The first boatloads of Nissan’s new ARIYA EV are finally heading our way, fresh from the Tochigi plant in Japan. They’re due to land in showrooms early September, with Nissan already taking orders online or through the dealer network.

This is Nissan’s second crack at a mass-market EV after the LEAF, which quietly set the early template for electric motoring. ARIYA pushes the story forward — sharper styling, more tech, and the promise of a drive that won’t put you to sleep before the battery runs down. Deputy marketing boss Warwick Daly calls it one of Nissan’s most exciting arrivals, which is marketing speak for “we’re hanging a lot on this car.”

Designers worked to a theme they call “Timeless Japanese Futurism” — minimalist lines, clean surfaces, and just enough muscle to stop it looking like another jellybean-shaped appliance. Senior VP Alfonso Albaisa says they wanted a “distinctive Japanese DNA” across the bodywork, cabin and interface. The result is an SUV that manages to be modern without looking like it’s been focus-grouped to death.

Ownership comes with a long-tail comfort blanket: Australia’s only 10-year, 300,000km warranty if you keep servicing at Nissan dealers, five years of fixed-price servicing, and up to a decade of roadside assistance. The battery gets its own eight-year/160,000km capacity-loss warranty, which should keep range anxiety at bay — or at least down to a dull roar.

If Nissan’s got it right, ARIYA could be the first mainstream EV here that isn’t a compromise on style, tech or driving fun. We’ll know soon enough — the first shiploads are already halfway across the Pacific.