Evaluations of Ariya appreciated from owners who also have had Leafs.

[frontrangeleaf]

Test drove the Ariya quite some time ago - not my thing. Way too big. Way too much money (at the time, and it's still too much). Much better alternatives for our needs from other makers. I really want a modernized Leaf, and that hasn't happened yet from anyone. Right size. Right price. Right capabilities for now.

A little more range would be nice, but isn't critical. Fast charging? Meh. We just don't drive cross-country much - seems odd to insist on a feature that we would so rarely use. Bi-directional charging option highly desirable looking forward, but oh, snap, CCS protocol doesn't support that yet. For all the crowing about CCS, it lacks the one thing I actually care about... (CHAdeMO is NOT dead yet, our grocery store recently put in half dozen chargers 1:1 with CCS, but we actually don't care that much.) Also nice to see adapters coming out for those nervous about it, but their price is ludicrous right now.

We have all of our transportation needs well met currently, and own all of our vehicles free and clear. Watching closely to see what comes out next and to evaluate how our needs might change as I approach retirement, but until we get closer, not in the market. For the next few years, expect a vigorous pushback on all things EV. Whatever. Climate change will have the last laugh, and these yahoos will be remembered precisely for all the damage they did. Can't fix willfully blind.

Ariya doesn't make the cut for us. Maybe a smaller, more affordable EV6 (if one existed)? Something like that... Currently only supports V2L. I'd like to see V2H. With our solar investments, V2G and V2X are not as important.

No Tesla vehicle will ever disgrace my garage. We do own a PowerWall.

 

[BillAinCT]

Where and what adapter did you purchase.

This one

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

EStep is more like the a B+ mode. It's not really like e-pedal. I had stopped using ePedal in the Leaf a couple years ago, so wasn't worried about losing it.

New feature I found today is something like the Fisker Ocean California mode. If you hold the unlock button it lowers all the windows and opens the sunroof.

The car lights up as you approach, which feels "fancy", but if little practical purpose. I do like that the car unlocks as you pull on the handle without needing to touch the unlock pad.

I am still marveling about the D mode. It seems to know (assume by map system) when I am on the highway. It will coast at high and low SoC when off the gas. Then D provides some regen when on neighborhood roads.

Now that Chicago is back into the 30s and 40s, my commute efficiency is creeping just around 4 miles/kWh, which gives me hope for mid 4s in summer. Multiply by 85 kWh and that is is some reasonable range. I actually get better efficiency at 55-60mph on my commute than driving around locally, which feels odd...yes lots of mass to start and stop.

There are a couple clumsy aspects to the screen/menu systems...but nothing too annoying. The one screen I wish it had was a battery temp screen...but maybe I will stop caring about over heating and iced batteries now.

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

EStep is more like the a B+ mode. It's not really like e-pedal. I had stopped using ePedal in the Leaf a couple years ago, so wasn't worried about losing it.

New feature I found today is something like the Fisker Ocean California mode. If you hold the unlock button it lowers all the windows and opens the sunroof.

The car lights up as you approach, which feels "fancy", but if little practical purpose. I do like that the car unlocks as you pull on the handle without needing to touch the unlock pad.

I am still marveling about the D mode. It seems to know (assume by map system) when I am on the highway. It will coast at high and low SoC when off the gas. Then D provides some regen when on neighborhood roads.

Now that Chicago is back into the 30s and 40s, my commute efficiency is creeping just around 4 miles/kWh, which gives me hope for mid 4s in summer. Multiply by 85 kWh and that is is some reasonable range. I actually get better efficiency at 55-60mph on my commute than driving around locally, which feels odd...yes lots of mass to start and stop.

There are a couple clumsy aspects to the screen/menu systems...but nothing too annoying. The one screen I wish it had was a battery temp screen...but maybe I will stop caring about over heating and iced batteries now.

You got an Ariya?

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Yep, finally got that nice Nissan deep blue, I had wanted in my Leaf. We still have both Leafs, now one with each adult child. Curious to see how my son does with an urban leaf in an apartment with no parking or charging.

