2023 Nissan ARIYA SUV

　　

2023 Nissan Ariya Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　Nissan was one of the first carmakers to commit to electric vehicles when it introduced the Leaf way back in 2011. In the intervening decade, other automakers have entered the mix with a broader selection of EVs. Nissan was curiously slow to add new models but that finally changes with the debut of the 2023 Nissan Ariya, an all-electric SUV that definitely takes advantage of the latest EV developments.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Nissan ARIYA EV Insights

Trim:ARIYA Engage

　　Engage 4dr SUV (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $43,190 MSRPVenture+ 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $47,190 MSRPEngage e-4ORCE 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $47,190 MSRPEvolve+ 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $50,190 MSRPEngage+ e-4ORCE 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $51,190 MSRPEmpower+ 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $53,690 MSRPEvolve+ e-4ORCE 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $54,190 MSRPPremiere 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $54,690 MSRPPlatinum+ e-4ORCE 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $60,190 MSRPPlatinum+ e-4ORCE 4dr SUV AWD w/20" Wheels (electric DD) - $60,190 MSRP

　　

Range

　　216 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 184 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　10 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: Nissan Energy Perks by EVgo is a charging agreement between Nissan North America and EVgo. Customers who purchase or lease a new 2023 Nissan Ariya will receive one year of unlimited complimentary charging to access EVgo public charging stations. EVgo eXtend chargers or EVgo roaming partner chargers are not applicable for this offer. Customers must enroll within the first 90 days from the purchase or lease date. One year of complimentary charging begins upon the date of vehicle purchase or lease. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$70/mo

　　ARIYA

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The Ariya is a small five-passenger SUV that is similar to Nissan's Rogue, and that should make it popular with smaller families looking to make the leap to an EV. Range estimates start at a rather low 205 miles but crest at an impressive 304 miles. That broad variance may be helpful for different budgets and needs, but the seven trim levels with differing capabilities can be confusing, so pay close attention when selecting one for you.

　　The small electric SUV market is growing rapidly, and shoppers have plenty of choices to pick from. Top models include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4. How does the new Ariya stack up? Read our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full evaluation.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the ARIYA drive? We tested the Ariya Platinum+ with the dual-motor powertrain. At the zzdcar test track, it sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. That's certainly quick and makes passing and getting up to speed on a highway entrance ramp an easy affair. Still, the head-snapping acceleration provided by some other EVs is missing, and it seems like Nissan tuned the Ariya to provide a smooth, more progressive acceleration feel. 

　　The Ariya isn't sporty. It leans noticeably when you drive it quickly around corners and noses forward in panic-stop situations. Our test Ariya's stopping distances from 60 mph were acceptable, but the vehicle noticeably shimmied and wiggled, reducing our driver's confidence.

　　Nissan also made a strange decision with the Ariya's regenerative brakes. It has a mode that slows the car down with regenerative braking when you lift off the accelerator pedal. But unlike many other EVs, it's not a full one-pedal driving mode because the regen suddenly tapers off around 5-7 mph and keeps the SUV rolling forward. Because of this, you end up having to stop the Ariya with the brake pedal. A true one-pedal experience, even as an optional mode, would be a welcome addition.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the ARIYA? Both the front and rear seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support. We also like the Ariya's ride quality. It's smooth even on broken pavement, and there's just enough resistance in the suspension to keep the Ariya from feeling too floaty on the road. On the highway, the Ariya is also very quiet. 

　　The Ariya's climate control system cools and heats the cabin quickly, even in Eco mode. It's also neat that you can turn off different climate zones to help reduce energy use. Our one quibble is that the controls for the heating and cooling of the front seats are inconveniently located on the touchscreen rather than in easier-to-use physical buttons.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below