All-New Premium Electric SUV
The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world, but this sturdy compact sedan/hatchback no longer leads the electric way as it did a decade ago, taking a backseat to many newer, more powerful and longer-range range EVs. To try to muscle into the new wave of EVs, Nissan opened reservations on November 17 for the all-new, all-electric 2023 Nissan Ariya ($500, fully refundable). This sharp-looking compact SUV will come in four trim levels with deliveries beginning in Fall 2022.
Choices: FWD (One) or AWD (Two Motors)
The 2023 Nissan Ariya will provide shoppers with four options, tailored to meet their driving needs.
Ariya Venture+
- 300-mile driving range
- Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), single motor
- 87 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery
- 238 horsepower (HP)
- 221 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) torque
- 7.2 kilowatt (kW) onboard charger
- $47,125 including the $1,175 destination charge
Ariya Evolve+
- 285-mile driving range
- FWD, single motor
- 87 kWh Li-Ion battery
- 238 hp
- 221 lb.-ft. torque
- 7.2 kW onboard charger
- $50,125 including the $1,175 destination charge
Ariya Premiere
- 285-mile driving range
- FWD, Single motor
- 87 kWh Li-Ion battery
- 238 hp
- 221 lb.-ft. torque
- 7.2 kW onboard charger
- $54,625 including the $1,175 destination charge
Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD
- 265-mile driving range
- All-Wheel Drive, dual motors
- 87 kWh Li-Ion battery
- 389 hp
- 442 lb.-ft. torque
- 7.2 kW onboard charger
- $60,125 including the $1,175 destination charge
Decoding these four models comes down to FWD or AWD, and the driving range. Between the three FWD models, the range is insignificant, so buyers will go with which trim line gives them their most desired features. Jumping to the Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD will produce more power, traction and better handling, but also the lowest range of the four. Clean Fleet Report has found, after driving many electric vehicles for thousands of miles, the way an electric vehicle is driven is the main factor affecting range. If the top-of-the-line Ariya is in your budget, definitely give it a look.
Technology and Charging
Nissan has been one of the leaders in the development of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS). At one point cruise control seemed advanced, but no more. In 2018 Nissan debuted ProPilot Assist, but the 2023 Ariya will come with the newest version of ProPilot Assist 2.0, which Nissan has stressed is not “autopilot,” but does allow hands to be off the wheel under certain situations for limited amounts of time to help reduce driver stress.
Charging is through three plug-in options as well as regenerative braking. As an incentive, the first 10,000 reservations made before January 31, 2022, will receive two free years of membership to the EVgo charge network and $500 in charging credit. Nissan estimates this should be about 5,000 miles of driving range.
Ariya Design
The Ariya looks like no other Nissan before it, with the smooth rounded front end having a nice LED lighting treatment, which includes the logo being lit. The rear features the roof blending cleanly to the power liftgate, ending with narrow LED tail lights connected by a thin light strip. It looks very aerodynamic and slippery through the wind.
The interior features leather surfaces in the upper trim levels, and Nissan’s Zero Gravity power front seats. Three can fit in the rear seat with ample leg and head room. The 12.3-inch horizontal color touchscreen houses the navigation and AM/FM/SiriusXM. NissanConnect allows for connection to a concierge, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice integration and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Observations: 2023 Nissan Ariya
The 2023 Nissan Ariya is competitively priced for electric SUVs getting 250+ miles of driving range. Top competitors will be the Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID4, Toyota BZ4X, Subaru Solterra and the Tesla Model Y. Plus many more that are getting ready to come to market in the next two or three years. This is an exciting time for consumers wanting to go electric.
With the base 2023 Ariya Venture+ coming in at under $40,000 after tax credits, having a 300-mile driving range makes it very compelling for EV shoppers. The question is will they wait a full year before getting their Ariya? Come back to Clean Fleet Report for a full road test review sometime mid-2022 as we look forward to driving the Ariya and testing its performance, handling, technology and range.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Nissan.
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