Nissan Ariya

All-new electric SUV takes on Kia's EV6 with a competitive range and an upmarket interior On sale Now Price from £43,845

- Dan Jones

WHEN NISSAN LAUNCHED the Leaf in 2011, it was such a radical step forward that it made existing electric cars look like golf buggies. Unfortunately, while the Leaf was ready for the electric motoring revolution, very few car buyers were, and it was slow to take off. That might explain why Nissan waited more than a decade before adding a second electric car - the Ariya SUV you see here - to its line-up.

We tried a late-stage prototype of the Ariya a few months back, and while we were impressed by the interior, we felt the choppy ride on the optional 20in wheels needed to be addressed. We've now driven a production car on 19in wheels, and sadly that's still an issue.

The Ariya is not uncomfortable, but there's a subtle and constant movement as you drive along, almost as if you're feeling the grain of the Tarmac passing under the wheels. This isn't something you'll experience in the equally firm-riding Kia EV6, but at least the Ariya deals with larger imperfections and undulations well, never thudding or wobbling around.

It's also good to drive on twisty roads, because the firm set-up minimises body lean, and the otherwise light steering weights up enough to give you the confidence to push on.