The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a long-awaited production model based on a battery-electric concept vehicle that first went on public display in 2019 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Nissan originally planned a U.S. launch of the crossover SUV for 2021 but postponed it until late 2022, with COVID-19 bearing some blame. Designed to compete in America's biggest single market segment—compact SUVs—the Ariya leverages the learnings Nissan has gained as one of the mainstream electric-vehicle (EV) pioneers.
While executives at other automakers were talking about EVs, Nissan was already building them and selling them to consumers. Following Elon Musk's Teslas, the Nissan Leaf first hit the American market late in 2010 as a 2011 model-year vehicle. Since then, Nissan has sold nearly 600,000 of them, making the Leaf one of the best-selling electric cars of all time. The new Nissan Ariya capitalizes on technology the automaker's been perfecting with the Leaf.
Unfortunately for Nissan, the delays in introducing the Ariya in the United States have allowed several manufacturers to get the jump on them in the battery-electric crossover space. Recent introductions of competitive models include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, Volvo C40 Recharge, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Still, the Nissan Ariya's arresting combination of style and substance bodes well for its future.
The 2023 Nissan Ariya will go on sale in the United States in late 2022. Initially, Nissan will only offer front-drive models. Later, Ariyas with Nissan's innovative e-Force (branded e4orce and pronounced "ee-force") all-wheel-drive (AWD) system will join the lineup. In addition to the choice of drive wheels, buyers can also choose between long-range and standard battery arrays.
The 2023 Nissan Ariya prices start at $43,190 for the front-drive Engage trim level. When all trims are available, the Ariya will include the front-drive Engage, Venture+, Evolve+, Empower+, and Premiere and the e-Force Engage, Engage+, Evolve+, and Platinum+. The most expensive front-drive variant, the Premiere, has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $54,690. The least costly AWD trim, the Engage e-Force, has an MSRP of $47,190. At the pinnacle of the lineup is the Platinum+ with e-Force and the larger 91-kWh battery pack. It has a suggested retail price of $60,190. All 2023 Ariyas are subject to a $1,295 destination charge.
The test vehicle for this driving impression review was a 2023 Nissan Ariya Premiere. In addition to a list of standard features as long as a giraffe's neck, Nissan also equipped it with optional 19-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint, a frameless rearview mirror with a universal garage-door opener, and floor mats. Including the destination charge, the as-tested price was $58,850. I drove and evaluated the vehicle during North American Car of the Year testing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in October 2022.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The Nissan Ariya's exterior is good-looking, but it seemed edgier when Nissan unveiled the concept vehicle of the same name way back in 2019. With tall shoulders, small side windows, and a semi-fastback rear end, the Ariya makes some functionality sacrifices in the name of style. Like several of the new EV crossovers, its overall look mixes SUV and coupe-like lines to create an attractive vehicle that is not really either one. Unlike many competitors, Nissan offers the Ariya with six two-tone color combinations featuring a black roof.
Inside, the Nissan Ariya is strikingly modern. The cabin is" minimalist chic," simple without looking cheap or unfinished. A vast expanse that protrudes slightly from the dashboard contains the instruments and infotainment screen. Nissan designers intentionally avoided using traditional switches and knobs, instead embedding controls into the display and surrounding trim. For example, the climate controls are capacitive haptic switches incorporated into the wood of the dash. They vibrate when operated, giving more feedback than the typical touchscreen.
Another innovative feature is a foldout tray that you can use to hold a laptop computer or a cheeseburger and fries, depending on your desires. A center storage area and an adjustable center console that you can program to go to a particular spot in the vehicle's memory settings accompany it. The shifter is a unique design that is intuitive and doesn't require much space.
In fact, expansive space is a major theme in the Nissan Ariya's interior. Because the Ariya sits on a dedicated EV platform, the floor is flat, and Nissan was able to shift many of the climate control components out of the cabin into the area that the engine would occupy in a conventional vehicle. The front seat area is particularly open and roomy. The standard panoramic sunroof on the Evolve+, Empower+, and Premiere trims adds light to an already pleasant and airy cabin. The interior space is wide, evidenced by ample hip and shoulder room front and rear.
