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Nissan Ariya NISMO

Is the IONIQ 5 N about to meet its match?

The Nissan Ariya has gone NISMO. Yes, the EV that’s been cruising through town with its Japanese-inspired design and calm, composed personality just got a dose of attitude.

Enter the Ariya NISMO—a sharper, sportier take on Nissan’s flagship electric SUV, designed to add thrills without losing its everyday practicality.

Let’s talk numbers. The Ariya NISMO takes the 87kWh e-4ORCE powertrain and cranks it up to 435PS (429HP). That’s nearly 130PS more than the standard version, pushing the NISMO from 0-100 km/h in 5 seconds. And for those quick overtakes, the 50-70 km/h sprint takes just 2.4 seconds. It’s fast, sure, but NISMO didn’t stop at straight-line speed.

The e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system has been reworked for better agility, adjusting power to each wheel with remarkable precision—10,000 times per second, to be exact. A new 60:40 rear bias gives the car a sportier feel, and a 12% improvement in line-tracing performance promises sharper cornering. Add in reworked suspension, retuned steering, and revised braking, and Nissan seems serious about turning up the fun.

Visually, the Ariya NISMO wears its aerodynamic tweaks: new splitters, air curtains, and a rear ducktail spoiler, give it a more aggressive stance while reducing lift by 40%. Those 20-inch ENKEI wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres also promise to improve grip and cooling while shaving off un-sprung weight. It’s a subtle but purposeful makeover that ensures you’ll notice it on the road.

Step inside, and the Ariya NISMO greets you with a cabin that’s equal parts sporty and luxurious. Suede-like seats with stitched NISMO logos offer extra support for spirited driving, while the signature red stitching and accents bring that familiar NISMO flair. There’s even a blackened wood texture to keep things sophisticated. It’s a proper upgrade without sacrificing the Ariya’s practicality.

While Nissan hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the Ariya NISMO, it’s clear they’ve leaned into the brand’s sporty heritage to give the Ariya a more engaging character. As Cliodhna Lyons from Nissan puts it: “We’ve mined our rich history of sports car know-how to bring accessible performance enhancements… the result is an Ariya that delivers thrills when the roads turn twisty but remains refined on the highway.”

Like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the Ariya NISMO is proof that electric SUVs don’t have to be boring.

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