2023 Nissan Ariya

Nissan has turned to a new EV chapter, away from the pioneering Leaf, and to the 2023 Ariya; their first all-electric crossover utility. We recently had a chance in New York to get behind the wheel.

The Ariya launches with four models, each powered by an 87 kilowatt-hour battery, but a base 63 kilowatt-hour battery will be available later. Three launch models are front wheel drive, kicking up 238 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Range will range between 285 and 300 miles depending on trim.

Range on the dual-motor all-wheel drive model drops to 265 miles. However, AWD Ariya’s boast 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. 

It uses Nissan’s e-4ORCE electronic all-wheel control, said to be a spiritual offspring of the GT-R’s ATTESA E-TS torque split system. What a name drop! But, one we like to hear. And inside the Ariya we were just as impressed.

JESSICA RAY: "The Leaf is now the brand's entry-level EV so this becomes more of an elevated EV. Maybe elevated can be synonymous with upscale because this sorta fits somewhere in-between a Nissan and an Infiniti interior-wise. You have this wood grain here on the dash that has haptic feedback and then same deal here on the console. And then you have this pretty big screen that spans the entirety of the dash. So inside definitely feels more upscale than what you would expect a Nissan to feel."

Deliveries for the 2023 Nissan Ariya begin this fall, starting around $46,000 and maxing out around $60,000 before destination fees and tax incentives. That price range makes the Ariya a real player.