The Nissan Ariya is crowned 2022 Auto Express Car of the Year

The all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV has won Auto Express Car of the Year 2022, as well as the title of best Mid-size Company Car from our sister title. The Ariya is Nissan’s second mainstream EV model following on from the Leaf hatchback; on sale now, the Ariya is priced from £42,790.

When Carbuyer tested the Ariya, we scored it an impressive 4.2 out of five stars, and described it as “one of the most well-rounded electric SUVs on sale.” We were also impressed with its interior, confirming it as the brand’s “most convincing attempt yet at a more premium offering” and adding: “the Ariya’s cabin feels much more special than what you’d find in rivals from VW and Toyota.”

The Ariya certainly isn’t short of rivals, following a push to create family-friendly electric SUVs. These include models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq iV, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Toyota bZ4x. 

The Nissan is available with a 63kWh or 87kWh battery, extending its range from 250 miles in the standard version to 310 miles; the bigger battery does command a premium, though. All versions can charge at speeds of up to 130kW, for a 20-80% top-up in around 30 minutes – useful if you plan on going further afield.

Nissan’s latest model is also practical for families. Its battery is a third thinner than the cells fitted in the Leaf, allowing the designers to improve passenger and cargo space. The Ariya also gets a novel sliding centre console that can be moved at the press of a button, to improve rear foot space, or to serve as a handy table – perhaps while using a public chargepoint. Its 466 litre boot should also serve most owners well, although the Enyaq iV is more practical still.

Other notable Auto Express Car of the Year 2022 award winners include the Fiat 500 in the City Car class, while the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric was named Best Company Car. British cars took a handful of top spots, including the Land Rover Defender in the Best Large Premium SUV category and the MINI scooping the Best Convertible award. Read on below for a full list of the winners…

City Car of the Year  – Fiat 500

Supermini of the Year  – Renault Clio

Family Car of the Year – Dacia Jogger

Estate Car of the Year – Skoda Octavia Estate

Small Company Car of the Year – Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric

Mid-size Company Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya

Large Company Car of the Year – BMW 5 Series

Small SUV of the Year – Kia Niro

Mid-size SUV of the Year – Hyundai Tucson

Large SUV of the Year – Skoda Kodiaq

Small Premium SUV of the Year – Mercedes GLA

Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year  – Lexus NX

Large Premium SUV of the Year – Land Rover Defender

Luxury Car of the Year – Range Rover

Hot Hatch of the Year – Hyundai i20 N

Coupé of the Year – BMW 2 Series

Convertible of the Year – MINI Convertible

Performance Car of the Year – Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

Affordable Electric Car of the Year – MG ZS EV

Premium Electric Car of the Year – BMW i4

Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year – Toyota Yaris

Premium Hybrid Car of the Year – Mercedes C 300 e

Pick-up of the Year – Ford Ranger    

Electric Van of the Year – Ford E-Transit

Van of the Year – Fiat Ducato

Technology Award – Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX

The Auto Express New Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya