Which is cheaper, the Smart #1 or the Nissan Ariya?

The Smart #1 is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $54,900 versus $55,840 for the Nissan Ariya, a $940 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.

Which has the longer driving range?

The Nissan Ariya has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 504 km, 84 km further than the Smart #1's 420 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.

Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?

The Smart #1 accepts a peak DC charging rate of 150 kW versus 130 kW for the Nissan Ariya. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.

Which is quicker off the line?

The Smart #1 does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds — 1.4 s quicker than the Nissan Ariya's 8.1 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.

Which has the longer warranty?

The Nissan Ariya is covered by a 10-year vehicle warranty, versus 5 years for the Smart #1. Both also carry separate high-voltage battery warranties — check the manufacturer's site for the latest kilometre and condition limits.

Head-to-head

Smart #1 vs Nissan Ariya

Just $940 separates the Smart #1 and Nissan Ariya on starting price, but the Nissan Ariya goes 84 km further on a charge. Here's where the rest of the spec sheets pull apart.

Option A · SUV

Smart #1

Smart returned to Australia under Geely ownership — the #1 is a small electric SUV (despite the city-car Smart heritage). Built in Geely's Xi'an factory in China.

From: $54,900
Range: 420 km
Battery: 66 kWh

Option B · SUV

Nissan Ariya

Nissan's electric mid-size SUV — finally in Australia after a long wait, with the longest factory warranty of any EV on sale: 10 years / 300,000 km on both vehicle and battery.

From: $55,840
Range: 504 km
Battery: 87 kWh

Key differences at a glance

The biggest material gaps between the Smart #1 and Nissan Ariya, ranked by how much they're likely to matter day-to-day.

1

Range · advantage Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya goes 84 km further on a charge (504 vs 420 km WLTP).
2

Battery · advantage Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya carries a 21.0 kWh larger battery (87 vs 66 kWh).
3

Warranty · advantage Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya covers the vehicle for 5 more years (10 vs 5 yrs).
4

Power · advantage Smart #1

The Smart #1 puts down 40 kW more (200 vs 160 kW).
5

DC charging · advantage Smart #1

The Smart #1 accepts 20 kW more DC peak charging (150 vs 130 kW), meaning shorter road-trip stops.

Spec for spec

Highlighted cells show the better number in each row.

Spec

Smart #1

Nissan Ariya

Price from

$54,900

$55,840

Range (WLTP)

420 km

504 km

Battery capacity

66 kWh

87 kWh

Motor power

200 kW

160 kW

Torque

343 Nm

300 Nm

0–100 km/h

6.7 s

8.1 s

Efficiency

—

DC fast charging

150 kW

130 kW

Boot

400 L

466 L

ANCAP

—

5★

Vehicle warranty

5 yrs

10 yrs

Where the Smart #1 wins

▸ Cheaper by $940
▸ Quicker 0–100 km/h (6.7s vs 8.1s)
▸ Faster DC charging peak (150 kW vs 130 kW)

Where the Nissan Ariya wins

▸ 84 km longer WLTP range
▸ Longer warranty (10 years)

Smart #1

What we like

✓ Distinctive Smart-branded design
✓ Strong performance from the Pro+ RWD variant
✓ 150 kW DC charging keeps it road-trip viable

What we don't

✕ Smart dealer network is brand-new in Australia
✕ ANCAP not yet rated locally
✕ China origin (under Geely, not Daimler)

Nissan Ariya

What we like

✓ Class-leading 10-year / 300,000 km warranty (best in Australia)
✓ Fresh 2025 ANCAP 5-star rating
✓ Class-leading 22 kW three-phase AC charging

What we don't

✕ Modest 0-100 for the price (8.1s)
✕ Pricing climbs sharply for AWD e-4ORCE variants
✕ Late to market — competitors have evolved further

Frequently asked: Smart #1 vs Nissan Ariya

Quick answers to the questions cross-shoppers most often ask about this pair.

Which is cheaper, the Smart #1 or the Nissan Ariya?: The Smart #1 is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $54,900 versus $55,840 for the Nissan Ariya, a $940 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.
Which has the longer driving range?: The Nissan Ariya has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 504 km, 84 km further than the Smart #1's 420 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.
Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?: The Smart #1 accepts a peak DC charging rate of 150 kW versus 130 kW for the Nissan Ariya. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.
Which is quicker off the line?: The Smart #1 does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds — 1.4 s quicker than the Nissan Ariya's 8.1 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.
Which has the longer warranty?: The Nissan Ariya is covered by a 10-year vehicle warranty, versus 5 years for the Smart #1. Both also carry separate high-voltage battery warranties — check the manufacturer's site for the latest kilometre and condition limits.

Which one should you buy?

The short version, based on where each car pulls ahead.

Choose the

Smart #1

if…

✓ you want quicker acceleration off the line
✓ you match the profile: design-led city buyers

See the Smart #1 →

Choose the

Nissan Ariya

if…

✓ maximum range matters (84 km further per charge)
✓ peace-of-mind warranty matters (5 more years of cover)
✓ you match the profile: warranty-focused buyers

See the Nissan Ariya →

Verdict reasoning is derived from published specs; brand preference, dealer experience and how a car drives are personal — always take a test drive before deciding.