It has been a couple of weeks since I purchased the Nissan Ariya. So far, I must admit that it is far more than I expected. Considering the little driving I do, the range is not a problem. With the HHR I generally spent at or around thirty a week for fuel. So far, I’ve spent 30 for two weeks. After a while, I think that will only decrease.

I guess much of the car could be compared to the Rogue and I’d suspect, it was the platform used as a guide. It is, in truth a crossover. The seating, even the back is spacious. Only those more than six feet would feel the need to bow a little back there. There is no tunnel so three children would easily fit back there. By the way, did I mention it has rear air that can be separately controlled. It’s a shame. One of our sons is in Texas and the other in North Carolina. Sure could have used that room when they were younger and playing ball.

The trunk is big. I could easily put three weeks of groceries in it, even back when my kids were trying to eat us out of house and home. Moreover, the rear seats fold down, which just about doubles the space.

I must say, when I need to stomp on it, it never lacks the git-up-and-go. It is odd, however, it is not accompanied by the roar. I’m still getting use to that. Also, the brakes have different feel to them. I like it more but some might need some time to get used to it.

Some of the controls still confuse me. I keep wanting to push forward on the cruise control to engage it. To engage, I need to pull back. Pushing forward only causes it to resume. Naturally, if I just started out, there was no speed to resume so it just ignores me. Other than that, the controls are simple and easy to manage, though, in some cases you might want to pull over to use them or you just might end up in a ditch while trying to figure them out. There were a few times I almost did. When the cruise control is engaged, it will follow the speed of the car in front of you to the point it will completely stop about 5 feet behind it. When the car in front resumes, then I can press resume and it will again start following.

Mostly, the nav system knows the speed limits and displays them for you on the heads up display. The more expensive version can self drive and likely has a better database of speed limits. The one I have does not account for school being in or out of session. It just assumes it is always in session. Better to err that way than the other. The heads up display also displays speed, when the cruse control is on and when it detects a vehicle in front of you.

Planning routes is easy and versatile. You give the address of where you want to go and it will give two or maybe three choices. One for distance, one for time, and one alternate. Following the navigation is simple too. There is even a mode that puts route right next to the speedometer where it is easy to see. If you prefer, you can follow the route on the large display about midway between driver and passenger. For those with passengers, it might resolve the question, “Are we almost there?”

The only noise in the car of any consequence is the air from the vents. Turn the AC off, turn the radio off, and you just might find the silence eerie, especially after driving some kind of hot rod. Yes, there is some noise. I guess some comes from the gears, quite a bit from the air rushing by, but you just won’t notice it. You will want the radio just so you will have some noise.

The key-less entry is the best I’ve seen. If I am in possession of the FOB, as for instance in my pocket, I put my finger on the right place on the door knob and it unlocks. Press again and it locks. I just can’t see it getting easier than that. If the FOB stays in your pocket, it is far less likely that you will lock yourself out. Also, the locks can be controlled from a smart phone as well as the air conditioning. It allows you to cool or warm your car while you remain in your home or office. You need not be close to the car to do it.

It does pose the question to me. Is this better for those who live in the deserts or the snowy peaks. I don’t know.

For me, there is just one serious problem. It just won’t go without being charged. As near as I can tell, most charging stations are for Teslas. With a converter, which I now have, I can use the Tesla chargers, but we’re talking a five hour charge time instead of 30 or 40 minutes with the CCAs. I would hope that there will be more charging stations in the near future. In the mean time, if I have to I can go to one of the many Tesla chargers nearby. I guess I can work on the book while waiting on the charging.

By the way, even wit the fortune I paid, if I had it to do over, I’d definitely do it again. It is not that it’s electric. It’s just that much more of a pleasure to drive.