2024 Nissan Ariya Expert Review
Reviewed by Bob Hernandez
More than a decade after Nissan planted its all-electric flag with the Leaf hatchback, it follows up with the wider-appealing Ariya. The SUV is another step in the carmaker's goal of having more than 40 percent of its U.S. vehicle sales be fully electric by the end of the decade. Electric crossover competitors include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID4 .
Nissan still sells the Leaf, too!Read about its original all-electric hatchback here.
What's New
The Ariya SUV is Nissan's second all-electric offering and debuted for 2023. Since it's so new, we're not surprised that the 2024 model carries over mostly unchanged. But there is one update: Prices have decreased across all trims in the lineup.
What We Think
We give the Ariya points for a spacious, practical cabin that comes with premium-feeling materials, dual big screens, and a flat floor. The front seats are cushy and there's plenty of space in the second row, although the floor is raised somewhat due to the SUV's battery. Cargo space is good, but a frunk would be nice. Neat features like the Ariya's power-operated stash drawer built into the dash and the power-sliding center console probably need a rethink.
Driving one could be more exciting, too. Although they offer enough passing power and good torque, both the FWD and e-4orce AWD models were slower to 60 mph than most of their rivals (the AWD doesn't wake up until the high end for the sprint to the quarter mile). It rides and steers reasonably well, with a quick turn in, but there's a fair amount of body motion over potholes and expansion joints in the Ariya FWD. Neither is a numbers car, and we had to turn off nannies for the AWD model to be fun to drive.
Furthermore, there's no one-pedal driving. The brake pedal feels mushy, and the Ariya has an E-Step mode that moves the pedal relative to the vehicle's level of deceleration, but luckily it can be disabled. On the plus side, our favorite feature of the Ariya is its ProPilot Assist hands-free driving technology, which is smarter than ever. As we have intimated about the Leaf in the past, though, the Ariya might be too average for its own good, especially when so many other compelling electric SUVs exist at its price point.
Performance, Range, and Charging
The Ariya is available in single-motor FWD and dual-motor "e-4orce" AWD configurations. Both lineups begin with the Engage model, which comes standard with the smaller battery. The Engage FWD can produce up to 214 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque while the Engage AWD can make up to 335 hp and 413 lb-ft.
Models with the bigger battery come with a "+" in their name. They also generally have stronger motors. The big-battery Ariya FWD makes 238 hp, while the AWD is rated at 389 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. As you'd expect, the dual motor is significantly quicker than the single, needing just 5.0 seconds to launch to 60 mph, 2.5 seconds less than the FWD.
Batteries come in 63-kWh and 87-kWh capacities. On a fast charger, power peaks at a relatively low 130 kilowatts and the Ariya Engage can recover up to 80 percent charge in approximately 35 minutes (it's about five minutes longer for the big battery models). Ariya FWD models with the bigger battery return the greatest range on a full charge—EPA-rated between 289 and 304 miles—while the Engage AWD with the small battery has the shortest range, 205 miles.
Ariya NISMO in the U.S.? Make It Happen, Nissan.
Nissan sells sportier NISMO versions of the Z and GT-R here in the states, but in Japan, the company also sells an Ariya NISMO. It notably boasts higher horsepower from e-4orce AWD trims. Models with the smaller battery see an increase of 27 hp to 362 hp, while models with the larger battery have an output of 413 hp, a 24-hp increase.
In addition to the power increase, the Ariya NISMO features model-specific aero, seats, and retuned suspension. It rides on distinct 20-inch wheels shod in 255/45R20 tires from the factory—a tire with both a wider tread and shorter shoulder than the Ariya's standard 235/55R19. Fingers are crossed Nissan decides to bring it here.
Safety Ratings and Features
The 2024 Ariya is a 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the agency's highest rating. The FWD version also receives NHTSA's highest distinction, a five-star overall safety rating, but the AWD has not been completely evaluated.
Every Ariya gets standard front and rear automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, automatic headlights with automatic high-beams, and lane keeping. ProPilot Assist 2.0 and ProPilot Park are unlocked on high trim levels.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The 2024 Ariya seats five and front legroom compares favorably to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID4. Cargo capacity isn't as generous as some rivals but there's still more max space than the Ioniq 5.
Technology
Every Ariya features a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12.3-inch gauge cluster display, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay but wired Android Auto. A head-up display, ambient lighting, and speed-sensitive volume control are also standard, and the base model comes with six speakers. Wireless charging, 10-speaker Bose audio, and a 360-degree camera are unlocked on higher trim levels.
Prices and Trims
The base Engage FWD model starts at $40,980, a decrease of more than $3,500 compared to a year ago. At the top of the lineup sits the Platinum+ AWD at $55,580, almost $6,000 less expensive than before.
2024 Nissan Ariya Trims:
- Engage FWD: $40,980
- Venture+ FWD: $42,580
- Evolve+ FWD: $45,580
- Empower+ FWD: $49,080
- Engage AWD: $44,980
- Engage+ AWD: $46,580
- Evolve+ AWD: $49,580
- Platinum+ AWD: $55,580
