Nine times out of 10 I, like many EV drivers, select Eco. Maximum range is the goal here. The Leaf allows you to select Eco on a button and it stays like that when you get in it the next time, whereas in the Ariya you need to select Eco each and every time.
The fact that the Area has a 22kW AC on-board charger and the Leaf makes do with a 6.6kW one is a bit of a moot point because of the age gap; you would have been extremely lucky to find such a strong charger a decade ago.
But Nissan has learned from the Leaf’s charging in two important ways. For one, the Ariya uses the now standard CCS plug, rather than the Chademo one that was favoured by the Japanese in the early days. And two, it doesn’t have its charging port flap at the front. I find such things incredibly irritating, because only heathens park nose-first, especially in public places.
Where Nissan has moved the game on most of all, though, is the interior. The Leaf’s has worn well, but even a decade ago it was considered a bit downmarket.
The plastics look and feel cheap and the doors sound very tinny when closed. With the Ariya, multiple people have asked me if it’s really a Nissan.
The fit and finish is above the industry standard, the heated and cooled leather seats are brilliant for long journeys and the blue suede interior is to die for. The touchscreen infotainment software is just okay, but realistically, as long as the hardware is okay too (which it is), then everything is groovy, because I just use Apple CarPlay any way.
