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The Nissan Ariya is crowned 2022 Auto Express Car of the Year

Sister title Auto Express has awarded the Nissan Ariya its top award for 2022

nissan ariya

The all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV has won Auto Express Car of the Year 2022, as well as the title of best Mid-size Company Car from our sister title. The Ariya is Nissan’s second mainstream EV model following on from the Leaf hatchback; on sale now, the Ariya is priced from £42,790.

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When Carbuyer tested the Ariya, we scored it an impressive 4.2 out of five stars, and described it as “one of the most well-rounded electric SUVs on sale.” We were also impressed with its interior, confirming it as the brand’s “most convincing attempt yet at a more premium offering” and adding: “the Ariya’s cabin feels much more special than what you’d find in rivals from VW and Toyota.”

The Ariya certainly isn’t short of rivals, following a push to create family-friendly electric SUVs. These include models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq iV, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Toyota bZ4x. 

The Nissan is available with a 63kWh or 87kWh battery, extending its range from 250 miles in the standard version to 310 miles; the bigger battery does command a premium, though. All versions can charge at speeds of up to 130kW, for a 20-80% top-up in around 30 minutes – useful if you plan on going further afield.

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Nissan’s latest model is also practical for families. Its battery is a third thinner than the cells fitted in the Leaf, allowing the designers to improve passenger and cargo space. The Ariya also gets a novel sliding centre console that can be moved at the press of a button, to improve rear foot space, or to serve as a handy table – perhaps while using a public chargepoint. Its 466 litre boot should also serve most owners well, although the Enyaq iV is more practical still.

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Other notable Auto Express Car of the Year 2022 award winners include the Fiat 500 in the City Car class, while the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric was named Best Company Car. British cars took a handful of top spots, including the Land Rover Defender in the Best Large Premium SUV category and the MINI scooping the Best Convertible award. Read on below for a full list of the winners…

City Car of the Year  – Fiat 500

Supermini of the Year  – Renault Clio

Family Car of the Year – Dacia Jogger

Estate Car of the Year – Skoda Octavia Estate

Small Company Car of the Year – Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric

Mid-size Company Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya

Large Company Car of the Year – BMW 5 Series

Small SUV of the Year – Kia Niro

Mid-size SUV of the Year – Hyundai Tucson

Large SUV of the Year – Skoda Kodiaq

Small Premium SUV of the Year Mercedes GLA

Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year  – Lexus NX

Large Premium SUV of the Year – Land Rover Defender

Luxury Car of the Year Range Rover

Hot Hatch of the Year – Hyundai i20 N

Coupé of the Year – BMW 2 Series

Convertible of the Year – MINI Convertible

Performance Car of the Year – Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS

Affordable Electric Car of the Year – MG ZS EV

Premium Electric Car of the Year – BMW i4

Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year – Toyota Yaris

Premium Hybrid Car of the Year – Mercedes C 300 e

Pick-up of the Year – Ford Ranger    

Electric Van of the Year – Ford E-Transit

Van of the Year – Fiat Ducato

Technology Award – Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX

The Auto Express New Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya

 

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Andy is Carbuyer's managing editor, with more than a decade of experience helping consumers find their perfect car. He has an MA in automotive journalism and has tested hundreds of vehicles.

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