Today's nice feature experience is the auto sensing wipers. We had some reasonable rain, and they did great. I am sure Tesla's have improved since I last
tried their system a year ago In a rental; but these work better than those did then.

 

[SalisburySam]

Yep, finally got that nice Nissan deep blue, I had wanted in my Leaf.

Congratulations!

Today's nice feature experience is the auto sensing wipers. We had some reasonable rain, and they did great. I am sure Tesla's have improved since I last tried their system a year ago In a rental…

No, they haven’t. Wipers driven by camera are no match, and apparently after many years will never be, for the more widely-adopted auto wiper methods. My 2018 Model 3 wipers, after 108 software updates since new, are a good news/bad news scenario. The good news is they are fun to watch, varying in effectiveness with each update and not always better, frequently worse. The bad news: at their best they’re a crapshow.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Feature of the day is the heating speed. Much more powerful than the Leaf, you can feel warmth in just a handful of seconds.

That said: Like any EV, best to go without if you can, to extend range.

Looks like you can now get even a better deal on a left over 24 ariya then what I found.

https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/electric-cars/ariya/deals-incentives-offers/2024.html

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Had my first Tesla charge today. Worked in the first go.

Fun fact for the day. The Ariya includes 2 years of included service visits. I didn't know that until the day after purchase. That's $200 saved in cabin filters and tire rotations!

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

While efficiency is nothing close to what I can get in the Leaf, with the big battery, range is looking ok given the relative temps. (Running average efficienct with some heat and mix of local and slower highway(60mph) is 3.4 miles/kWh ..I have yet to get over 5 miles/kWh on any drive) Temps have been between single digits and mid 40s since I got the car.

Small correction from the earlier posts, eco mode does not regen when off the gas in all locations and speeds. I reported below that it did regen on local roads which was incorrect. (I think I had eStep on and wasn't factoring that)

Feature of the day is on the propilot screen the projection of the Ariya lights up the brake lights when the car is lighting them (strong regen oe brake). While not Tesla level of detail, it will show cars moving around you in your lane on both sides on the screen, which is pretty cool.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Just over 2 weeks and 600 miles with the car, I am continuing to figure out how to drive efficiently. It feels like that the tires are modestly more.efficiemt now that they have worn in 500 miles, which is welcome.

I generally do eco and D mode on the highway as the 0 regen mode offers best conservation of momentum. Local roads I use eStep as I want the max regen if I need to stop. You really feel the cost of building momentum with the extra heft vs. the Leaf, so conservation is even more important.

It's been in the 20s and low 30s this past week. My efficiency since purchase has been 3.5 miles/kWh per the car and 3.1 per the web app. I am not sure of why thsr differs unless it includes charging losses (which would be cool if true).

Gom has moved up from ~240 miles when purchased to low 300s fairly consistent. If you multiple 87 x 3.5 = 304 miles, which seems to line up. The GOM is much more stable than the Leaf, which I am still getting used to (ex, no change when running the heat, bit miles will drop off faster). Given the temps and modest heat usage, range is modestly ahead of my expectation, though will be doing some longer faster freeway drives before getting too far ahead of myself on this front.

The seat and steering wheel heaters are fantastic. While I was originally annoyed at having to use the screen to turn them ok, the auto setting combined with tuning the sensitivity settings make it now so they turn in and off perfectly with my personal preference.

While I like the auto door unlock when I grab the handle, the unlock for all doors when with passengers requires a 1/2 second pause, which is tolerable, but a bit annoying.

I am oddly liking the Tom Tom maps vs. Google/apple for some driving as it shows traffic for all surrounding streets, not just route on, which is quite helpful at bust times here in Chicago.

 

[Naby]

I love one pedal driving (2018 Leaf). It was a major factor when choosing a new car to replace our Honda CRV. We ended up buying a Long Range AWD Tesla model Y. It has proper one pedal driving (like the Leaf). Additionally, the driver's assist system is seriously impressive. This is my wife's car so we didn't pay for FSD once the trial was over (she won't even trust cruise control ) but when the time comes to replace the Leaf... I want:
1. One pedal driving
2. FSD-type system

As much as I am conflicted about supporting Tesla brand, there is currently nothing else that matches those two requirements. A number of Chinese cars apparently would but there's little chance we'll see those in Canada anytime soon. I'm not mentioning 500km range, decent fast charging and battery thermal management because I take those as given in any future EV.

