Nissan specifically tuned the Ariya to make it feel as much like a gas car as possible, mimicking the acceleration characteristics of, say, a Rogue. That means you don't get the typical EV rush of instant torque while pulling away from a stoplight or while merging onto the freeway. Instead, speed builds progressively, with Nissan estimating a 7.2-second 0-to-60-mph time for the single-motor, front-wheel-drive Ariya. If you do feel the need for speed, Nissan will add a dual-motor setup in a few months, which is expected to be much quicker.
Unlike the
Nissan Leaf, which was known for its one-pedal driving, the Ariya doesn't offer enough regenerative braking to bring the car to a stop. You can turn the E-Pedal on and off via a button on the console, but there aren't selectable levels of regen. Also -- and super annoyingly -- the Ariya does that thing where it automatically moves the brake pedal in line with the amount of regen being applied, which takes a long time to get used to and makes it so the amount of pressure you apply to the pedal with your foot is inconsistent. I hate this feature --
Mercedes-Benz does it, too -- and hope it's something other companies don't adopt.
