2023 Nissan Ariya Performance

With four different powertrain configurations, each with its own power output, the Nissan Ariya's 0-60 time depends very much on which one you choose. The base 214-hp FWD powertrain in the Engage FWD with its small battery and the 238-hp FWD powertrain in all the other slightly heavier FWD models with the big battery should post a very similar time of around 7.5 seconds, which is by no means fast, but adequate. It feels sufficiently powerful as the hearty torque delivery of the electric motor keeps it bowling along enthusiastically enough for most people. The dual-motor AWD versions are much quicker and with the 335-hp setup, the benchmark sprint should be dispatched in around six seconds. The 389-hp configuration can slash another second off of that. Top speed is limited to 103 mph. Trailering is not a strong point; only the AWD trims are certified to tow, and only 1,500 pounds at that. That e-4ORCE AWD system is mainly meant for secure traction on slippery surfaces because, with around seven inches of ground clearance, you cannot go off-road in an Ariya.

Confusingly, the base electric motor in the Nissan Ariya is not fitted to the trim with the fewest features, but to the next-one-up Engage trim. This is a front-wheel-drive single-motor setup with 214 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The other variation of the FWD powertrain produces 238 hp and the same 221 lb-ft of torque and is offered in all the other trims that can be had with FWD: Venture+, Evolve+, and Empower+. There are two dual-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive powertrains as well and the one with 335 hp and 413 lb-ft is fitted to a single trim, the Engage e-4ORCE AWD. All other e-4ORCE AWD trims (Engage+, Evolve+, and Platinum+) get an uprated dual-motor setup with 389 hp and 442 lb-ft. Finally, we have to deal with battery size, and that's quite easy; all trims with a + after their names have an 87-kWh battery, and all the trims without a + have a smaller 63-kWh battery.

The Nissan Ariya's efficiency is good in the Engage with the 214-hp FWD setup, delivering 109/94/101 MPGe on the city/highway/combined cycles. However, due to this powertrain only being available with the small 63-kWh battery, range is limited to 216 miles. With the 335-hp AWD system fitted to the Engage e-4ORCE AWD, the corresponding figures are 101/89/95 MPGe, and range drops even further to 205 miles with the small battery. All the other trims use the large 87-kWh battery. The MPGe figures of the Nissan Ariya Venture+ FWD trim is the best in the lineup at 111/95/103 MPGe, and with the large battery, a maximum range of 304 miles is possible. The Evolve+ and Empower+ FWD trims are slightly less efficient at 105/91/98 MPGe, resulting in a range of 289 miles. The most powerful 389-hp e-4ORCE AWD setup in Engage+ and Evolve+ trims return 97/86/92 MPGe for a range of 272 miles. The Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD returns 93/87/90 MPGe for a range of 267 miles, and this trim with the 20-inch wheels is the least efficient configuration with figures of 89/84/87 MPGe, for a range of 257 miles.

The maximum charging rate of 130 kW is lower than that of the competition, but it's still enough to charge the 87-kWh battery from 20-80% in 40 minutes. The Ariya is provided with a 7.2-kW onboard charger and a portable 120V trickle charger which, on all trims with the large battery, can be plugged into a 240V wall outlet without requiring a charging box.