BTW, the GOM on my model Y is extremely accurate. Let's say I use navigation for a 125km ride. It will estimate the SOC on arrival. That projected SOC is usually within 1% of the actual value. Very impressive when compared to the Leaf.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

New feature find of the day. The rear wiper is also auto sensing. It's like a handful of really premium features are put into....well a Nissan.

Yes propilot 2 is not FSD, but it drive me hands free today back from work in the falling snow on the highway, which surprised me. (Off course only on the highway). If you use the onboard routing, it will do the freeway navigation as well (green mode.of lane changes).

A new popped up today, so not sure is from the OTA or I just hadn't noticed before.

I have started exploring the voice commands. So far recognition has been very good.

Also I watched the gom in real time adjust as the outdoor temps came down after leaving the garage and standing still,.which is smart (50F to 26F). Garsge temp gom was 323 today, which psychologically feels good, even if unrealistic.

Snow mode is good, but OEM tires are mediocre in snow.

 

[Naby]

Yes propilot 2 is not FSD, but it drive me hands free today back from work in the falling snow on the highway, which surprised me. (Off course only on the highway). If you use the onboard routing, it will do the freeway navigation as well (green mode.of lane changes).

Does the propilot in Ariya depend on visible line markings like the one in Leaf?

The best part of FSD is that it works everywhere: highway, residential streets, snow covered dirt road at the cottage, etc. It looks at the environment and determines where the "road" is just like a human would.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

I don't know if this version will do hands on steering on one lane B roads like the Leaf often will. I understand the appeal of being able to use FSD everywhere, just be alert as liability is still with the driver.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

New learning of the day. The dash menus are also somewhat configurable. I do wish they had retained the battery temp screen.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Feature/learning of the day is that the Sideview mirror heaters turn on and off with the rear defroster. Today I had my at home visit from Nissan to walk through the car features. Learned a few things though much of it was basic. Incredible they are sending a consultants around to all new Ariya owners for 90 minute car feature reviews.

Did my first 100 Mike round trip freeway run with the car today. Propilot 2 did great. Mainly 70 miles both directions (couple slower miles). 16F westbound, and 24F eastbound. Westbound efficiency was 2.9 and 3.6 miles/kWh on eastbound return. Averaging ~3.2 for winter highway seemed pretty good, so excited to see what the car can average at 75F. It was sunny, and as the cabin is very well insulated, heat was minimal.

When we drove the Leaf to Kansas in similar weather, we only got 3.1 westbound (no heat), but that was with cross climate 2 tires.

Efficiency on shirt local trips with lots of heat is abysmal though.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

I thought the charging curve between Aryia and ionic was interesting. Ariya is the line in the middle.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

Ok, so drove our Leaf again after being in The Ariya for a month (youngest learning to drive...so starting her in the Leaf). I had forgotten how efficient the Leaf is on local jaunts. 40F outside, battery in the 60s (son just returned from a trip to Iowa and back in the Leaf)...was easily able to do over 6 miles/kWh when driving to and from the learning grounds.

Today I was able to have a few drives in the Ariya in the low 4s, but nothing close to the Leaf.

A Leaf with a 87kWh usable battery would be divine. Even with max 80KW charging, plenty for any need I would have.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

So, I have been trying to decide whether eco+D rolling vs. Eco+ B regen is the most efficient mode to drive in with the Ariya arpund town. The is some skill to gently engage D regen before moving to B to not jolt passengers. As mentioned earlier the stop start penalty is much higher in the Ariya than the Leaf, so any momentum preservation helps.

Heat is so much faster in the Ariya vs. LEAF, which is appreciated by my better half. Because efficiency is lower the perceived heat efficiency penalty feels less.

I am looking forward to some better weather so I can get a good medium weather efficiency test done.

 

[frontrangeleaf]

Nice updates. Thanks, Doug!