Nissan was the first automaker to develop and distribute a mass market electric car, the Nissan Leaf. At the time, it was revolutionary. However, over a decade later, they’ve fallen behind in the EV vehicle race, with only one redesign of the Leaf since and no other new EVs in the US market. That’s all changing with the new Nissan Ariya. Instead of a small hatchback, the Ariya takes on a much more popular crossover form factor and provides a much more premium experience all the way around. Equipped with up to 300 miles of range and Nissan’s new “e-4ORCE” AWD system, the Ariya looks to be a major improvement in Nissan’s EV offerings and indicates a shift in the market that Nissan is targeting.

The Ariya is decidedly premium and upmarket, from the elegant styling to the interior trimmings to the availability of the ProPilot 2.0, Nissan’s new semi autonomous driving system. It showcases a new design language for Nissan, with a minimalist layout and unique interior trim pieces. Available with two different battery sizes and the choice of FWD or AWD, the Ariya follows the trend of most of the crossover EVs becoming available. Signaling a shift in Nissan’s outlook, the Ariya will utilize the CCS charging standard, replacing the CHAdeMO standard used in the Leaf. This likely signals the end of the use of CHAdeMO in the US, as Nissan was the only major automaker to ever utilize the standard.