2023 Nissan Ariya Review: Luxury, Without The (High) Premium

Nissan wants more than 40% of its car sales in the USA to be electric by 2030, but for the longest while, the long-serving Leaf was the only EV in the stable. Nissan was an EV pioneer, with the Leaf appearing well over a decade ago, so the fact that you're only now reading a review of the Nissan Ariya - Nissan's second EV - could be construed by some as catching the Japanese automaker napping at the wheel. Does this mean it needs to play catch-up at a time when almost all of its rivals have had a lineup of EVs on sale for a while? Possibly not too much.

While the Leaf is a sub-$30k entry-level EV, the starting price of the new Nissan Ariya is over $43,000, which pits it against formidable rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Outputs vary from 214 hp to 389 hp, and there are FWD and AWD options available, so the Ariya certainly offers you choice. Still, range and charging speed do not lead the class. The 2023 Ariya has other talents, and Nissan is hoping they'll help you overlooks its flaws.

What's the Price of the 2023 Nissan Ariya?

The MSRP of the Nissan Ariya Engage FWD with the 63-kWh battery is $43,190, while the Engage e-4ORCE AWD with the same battery will cost you $47,190, exactly the same price as the 2023 Nissan Ariya Venture+ FWD with the 87-kWh battery. All the subsequent trims get the large battery, starting with the Evolve+ FWD at $50,190 and the Engage+ e-4ORCE AWD at $51,190. The Empower+ FWD costs $53,690, and the Evolve+ e-4ORCE AWD will set you back $54,190. The top trim is the Platinum+ e-4ORCE at $60,190. None of these prices include extras or the $1,335 destination fee.

2023 Nissan Ariya Handling and Driving Impressions

If you want a sporty drive, you're better off with competitors such as a Mach-E or Ioniq 5. The new Nissan Ariya crossover gets around corners but with minimal enthusiasm, leaving you to equate it with the adjectives 'composed' and 'stable.' The upside is excellent ride quality, and the Ariya was clearly made for comfort over handling, soaking up small and large bumps alike in eery silence. The single-motor powertrain is adequately brisk but not fast, but the dual-motor setup brings some real performance, although it feels a little strange at first with none of the neck-snapping acceleration we've become used to from other EVs when you floor it. Nissan has mapped the tip-in conservatively to favor a smooth application of power, not a sudden one. Not everyone will like this feeling which is a little laggy - precisely something an EV shouldn't be. The e-Step feature is also a bit odd and not true one-pedal driving, as it slows the car without ever fully bringing it to a stop unless you apply the brakes.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Nissan Ariya A Good SUV?

The Ariya is a perfectly good EV and if you're a Nissan enthusiast or trading up from a Leaf, you'll love its regal solidity, excellent ride comfort, upmarket cabin, and interior space. However, it doesn't lead the class in any particular discipline and it doesn't impart the sense of purposeful sportiness some EVs do. For daily family duty, the space and comfort will be right on the money though, as will be the focus on safety, where the Ariya ranks highly. It might not be a class leader and seems to lack a specific USP, but it's an excellent, competent effort. We don't see it giving the EV6 or Ioniq 5 sleepless nights, though.

What 2023 Nissan Ariya Model Should I Buy?

The Engage FWD has a $4k price advantage over the Venture+ FWD, but the latter is the better buy. That money goes to the larger battery pack to provide a range of more than 300 miles, which is a competitive figure in this class. For the same price, the 335-hp Engage e-4ORCE looks very tempting indeed, but with its small battery, it maxes out at a below-par range of 205 miles, and we feel that 100-mile range penalty is too big a price to pay for the extra power. The Venture+ FWD is not fast, but it's responsive enough and rarely feels inadequate. Specs are good too, but it loses a few items the Engage has, so to get your big battery and a decent spec that even includes a panoramic moonroof, surround-view monitor, and wireless charging, you'll have to stretch to the $50k Evolve+ FWD if the budget allows and if you don't mind a 15-mile range penalty.