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Electric vehicles (EVs) are evolving rapidly. And Nissan’s new Ariya shows just how much the Japanese automaker is learning from Tesla’s integration-first philosophy. In a recent Munro team review, we examined the Ariya’s interior, drivetrain, and packaging to see where Nissan hits the mark — and where there’s still room to grow. For engineers, EV enthusiasts, and investors, this review shows how expert teardown analysis and lean design thinking push cost-effective performance. It also highlights how cross-functional integration can further extend those gains.
Quiet Cabin, Premium Touches — With Some Trade-offs
From first impressions, the Ariya impresses with a smooth ride and an exceptionally quiet cabin — a hallmark of well-executed electric vehicle engineering. Key enablers include laminated glass on both front and rear windows, along with robust door seals to minimize wind noise. This brings the Ariya a step ahead of many Teslas, which have historically struggled with NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance.
Inside, the Ariya blends modern style with some traditional controls. Perforated Alcantara seats, copper-toned accents, and capacitive-touch controls inlaid in wood trim aim to deliver a more premium feel than Tesla’s famously minimalist interiors. The effect is stylish — though not without flaws. While visually sleek, the capacitive controls lack the crisp haptic feedback that drivers expect from high-end vehicles. Similarly, the tambour-style center console door and cupholder flaps feel plasticky, diminishing perceived quality — a noticeable shortfall for a vehicle priced close to $60,000.
For those seeking creature comforts, Nissan wisely retained tactile stalks and physical buttons for core functions. This is an area where some Tesla owners find touch-only interfaces lacking. However, storage space underwhelms: despite a deep center console, usable capacity is minimal. Clever features like a motorized sliding console and hidden upper dash cubby add flexibility but can’t entirely offset this shortcoming.
Spacious Cabin Through Smart Packaging
Perhaps the Ariya’s most impressive achievement is how roomy it feels. Though not larger than a Tesla Model Y on paper, Nissan’s clever packaging delivers exceptional foot room, abundant second-row headroom, and an airy, open interior.
A major factor? Nissan relocated the HVAC case — traditionally mounted behind the dash — to the front motor bay. This freed up space in the cabin and eliminated a key source of HVAC blower noise. As a result, the Ariya offers one of the roomiest footwells in its segment, giving drivers and passengers an unusually spacious feel for a compact SUV.
Equally important, the vehicle maintains a flat roofline well into the rear seating area, improving rear headroom — a common challenge in BEV designs where battery packs and sloping roofs often force compromises.
Electrically Excited Synchronous Motor: A Bold Move
Under the hood, Nissan’s engineering choices further reflect a “Tesla-like” push toward integration and cost efficiency. The front-wheel-drive Ariya employs a 178 kW electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) — a rare choice in the current EV market. Unlike the permanent magnet or induction motors used by most OEMs (including Tesla), Nissan’s motor features a copper-embedded rotor energized by external windings.
Why does this matter? Eliminating rare-earth magnets cuts both material costs and supply chain risk — key goals for any automaker seeking to scale EV production sustainably. This move places Nissan alongside only a few other brands (BMW iX, Renault Zoe) experimenting with EESM designs in volume production.
While the Ariya’s motor doesn’t quite match the raw performance of Tesla’s latest units, it delivers smooth, responsive acceleration — sufficient for the Ariya’s target market.
Smarter Front-End Integration
Another standout is Nissan’s clever use of space and structure in the Ariya’s front end. Rather than mounting all high-voltage modules directly onto the drive unit (as many OEMs do), Nissan spaced them apart and attached them to the body structure. This simplifies serviceability — a plus for long-term ownership — but adds complexity and labor at final assembly.
More notably, the relocated HVAC case doubles as an energy-absorbing structure in frontal impacts — an elegant example of cross-functional engineering. By using the HVAC case as a crush zone element, Nissan reduces line length for refrigerant circuits (lowering weight and cost) while enhancing crash safety. This mirrors Tesla’s habit of making every structural element perform multiple roles — an approach long championed by Munro’s lean design philosophy.
Supporting this is a super beam-style cross-car casting spanning the strut towers. This serves as both a structural stiffener and a mount for HVAC components and high-voltage modules. It echoes Tesla’s pioneering use of multifunctional castings in the Model S. And it’s a design direction now being adopted by more OEMs.
Regenerative Braking: Room for Improvement
One area where the Ariya still lags Tesla is regenerative braking. While the vehicle offers an “e-step” mode for more aggressive regen, it does not support full one-pedal driving in normal operation — a popular feature among Tesla and other EV drivers.
Our team noted that the regen system introduces a “weird tradeoff” at low speeds. As regen transitions below 10 mph, the driver must manually complete the stop, resulting in an inconsistent pedal feel. Though ProPilot 2.0 enables full stops under autonomous control, it requires driver trust — something many owners may hesitate to grant in everyday use.
One nice touch is the Ariya’s display showing when brake lights activate under regen. This small but thoughtful feature helps drivers gauge what following traffic sees and improves overall awareness.
Conclusion: A Tesla-Inspired EV That Shows Promise
Overall, the Nissan Ariya demonstrates clear progress toward Tesla-inspired integration in both packaging and cost-driven motor design. Its spacious cabin, quiet ride, and inventive front-end solutions show what’s possible when engineers think cross-functionally. The materials and feedback in the interior fall slightly short of premium expectations at this price point. Regenerative braking tuning could also be improved. Even so, the Ariya offers strong appeal for EV buyers seeking refinement without sacrificing practicality.
For automotive engineers and lean design advocates, the Ariya offers a compelling case study in how legacy OEMs are adapting Tesla’s playbook. And sometimes even improving on it. Nissan’s bold motor choice and clever crash packaging set a promising direction for future models.
Discover More with Munro’s Expert Teardowns
For more teardown insights on the Ariya and other leading EVs, explore the latest articles and reports from Munro & Associates. And subscribe to Munro Live and see how lean design is transforming electric mobility.