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New Nissan Ariya vs used Audi Q4 e-tron
The new Nissan Ariya may have sci-fi style, but for similar money, a lightly used Audi Q4 e-tron also looks very tempting. So, which is the better buy?...
The contenders
NEW Nissan Ariya 63kWh Advance
List price £43,845
Target Price £43,407
Nissan's first electric SUV aims to shake up a hotly contested class
USED Audi Q4 e-tron 40 S line
Price new £47,090
Price today £45,000*
Does a used Q4 e-tron justify its small premium over our new car rival?
*Price today is based on a 2021 model with average mileage and a full service history and is correct at the time of writing
Electricity and the SUV are the automotive equivalent of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, combining to make an extremely popular power couple. And the Nissan Ariya is one of the latest electric SUVs to rock up on the scene.
It's the brand's follow-up to the Nissan Leaf hatchback, a car that did a lot to promote electric mobility for the masses. But, if anything, the Ariya is even more tempting, thanks to its more fashionable body shape.
Then again, the idea of having an Audi Q4 e-tron on your drive is also seriously appealing. And if you go for a year-old example, it will cost you only slightly more than a new Ariya.
So, should you hitch your wagon to Nissan's latest creation, or does the car with the Audi badge live up to its premium billing?
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
If you've watched a Tesla drag race or two on YouTube, you'll know that some electric cars deliver blistering acceleration. It isn't always the case, though, with the Ariya and Q4 providing satisfyingly nippy rather than jaw-dropping pace.
If you're after a more significant difference, you need only look towards range, because the Q4 will travel much farther on a single charge: 308 miles in official tests, compared with the Ariya's 250-mile effort.
Our used Q4 had the optional adaptive suspension fitted to it from new, and in Comfort mode the ride is very impressive. It remains settled and comfortable even over rougher sections of road.
The Ariya features no such suspension wizardry. It still softens impacts around town pretty well, although it has a busier ride at higher speeds, subjecting occupants to a gentle but noticeable pogo effect.
Both cars shield you from wind and tyre noise fairly well, but it's the Q4 that's slightly quieter at motorway speeds.
And while both cars contain body lean fairly well through corners, the Q4 grips harder and has more precise steering. That said, the Kia EV6 is more agile again.
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