Reviewed: 2025 Nissan Ariya NISMO sports EV

The Nissan Ariya NISMO has an increase of power over the standard model. Photos: Nissan

Say Ciao to Nissan’s special Ariya electric crossover that is rapido thanks to a makeover by the brand’s motorsport division.

While it's built in Japan with Japanese DNA, the Ariya NISMO (which stands for NISsan MOtorsport, the manufacturer’s racing division), Nissan Europe decided to make it the star of a special event in Italy’s capital, Rome.

In a world first, Nissan first hosted the judges of the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year in the Eternal City. The event had 35 judges from around the globe, including many European countries, plus Dubai, India, Cyrus and me, from New Zealand.

Hosted by Katherine Zachary, Nissa’s vice president of communications for Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania, and her Paris-based colleagues, the event showcased its crossover line-up plus its special new sibling, the Ariya NISMO.

The Nissan Ariya NISMO has an extended rear bumper for better air flow management.

It combines all the benefits of the regular 87kWh Ariya e-4ORCE with a host of upgrades to deliver an even more exhilarating driving experience.

It’s ​​NISMO-tuned powertrain increases to 320 kW) – up almost 95kW – while torque remains an impressive 600 Nm. Combined, it’s enough to propel the Ariya NISMO from 0-100kmph in five seconds.

Thanks to enhancements to the car’s e-4ORCE four-wheel-drive system and other upgrades, the emphasis is on agility and dynamic response. Ariya NISMO’s specially tuned e-4ORCE system can maximise mechanical grip by adjusting the power sent to each wheel 10,000 times per second. With a new 60:40 rear-bias, the system delivers a more sporting feel compared to the regular Ariya e-4ORCE, delivering a 12% improvement in line-tracing performance.

The Ariya NISMO  goes from from 0-100kmph in five seconds.

The suspension has also been comprehensively reworked, with revised stabilisers, spring rates and shock absorber settings, to achieve enhanced balance and body control, and greater agility at higher speeds. In addition, retuned steering adds increased tactility and a more direct feel as speeds rise.

Combined with the addition of ‘i-Booster’, which increases braking performance with revised regeneration tuning and new tires, drivers can experience the full thrill and agility which typifies a NISMO vehicle, while retaining a sense of security on the road. To further enhance the car’s versatility, it also features a new ‘NISMO’ driving mode to enhance how it responds to driver inputs, making it even more thrilling and enjoyable to drive.

It also has exterior changes to the usual Ariya, with a new bumper and extended rear for better air flow management and 20in alloy wheels specifically for the car.

The Ariya NISMO features a redesigned interior.

The all-new Ariya NISMO features a redesigned interior, from the seats to its interior finishings, providing a premium experience for all. The seats, trimmed in a suede-like material and featuring stitched NISMO logos, are specifically designed for sporty driving, offering enhanced support and body-hugging grip under hard cornering, but not at the expense of comfort.

The interior is stunning, especially the simplistic front dash, and with buttons inlaid into the wooden accent.

What is the Nissan Ariya NISMO like to drive? First, it was a great test of the 0-100km capability thanks to our hotel’s long driveway. As with sports-tuned electric vehicles, the acceleration was exhilarating. It’s a ‘throw you into the back of your seat’ experience and was so much fun that my drive partner spent half an hour in the afternoon speeding up the drive – for her video review of course!

It has an electric range of 420km.

We have a drive route that combines hill-side villages, main roads and even the highway with speeds up to 130km/h.

This gave us a suitable quick evaluation of the Ariay NISMO. Its handling was effortless and cornering easy thanks to the e-4ORCE four-wheel-drive system. It’s an engaging drive as this hasn’t been created as your standard commuter EV, instead it’s adding a touch of playfulness. 

It has an electric range of 420km, which is what you’d expect from the vehicle in this segment, but the more you drive it hard and fast your range is going to decrease.

It sits in a small segment of sports electric cars with its nearest rival the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Nissan New Zealand officially has no plans to offer it here as of this writing but one can wish!

The electric crossover has extensive NISMO badging, including the rear.