2023 Nissan Ariya Electric SUV review // This one surprised us!

This is a Motormouth couple car review of the all-new 2023 Nissan Ariya electric SUV/crossover. There are two battery options for the Nissan Ariya EV , a 63 kWh or 87 kWh battery. FWD and e-4orce AWD with short and long range options. Depending on the model you choose you get a range of power between 214 – 389 horsepower and 221 – 442 lb-ft of torque. AWD models with the larger battery offer the most power, up to 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. FWD models with the larger battery offer the most range up to 490 km/304 miles.
We are driving the Nissan Ariya Evolve+ FWD model with an 87 kWh battery, 238 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque with up to 465 km/289 miles of range.
Here is a breakdown of some of the other models available, it’s a bit of a spreadsheet.
The Nissan Ariya Engage FWD has a 63 kWh battery, 214 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, 348 km/216 miles of range.
The Nissan Ariya Evolve (Canada) or Engage (US) e-4orce has a 63 kWh battery, 335 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, 330 km/205 miles of range.
The Nissan Ariya Venture+ FWD with a 87 kWh battery, 238 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, 490 km/304 miles of range.
Nissan Ariya Platinum+ and Premier e-4orce both with an 87 kWh battery, 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, 426 km/267 miles of range.
The Nissan Ariya EV offers 7.1” of ground clearance, a drag co-efficient of 0.30 and has a 7.2 kW on-board charger. With a DC Fast charger at speeds up to 130 kW, the Ariya will charge from 10-80% in 35 - 40 minutes depending on the battery size. With a Level 2 charger between 10.5 to 14 hours. The Ariya comes with liquid cooled battery tech, this management system means better performance in hot and cold weather plus more battery protection when using fast chargers.
In Canada, the Nissan Ariya Engage FWD model starts at $52,998, Evolve e-4orce $60,598, Venture+ FWD $59,498, Evolve+ FWD $64,998, Platinum+ e-4orce $69,198, Premier e-4orce $69,998.
In the US, Nissan Ariya Engage FWD $43,190, Engage e-4orce $47,190, Venture+ FWD $47,190, Evolve+ FWD $50,190, Engage+ e-4orce $51,190, EMpower+ FWD $53,690, Evolve+ e-4orce $54,190, Platinum+ e-4orce $60,190.

[snaLee]

I bought evolve + last week and I am enjoying the ride, charging at home & seeing all reviews & comments today.

[vickiepicky]

Hi Zack and Andrea, finally enjoyed your Ariya review! Lol took you long enough! I am now going on 3 months of happy ownership of the evolve+ in ocean blue/ light grey. Your review was on point! One thing you didn’t mention, which is my fav feature, it the rear view mirror which can switch to camera mode in evolve+ trims and higher. You get a clear view of the whole road behind you and easier on eyes when there’s bright headlights behind you at night. I keep it in camera mode all the time. I completely agree, my first impressions of the exterior in photos was tacky and unappealing, especially the piano black around the tires, but in person it has totally grown on me in all the ways you described, but also want to add that the front grill of the Ariya looks AMAZING at night, with its distinctively shaped headlights, the illuminated Nissan badge, soooo classy looking, in my opinion. I feel so lucky to be driving around town in my beautiful new car. ❤

Future review, and possible Ariya competitor: Volvo EX30?

[Me-pzby]

We quit the Tesla model Y deposit because Ariya reduced price of premium version FWD to USD 36, 000 around in China. It's a fantastic car ahead in quality material and battery 89 Kwh.

[lgrantnelson]

The owners I talked to like their Ariyas. I don't have one, because as you say they are expensive.
I consider the Leaf to be Japans answer to the German Volks Wagon Beetle, the people's car. Air cooled battery and engine. Keeps the price down. The low trim model was under $20, 000 USD. They are good starter EVs. I like mine.

[DW-sjnj]

I was waiting on an Ioniq5 Ultimate, but after seeing the Ariya at the auto show and subsequently road testing one at a dealership, I’m getting it instead. I’m picking up a Platinum+ model on Saturday.

[Antoinemalone]

Had this (in dark green) since February. My first EV and i love it. I love that its rare and not a Tesla of couese. I get compliments on it all the time and people asking my questions. I came out the gym at 2am and 2 women were just staring at it (yes i got the digits 😉) another lady followed me into the grocery store to ask me about it lol

Im not even a Nissan fan, actually got this to hold me off until the EV9 comes out because im a Kia guy but i most likely will just keep this, although i want both lol.

Also will add although the charge speed max isnt as fast as kia or tesla, the charge curve is great. Consistently stays in the 120s or at least 1 teens at least most the time. Even after 80% its in the 75-90 range.

After 90% its usually in the 50-60s.

[OFOFBORG]

Beautiful vehicle but ouch too pricey. Maybe doctors can afford it. 😉😆 Great video Andrea! 👍🏻👍🏻☕️

[RoCCo_CarmeLL]

Really nice dashboard with that integrated touch buttons 👍

[carseye]

Love it but just a pipe dream for people of modest means like me. I really would rather go electric so I wouldn't be a hypocrite on the environment. One engineer told me if so many people wouldn't be obsessed over range, they would be able to make more of the battery technology available to produce reasonably priced vehicles. Why are so many people so concerned about 300+ mile ranges when far over 99% of private auto trips are less than 1/4 of that?

[allenmyers]

I want my foot on the brakes when I am stopped. If I am rear-ended, I won't travel as far with the un-expected shove. Disagree with you about the regeneration brakes. Since taking delivery of my VW ID4, I found that I prefer them as I can bring the car to a nice even stop and get more juice into the battery in the process. By using them on a short trip the other day, I actually got up to 4.5 miles to the killowatt.

[wcg]

Good on you guys for calling out the price. It's too expensive in Canada, as are many new EVs. Adoption of EVs will grind to a halt with these prices and the latest interest rates.

[michaelsylvester]

Hello to you both,
Seems like a home run minus the price.
Great review.

[Sanpedranoazul]

That's a very attractive suv; great Review You guys 🎉🎉

[cheeezie]

Thank you for your review! I’m clearly commenting WAY after you completed the review, but looking at a lightly used CPO Ariya, and it is comforting to know that the main detractor is price, as the asking price of the model I’m looking for, with only 7k miles, is about 50% of the original MSRP. Seems that with depreciation, they could be a really high value vehicle!

[jimthompson]

In the northern U.S. States and in Canada, would testing E.V.s in January and February be more revealing of battery performance and range? Love the rear wiper which is mysteriously missing on several competitors. An interesting EV but the pricing makes your eyes water.

[leftcoaster]

Is it just me, is that a smart design on the steering wheel? Short on the bottom so you can see the instrument/screen. And its a wheel.

[jcl]

Had a Nissan Leaf for 9.5 years now and seriously considering this one. Nissan offer 3 levels of trim in Norway for this with a substantial difference between the cheapest and the most expensive ($10.000 different here in Norway). That is a lot of money for the extra bells and whistles, but those are also perhaps what brings out the best of this car too. If only the heads up display was on the Advance trim level I'd likely go with that.

[jprusso]

One thing that wasn't discussed in QC&C is the touch sensitive buttons IN WINTER.... I mean, with gloves on. Did you guys test?

[uprkwkr]

This is a nice EV but can you get one. The problem is the dealerships don't have one to test drive and the wait list is long. I was told it would take 2-3 years to obtain a Hyundai Ioniq 5

[michaels]

Very nice review. I assume, this was the "top trim" in Canada?