Used Nissan Ariya (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer's guide: low prices make EV even more appealing
A full used buyer's guide on the Nissan Ariya that has been on sale in the UK since 2021
Verdict
It takes something special to bag our Car of the Year award, but that’s what the Nissan Ariya did in 2022, also claiming the Best Mid-sized Company Car trophy in the process. We were impressed with the Nissan’s blend of good looks, high-quality cabin and decent range. But that was then and the EV world is fast-paced, so although there’s no doubt that the Ariya is still a very good car, its so-so real-world efficiency, relatively small boot capacity and lacklustre driving experience mean it’s overshadowed by some rivals. Don’t be too quick to dismiss the Ariya though, because it still has a lot to offer, and if you can buy one at the right price, you can forgive its shortcomings.
Nissan was the first company to unveil an affordable electric car with the Leaf. That was in 2010, just as SUV mania was starting to take a hold, so it seems incredible that it took the brand another decade to introduce an electric SUV, which it did in 2020 with the Ariya, having shown a concept the year before.
Sadly for Nissan, while the original Leaf had no competition when it arrived, by the time the Ariya went on sale, the segment was already getting busy, and since then it has only got busier. As a result, while the Ariya is a really good family car with a lot to offer, it’s up against rivals that can eclipse the Nissan in some respects.
History
The Ariya was unveiled in July 2020, but it didn’t go on sale in the UK until December 2021. There were two trim levels (Advance and Evolve), both available with three different powertrains. Entry-level cars came with 214bhp, a 63kWh battery and front-wheel drive, while mid-range models had 238bhp, an 87kWh battery and front-wheel drive. The range-topping e-4ORCE had 301bhp, an 87kWh battery and all-wheel drive.
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Cash £23,370In August 2023 a new entry-level trim, Engage, was introduced for the front-wheel-drive models and at the top of the range there was a new 388bhp edition called the e-4ORCE Evolve+. In October 2024 a 429bhp Nismo option joined the range with a sportier chassis set-up, bodykit and upgraded interior.
An updated Ariya is arriving imminently, with a refreshed exterior design, recalibrated suspension, extra colour options and improved charging.
Which one should I buy?
The Ariya typically gets through electricity at the rate of 2.9 miles per kWh – or just 2.5 miles in the winter – and motorway driving will bring that down even further.
Depending on how you use your car, the 63kWh battery might be sufficient, but an 87kWh model will provide greater peace of mind; all Ariyas can charge at up to 130kW. Buy an 87kWh Ariya and the less powerful (314bhp) motor is all you need, and even Engage models are pretty well equipped. These have all-LED exterior lighting, front and rear parking sensors and a rear camera, a heat pump, ambient cabin lighting and navigation.
Advance trim adds a hands-free powered tailgate, heating for the steering wheel, front seats and windscreen, synthetic leather
trim, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera and extra driver-assistance systems. The Evolve has an opening panoramic glass roof, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a Bose hi-fi.
Prices
Advance is the most popular Ariya trim level, followed by Evolve; relatively few of the cars for sale are Engage editions. You can buy a used Nissan Ariya for less than £15,000 through our Buy a Car service, while a used Nissan Ariya Nismo is available for around £32,000.
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On the road
If you’re a keen driver, you’ll be disappointed by the lack of engagement – there’s not a lot of feel to many of the Ariya’s controls. Even the Nismo version isn’t as much fun to drive as it should be, because you can really feel the car’s 2.2-ton weight. But the Ariya shrugs off broken road surfaces far more readily than many cars in this segment, and refinement is excellent at motorway speeds.
There’s also masses of grip, so in adverse conditions the Ariya feels reassuring, much helped by impressive high-speed stability and, on e-4ORCE models, the fitment of four-wheel drive.
Alternatives to the Nissan Ariya
The mid-sized electric SUV class is booming, partly thanks to an influx of cars from China. Among these are the Xpeng G6, BYD Sealion 7 and MG S6, while the European offerings include the Peugeot E-5008 and its cousins, the DS 7 E-Tense, Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland Electric.
Ford and VW each provide two options: the Mustang-Mach-E and the Explorer for the former, and the ID.4 and ID.5 for the latter. Also within the Volkswagen Group are the Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Tavascan, while your shortlist should also include the Tesla
Model Y, Toyota bZ4X, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, along with the Volvo EC40 and EX40.
What to look for
Feeling flat
The 12-volt battery can go flat very quickly, while premature failure of it is another common problem. Some owners have resorted to carrying a booster pack with them, just in case their car lets them down.
On the pull
If you’re buying an Ariya to tow with it, be sure to go for one of the all-wheel-drive e-4ORCE models. These are rated to pull up to 1,500kg whereas the front-wheel-drive editions are limited to just 750kg.
Other glitches
Fast charging can result in the car locking up altogether, with permanent fixes sometimes hard to come by. Driver- assistance systems and the infotainment crashing can result from outdated software.
Range requirements
Nissan claimed a range of 250 miles for 63kWh models, and 314-329 miles for 87kWh cars depending on power and trim. We averaged 230 miles when we ran an 87kWh e-4ORCE model on our test fleet.
Interior
Showing just how quickly cutting-edge tech can date, the Ariya’s digital displays are already looking a little passé. However, the cabin quality still impresses, and the touch-sensitive controls work well. Rear-seat space is good, but the pay-off is a relatively small boot that can hold just 466-1,350 litres (408-1,280 litres in e-4ORCE models).
Running costs
The service interval is set at 12 months or 10,000 miles. Services alternate between Minor and Major at £190 and £250; the latter includes fresh brake fluid every two years, and each service comes with a year’s worth of RAC breakdown cover. To help spread the cost of maintenance, all Nissan dealers offer customers a monthly payment plan.
Insurance groups range from 30 to 41, although the highest is for the Nismo as well as the various e-4ORCE models; the bulk of the cars for sale are in groups 31-34. Until its sixth birthday, any Ariya that cost more than £50,000 new (including any factory-fitted options) is liable for the £440 expensive car road tax supplement. Most, but not all, 87kWh models breached the £50k mark, so it’s worth establishing how much road tax you’ll have to pay before buying.
Recalls
There have been four recalls so far. Nissan issued the first in May 2023, for cars built between April and August 2022, which could suffer from instrumentation glitches; an over-the-air software update fixed things. The next campaign came in October 2023, because some cars manufactured between March 2022 and April 2023 suffered from short circuits in the electric motors; once again a software update fixed the problem.
Recall three came in August 2024, because of faulty oil seals fitted to some Ariyas that were produced between May 2022 and June 2023. A new traction motor was the solution. Lastly, some Ariyas built between March 2022 and February 2025 left the factory with incorrectly aligned headlights; they were recalled in November 2025.
Driver Power owner satisfaction
The Ariya isn’t a big seller in the UK – although there are plenty for sale – so it has never appeared in a Driver Power survey. Nissan has appeared in our Brands survey though, and in 2025 it came 15th out of 31, having come done exactly the same thing in 2024.
There’s just one owner review on Carbuyer.co.uk; they awarded their Ariya three stars out of five because while they really liked
it when it was working, on too many occasions it was in the workshop being fixed.
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