Nissan Ariya SUV - Practicality & boot space

The Ariya may not be the largest electric SUV on sale, but it should be more than practical enough for most buyers and families. After years of perfecting EV battery technology, Nissan has managed to create a unit that is 33% thinner than the one used on the Nissan Leaf – this amounts to a lower interior floor and consequently, a more comfortable seating position in the rear.

Nissan Ariya interior space & storage

Nissan has ensured the Ariya feels spacious inside, with the optional (standard on Evolve and above) panoramic sunroof further adding to the cabin’s airiness. In the rear, there is room enough for three adults; given that the Ariya is an electric car, there is no bulky transmission tunnel, meaning passengers will not be fighting for foot space.

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The most ingenious addition to the Ariya’s interior, however, is the sliding centre console that also comes as standard on Evolve trim cars. This can be moved via the press of a button to provide additional foot space in the front or the rear. Another use of this handy feature can be to slide it all the way forward in order to use it as some kind of table; this means you can rest a phone or tablet on it to watch a film or TV show while you wait to charge up at a service station.

Boot space

Single-motor examples of the Ariya offer adequate boot space, with 466 litres on offer; this should be enough for a couple of large suitcases or a few sets of golf clubs. Dual-motor models have to make do with 58 litres less (408 litres) as several components are housed underneath the boot floor. A Skoda Enyaq will offer more practicality with its cavernous 570-litre boot, though you can always fold down the rear seats in the Ariya if you require more room.

Towing

The entry-level, two-wheel drive Nissan Ariya can tow a 750kg braked trailer, while dual-motor e-4ORCE versions double that to 1,500kg. While we’ve not tried an Ariya with a trailer, we expect the generous torque should make light work of pulling a caravan or horsebox. Beware, however, that as with an EV, the added weight and increased drag won’t do your car’s efficiency any favours.