2023 Nissan Ariya Platinum+: Test Drive

2023 Nissan Ariya Platinum+

Class: Compact Crossover

Color: Passion Red Tricoat with Black Diamond Pearl roof

Miles driven: 138

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	A
Power and Performance	B+
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	A
Value	B

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	389-horsepower
Engine Type	Electric motors
Transmission	Automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Battery capacity: 87.0 kWh

EPA-estimate MPGe: 89 city/84 hwy/87 combined

EPA-estimated driving range: 267 miles

Consumer Guide range estimate (ideal conditions): 300 miles

Snow Performance: N/A

Base price: $60,190 (not including $1335 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($995), floor mats ($250)

Price as tested: $62,770

Quick Hits

The great: Modern cabin, overall refinement, plenty of power

The good: Ride comfort, roominess, decent battery range

The not so good: Pricey in top-line Platinum+ trim

Tom Appel:

Seems like we’ve been waiting for the Ariya forever. Officially unveiled at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Nissan Ariya would be the Japanese maker’s second all-electric U.S. model, following the well-established Leaf small hatchback.

But COVID-19-realated supply-chain issues pushed back the compact electric crossover’s launch, and only now are examples rolling into U.S. dealerships. Nissan really needs the Ariya to make a splash, as the Leaf, though a pioneering effort, hasn’t really moved the needle in terms of establishing the brand as an EV leader.

Introduced way back in 2011, the Leaf seemed to give Nissan a leg up in the EV sales and development race, but the company never did all that much with the car. A shame, really, as the Leaf was/is a fundamentally solid little electric ride.

The Ariya is an entirely different animal than the Leaf, however. The Ariya is a compact crossover, has legit room for four adults, and promises much greater electric range than the Leaf. And, subjectively speaking, the Ariya is also much better looking.

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New for the 2023 model year—though 2024 examples are already rolling out of the factory—the Ariya takes aim squarely on the well-regarded Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. And, we might add, makes a pretty compelling case for itself.

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For 2023 and 2024, the Nissan Ariya is offered in a dizzying array of 10 trim levels, ranging in price from just under $47,000 to just under $62,000. Instead of listing all the trim levels here, we’ll just say that Nissan hit every price point between those bookends.

What matters is that the Ariya is available with front- or AWD, and either a 63-kWh or 87-kWh battery. EPA range estimates run from just 216 miles for a small-battery/4WD Ariya, to 304 miles for a big-battery/front-drive example. Wheel size and trim level also play a role is range estimates.

Compared to Nissan’s very-popular Rogue compact crossover, the Ariya rides on a 3-inch longer wheelbase, but is no longer overall. The net effect of that stretch is even more rear-seat legroom, which makes the Ariya especially accommodating for taller 2^nd-row passengers.

Consumer Guide recent spent a week behind the wheel of a topline Platinum+ which came to $62,770 including destination charge. The Platinum+ comes standard with Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist 2.0 semi-autonomous driving system, and Nissan’s branded e-4ORCE AWD.

The only options on our test car were the “Super Premium” two-tone paint (Passion Red Tricoat/Black Diamond Pearl) ($995), and floor mats ($250). Otherwise, our Ariya was as fully loaded as an Ariya can be built.

Entering the Ariya is easy enough, thanks to a reasonable ride height and wide-opening doors. Front-seat person space rivals that of midsize crossovers, and outward visibility is generally excellent in all directions.

Unlike the Rogue, which employs a separate instrument panel and touchscreen, the Ariya features a contiguous panel which includes both the IP and touchscreen; the look is clean and simple.

That cabin itself is very nicely appointed, with classy-looking materials and thoughtfully applied bright pieces lining the interior. In Premium+ trim, the Ariya would easily pass for an Infiniti product, given a different grille and badges.

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The Rogue also impresses underway, with plenty of power, and premium-quality ride and handling balance. Front-drive Ariyas employ a single electric motor rated at 214 horsepower. Models with AWD boast two motors for a combined 389 horsepower; that’s 188 horsepower more than the Rogue.

As do many electric vehicles, the Ariya serves up immediate power, and easily handles urban commuting chores such as pulling away from a light and last-second lane changes. There’s also an abundance of highway passing and merging muscle.

Those looking for it may notice some extra rebound when driving over larger road imperfections. We suspect the weight of the battery is the issue here. That said, overall ride quality is excellent, as is handling. Additionally, the cabin is impressively quiet, with little wind or road noise to interrupt conversations at highway speed.

Thanks to its larger standard wheels, our test Platinum+ is EPA rate to travel 267 miles on a full charge. During our mild-temperature summer evaluation, vehicle-reported range estimates averaged around 300 miles, and our real-world testing supported those figures.

If any EV comes across as friendly and welcoming, it’s the Ariya. It’s styling—inside and out—is more approachable than that of the Ioniq 5 or EV6, and it offers similar range and performance. The Ariya does not charge as quickly however, with a limit of 130 kW, well below the 350 kw rate the aforementioned Korean EVs boast. Though this gap seems large, this will only matter at public fast-charging station that support charging at that level.

That said, there’s an awful lot to like here. We recommend having a look at less-expensive versions of the Aryia to see if they fit your needs. While we are big fans of Nissan’s newest EV, we expect we’d be just as happy with a trim level that comes in under $60,000. But going full-lux is fine too, if it fits the budget.

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Unlike the aforementioned Ioniq5 and EV6, the Ariya is less sporty in character, but still feels athletic, and also takes less warming up to. If you’ve spent time with a Rogue, or any other Nissan of recent vintage, you will find the Aryia both familiar and welcoming. And, when you’re making a transition as significant as the move from gas power to electricity, that friendly feel goes a long way.

Note: For those who might think to ask, the Ariya employs the popular CCS connector for level-3 fast charging, not the discontinued CHAdeMO connector employed on the leaf.

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