Nissan has just pulled the wraps off the newly refreshed 2026 Ariya and with it comes an updated design and a host of exciting new tech.
The Ariya was first revealed back in 2020 and first hit the roads in 2022 and we were big fans of its strong build quality and premium interior compared to rivals of a similar price. However, after four years on the market without an update, it’s about time Nissan showed the model some love.
The update to the Ariya is extensive and covers new looks and features inside and out. Starting with exterior styling, the new car is still recognisable as an Ariya but features an updated front end inspired by “timeless Japanese futurism”. From where we’re sitting, that just means a neater, single-piece front end with a body-coloured grille panel that blends into the bumper and wider spacing on those fang-like running lights which now replace the side air vents of the old design.
Other exterior design updates include new 19-inch wheels which combine aluminium and resin materials in a new five-spoke aerodynamic design. There’s also a new plasma green paint option available as pictured. We think it looks a bit more like a light mint than a plasma green, but it’s still a lovely hue. There’s also a range of monotone and two-tone colour schemes to choose from.
On the inside, there’s a revised centre console with a larger 3.2-litre storage compartment and an added 15W wireless charging pad. Above the centre console, the screens are equipped with the latest version of NissanConnect, which now has Google built-in as standard. That means Google Maps will help you plan your route, factoring in available chargers if a top-up is needed, and planning where the best stop is on your journey. It’ll even tell you how much battery charge you’ll have left when you get to your destination - just as it does in the Renault, Volvo and Polestar models that also use Google for their native systems.
Speaking of charging, there’s new automatic battery preconditioning that, thanks to Google, will know when you’re en route to a charging station and optimise the battery so you can juice up as quickly as possible on arrival.
There’s also now standard Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) support! V2L supports charging up to 3kW and is accessed through a dedicated external adaptor. Otherwise, charging capabilities remain the same as the old Ariya, with 130kW of rapid charging and 11kW of AC charging.
Last on the list of updates is enhanced ride comfort. There’s revised suspension tuning that hopes to provide better stability, reduced vibrations and a smoother ride. There are also enhanced advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the form of an updated Nissan ProPILOT system which promises improved response times and smoother acceleration and braking in slow traffic.
The new and improved Nissan Ariya will be available to order from June 2026 and will start at £37,000 for the entry level 53kWh Engage+ trim and £43,425 for the 87kWh Advance trim. The Engage+ trim should also qualify for the UK government’s electric car grant scheme, although that’s yet to be officially confirmed.
