Nissan seems to have a real habit of shooting itself in the foot lately. No hybrids in its entire U.S. lineup, an automatic-only Z Nismo, an oddly expensive new Kicks, and a new Armada that didn’t seem to read the room are just a few examples of not quite keeping up with the Joneses. Sensing that its lower appendages aren’t ventilated enough, here’s the Nissan Ariya Nismo, a performance electric crossover that’s a tough sell on numbers alone.
The regular Ariya has some very likeable things about it. The seats are great, the lantern-like cabin illumination is unique, and the interior materials are downright lovely. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite feel like a finished product. The e-Pedal mode that pulls the brake pedal away from your foot under regenerative braking is downright spooky, the ride quality isn’t great, and the driver’s door armrest isn’t quite where you think it would be. In an earlier road test, I summed it up as a stylish EV that needs a little more time in the oven, and now Nissan’s gone and done just that.
Unfortunately, time in the oven hasn’t granted this Nismo performance model the acceleration chops to keep up with a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT or a Tesla Model Y Performance, let alone a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Nissan claims a zero-to-62 mph time of five seconds flat, and while that’s still quick, the bar in this segment is so much higher than that.
It’s the same deal with output. In another world, 429 horsepower is plenty, even in a heavy electric crossover. However, when the competition’s cranking out up to 641 horsepower, it’s hard to take the Nissan Ariya Nismo seriously on straight-line performance alone. Hey, at least an 87 kWh battery pack should give it decent range, even if Nissan hasn’t released figures yet.
Alright, so what about cornering performance? Well, it’s hard to assess handling without driving this EV, but a change in the default torque split to send 40 percent of juice to the front axle and 60 percent to the back is an intriguing start. Even more intriguing is the thoroughness with which Nismo’s approached the chassis. We’re talking new anti-roll bars, new spring rates, new dampers, heavier steering, and even a new wheel and tire package. Featuring flow-formed wheels made by Enkei using the brand’s MAT process and Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires, there’s promise here for improving both the ride and the handling of the regular Ariya.
As for appearances, this Ariya grabs cues from the classic Nismo playbook, meaning it gets a chin spoiler, a revised rear spoiler, and all the red accenting a former Hot Import Night parent could possibly want. It’s a similar deal on the inside, with a black-and-red theme and some more aggressive front seats that ought to do a better job holding you in place down on-ramps and off-ramps.
Right now, Nissan hasn’t announced whether or not the Ariya Nismo is coming to America, but don’t count it out. After all, we’ve already seen a Sentra Nismo and a Juke Nismo in years past, so an Ariya Nismo doesn’t seem that crazy. In fact, that might be the big disappointment here — the Ariya Nismo doesn’t seem that crazy. In an age of performance cars where extreme is the norm, this hopped-up EV doesn’t seem mind-boggling. It is what it is, I guess.
(Photo credits: Nissan)
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The post The Nissan Ariya Nismo Makes 429 Horsepower But That’s Just Not Enough In 2024 appeared first on The Autopian.
