. The rear seats are spacious, with good visibility and a comfortable recline angle for passengers. Although we didn’t test it with child car seats this time, given the Qashqai’s ability to fit three across, the Ariya should handle family duties easily. You can find the family review of the Nissan QASHQAI on our sister channel Baby and Car here.

The 466L boot (extends to 1350L with the second row of seats down) offers plenty of room for luggage, groceries, or weekend bags, with pace under the floor for charging cables or a pair of heels—because you never know.

Even though we didn’t charge during this short trip, Nissan’s charging setup is straightforward: 130kW DC fast charging for 10–80% battery in about 40 minutes, or around 12 hours on a 7.4kW AC home wall box. And while we’ll test real-world range later in the year, Nissan’s 10-year battery warranty and new long-term ownership plan add peace of mind for anyone going electric for the first time.

Overall Thoughts & Recommendation: Is the Nissan Ariya worth it?

The Nissan Ariya feels like it was built with the modern woman in mind—stylish, capable, tech-savvy, and sustainable without shouting about it. It’s perfect for first-time EV buyers, or for anyone coming out of a Qashqai or X-Trail who wants something familiar and future-proof for city drives and the odd weekend escape with a couple of extra passengers.

The rose gold exterior adds a sense of personality and calm welcomed in this segment especially for the female buyers, and the cohesive colour theme flowing through the cabin makes it feel elegant and intentional. It’s the kind of car that feels equally at home outside a city apartment as it does parked at a beach house.

It’s a Her New Keys kind of car—smart, sophisticated, and designed for women who value safety, space, and sustainability without giving up on style.

If I had to sum up the Nissan Ariya in three words: Stylish, Smooth, and Tech-filled.

It’s priced competitively, offers impressive range and refinement, and carries Nissan’s new 10-year warranty—a strong reassurance for anyone going electric for the first time. The driving experience feels polished, the tech is intuitive, and the design stands out in a crowd. With servicing at $299 for the first three years that's also another reason to add it to your test drive list.

Your questions answered:

How much is the Nissan Ariya?

The Nissan Ariya Engage opens the range at $55,840 before on-road costs, the Nissan Ariya Advance is $59,840 before on-road costs, The Nissan Ariya Advance+ is $63,840 before on-road costs and the top-spec Nissan Ariya Evolve is $71,840 before on-road costs.

Is the Nissan Ariya electric?

Yes there are two electric powertrain options. A front-wheel drive single motor 63kWh or 87kWh battery pack powering a single motor which can produce 160kW of power and 300Nm of torque. Range in the 63kWh battery option is 385km, while the single motor 87kWh has a claimed combined range of 504km.

The all-wheel drive dual-motor Evolve e-4orce can produce 160kW of power from each front and rear electric motor with combined torque figure of 600Nm. It has an electric range of 487km and can travel from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

When is the Nissan Ariya release date?

It is available in Australian showrooms from September 2025. Find your local dealer here.

Where is the Nissan Ariya built?

They are manufactured at the Japanese brand's Tochigi plant specifically designed for electric cars.