Ariya

Make
Nissan
Segment
SUV

Revealed way back in 2020, the 2023 Nissan Ariya is an electric car that many shoppers may have already forgotten about. It was supposed to arrive in mid-2021 but has been delayed repeatedly. Nissan even stopped taking orders for the car in the US. But, after a lengthy wait, the Ariya is finally set to arrive in late fall 2022, and Nissan just revealed official pricing for the 2023 model year.

The Ariya will come with front-wheel drive or optional e-4ORCE all-wheel drive, but only the former will be available at launch. Nissan's trim levels for this model are vastly different from the company's other vehicles, so there's a bit to dissect here. Firstly, the trims will be broken down as Engage, Venture+, Evolve+, Empower+, and Premiere, with the Engage also getting a + version in conjunction with AWD while the Venture+, Empower+, and Premiere are FWD only.

Pricing for the base Engage FWD with the smallest 63 kWh battery starts at $43,190. Because of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Japan-built Ariya no longer qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The base Ariya produces 214 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque with a 216-mile driving range. By comparison, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 now starts at $37,495 with a bit less power and 208 miles of range. Nissan will also offer an Engage e-4ORCE model for $47,190, but there is no information about its output or range. However, AWD models will have up to 389 hp, depending on the trim.

For the same price as the Engage with AWD, the Venture+ FWD gets a larger 87 kWh battery that boosts the range up to 304 miles, the longest of any Ariya trim level. The larger battery also ups the output to 238 hp, while torque remains the same. Nissan will not offer the Venture+ with e-4ORCE. Buyers who reserved this trim ahead of time will get it for $45,950.

The other FWD trims include the Evolve+ for $50,190 and the Empower+ for $53,690. These two see a range drop down to 289, likely because of larger wheels and more features adding weight.

Buyers who want more performance should opt for the dual-motor e-FORCE models with the larger battery. Available in three trim levels, this configuration produces 389 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Engage+ e-4ORCE starts at $51,190, the Evolve+ e-4ORCE is $54,190, and the range-topping Platinum+ e-4ORCE is $60,190. As with the Engage e-4ORCE, official ranges are not available for these trims but are estimated at around 265 miles.

All Ariya trim levels come standard with ProPILOT Assist hands-on driver assistance technology, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster display, and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen. ProPILOT Assist 2.0 is also available, allowing drivers to take their hands off the wheel in certain driving conditions.

CarBuzz will have a chance to drive the Ariya next month, but based on the specs alone, this looks like an EV that would have been more impressive if it was released in 2020. Long delays, high pricing, and a mediocre 130 kW charge speed could make this a tough sell in 2022 against rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.