The Ariya offers Nissan's Zero Gravity seats. In most trims, Nissan covers them in leatherette, and the driver's and front passenger's seats are 8-way power adjustable. The rear bench seat is split 60/40 for versatility.
The Ariya is a bit short on cargo space compared to its crossover EV competitors. It offers 22 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats. With those seats folded, it has 59.7 cubic feet of luggage space. The fastback roofline and hatch are the culprits, and many buyers might opt for the Ariya's good looks versus more cargo space. Happily, the roofline doesn't limit rear-seat headroom markedly.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
The 2023 Nissan Ariya offers an infotainment philosophy that differs from what has come to be conventional. Instead of emphasizing functions and apps accessible by touchscreen, it suggests its occupants rely more heavily on personal assistant technology. To facilitate this, it has a unique voice-recognition system that uses natural-language-understand tech and incorporates Amazon Alexa. Using commands to Alexa, occupants of the Ariya can select music, listen to audiobooks and podcasts, place telephone calls, and even control devices and systems in their homes.
The good news is that the homegrown Nissan system and Alexa don't seem to trip over each other or get into shouting matches. Of course, using voice-recognition technology helps the driver concentrate on the task of driving the vehicle without taking their eyes off the road ahead.
The Ariya's infotainment system also offers traditional apps, including wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L. Pandora offers personalized listening experiences and on-demand content. The Ariya's occupants access all this via a 12.3-inch digital display that mirrors the 12.3-inch instrumentation and driver information display. Both screens are highly legible, and the prompts and controls are intuitive. Some trims also feature a large head-up display. The Ariya is also the first Nissan model to have over-the-air firmware and software updates, automatically updating the multimedia system, electric and electronic architecture, chassis, climate controls, and EV settings.
Nissan has been one of the industry leaders in installing advanced driver assistance systems, and the 2023 Nissan Ariya has more than its share. Standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and high-beam headlight assist.
Beyond that, Nissan equips the Ariya with ProPilot Assist 2.0, the latest iteration of the Japanese automaker's highway driver-assistance tech. The new version of ProPilot Assist uses the vehicle's navigation system and additional map data to enable hands-off-the-wheel driving in certain circumstances. Drivers can use the system on both multi-lane highways and single-lane roads that match the required parameters. A driver monitoring system ensures the driver pays proper attention during hands-off driving sessions. The system not only keeps the Ariya on track in its lane at the set speed and interval, but it also facilitates automated lane changes, passes, and highway exits.
The Ariya has the first American availability of ProPilot Park. It assumes steering, acceleration, braking, and gear shift control to make parking maneuvers when activated.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
One of the key takeaways from driving the 2023 Nissan Ariya is that, compared to other crossover EVs, it feels more like a conventional gasoline-fueled vehicle. Acceleration, braking, steering, and overall handling are composed, direct, and distinctly lacking in drama. At the same time, the Ariya's driving experience is smooth and remarkably quiet.
As mentioned earlier, the test vehicle was a front-drive Premiere with a 238-horsepower AC synchronous electric motor. It had the larger of the two available battery packs—a 91-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery array. The Ariya offers about 265 miles on a full charge in that configuration. Nissan says you can quick-charge the Ariya's battery from 20-percent capacity to 80 percent in 40 minutes using a DC fast charger at 130 kW.
While many recent crossover EVs are fast in a straight line, the front-drive Ariya Premiere isn't quite as frenetic. At the same time, most of its buyers will likely appreciate its friendly demeanor and conventional feel. The suspension seems particularly well-sorted, and the Ariya doesn't suffer from the "my-this-vehicle-is-heavy" feel that some other EVs have in spirited cornering.
As mentioned earlier, in the future, Nissan will offer the e-Force twin-electric-motor AWD system. It goes beyond typical functions like allocating front and rear torque by adding independent brake control at each wheel. This helps the vehicle maximize overall cornering force while keeping a direct line through the corner. Ariya EVs with this tech will be available in 2023, perhaps as 2024 models.
The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a solid addition to the new crop of crossover EVs. Compared to its competition, it offers a more conventional driving feel, a sporty exterior, and a stunning interior filled with innovative touches. The forthcoming e-Force AWD-equipped models promise even more performance and tech.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and currently is the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, which is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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