Nissan Ariya Review

Kama’aina Nissan was gracious and lent Big Island EV Association one of their brand new 2023 Nissan Ariya’s for a brief test drive. Nissan has been teasing the Ariya for many years, and many folks have been patiently waiting for this unique model to hit the market. Competition is heating up in this space, but I believe Nissan has created a winner with this vehicle.

The Ariya is a near-mainstream option for modern families, offering competitive size and battery options, vast comfort, and a great feature set. In this review, I will be most focused on the features of this car. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t also offer some comparisons to vehicles in its class. These vehicles include the aging Tesla Model Y, the Volkswagen ID4, Ford Mustang MachE, the brand new Subaru Solterra/Toyota BZ4X twins, and the hot Hyundai Ioniq 5/Kia EV6 twins. I include these vehicles because they all offer AWD, and all are smallish (compact) SUVs. Even though the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Kia Niro EV offer a similar size, most would not confuse these vehicles with SUVs, and neither offer AWD. Nissan is joining a crowded field here, with quite a few rivals that didn't exist when Nissan began designing the Ariya.

Here on the Big Island, the choices and selection are limited, but I think the Ariya should do well. Kamaaina Nissan’s position in the community and, specifically, the dealership support for this competent vehicle will help them sell as many as they can bring in. They have been servicing the LEAF for over a decade now, making it one of the most experienced dealerships servicing EVs on the Big Island. I have to admit I was skeptical of their dedication, and Nissan’s as well, because the long-delayed Ariya should’ve entered the market many years ago. Nissan launched the second-gen LEAF way back in 2017 (for 2018) and has taken six long years to develop and launch their 2nd EV. But the Ariya is here now, and in a way, I’m glad they took the time to start with a fresh slate and create a vehicle much more capable than the serviceable LEAF and wow, what a cool vehicle it is!!

The Interior

Let’s start on the inside. Material choices are nice and somewhat not expected in a Nissan. The haptic touch buttons inlaid among the wood-grain dash panels are nice and refreshing at the same time. Many of us have grown tired of the same flat-black plastic buttons lining the dash, all looking the same and too numerous to count. The Ariya has a small number of buttons, and the design reminds me of the minimalistic design Tesla uses in their Model 3 and Model Y. The monostable shifter is probably the exception to this design idea, but I believe it works well for a more mainstream audience anyway. It’s situated on a floating (movable) center console that offers some neat features and is really nice to use. There is even a button that reveals a secret drawer that motors open at the touch of a button. But I most like that the whole center console slides back and forth depending on whether you like it more skewed toward the front or situated rearward, which impedes center rear seat knee room. In that position, though, it gives the front of the cabin a more open feel with vast room between the driver and passenger from the dash to the floor. 

Feature and Amenities

This is where the Ariya shines. Offering eight different flavors, there seems to be a model for everyone. The base model Venture+ is well equipped and is their longest-range model, offering 304 miles of range. Moving up to the Engage model, you have three choices, either front wheel drive (FWD) and standard 63kWh battery, All Wheel Drive (AWD), or both + size battery with AWD. It is worth noting that you can only get the standard battery (with 216 miles range) in the Engage model. All the other models offer the 87kWh battery with about 260-900 miles range depending on features paired with it. Yesterday I drove the Engage+ model that has about 270 miles of range. 

We took the Nissan out on a beach cruise which allowed me some time to get familiar with the car and begin to understand the dynamics. My first impression was that this was a very quiet and smooth vehicle. Over rougher roads, the car was well composed but did exhibit some tire hop on rough sections. I liked the driver seating position (with memory options), and there weren’t any issues with blind spots. The car does have a high belt line, but this just gives you the feeling of a solid cocoon-like environment without being hard to see out of.

The acceleration was almost brisk and enough to keep up with traffic but nothing exciting.  No one will complain that this car is slow. I didn’t get to test the cornering habits of the car, but that’s not what this vehicle is about, and in all reality, it’s decent enough for most. The Ariya is by no means a sports sedan, but it is a well-composed SUV that should compete well among any in the class. I would wager to say that it is probably one of the top vehicles for ride and quietness.

I also tested the B-mode regen braking but was underwhelmed with that feature. It didn’t provide much slowing and had no adjustment. This is something that will probably only bother EV purists such as myself.  I am used to aggressive regen braking, with my Bolt EV always coming to a complete stop all by itself without having to hit the brake pedal. The Ariya does not do that, and Nissan should at least offer it as a driving option. The drive modes of Sport, Normal, and Eco are interesting but less important than regen braking in my mind. The EV6/Ioniq are the segment leaders with this oft-used feature. 

There were other unique features that I want to mention that I noticed after the test drive. When doing a walk around post-drive, I noticed the car had cool plastic inserts on the wheels to help improve aerodynamic efficiency. I really liked those inserts. One odd feature the Ariya has;  the charge port is located on the passenger front fender. Maybe this will allow the car to get into different positions for charging the same way gas cars complement each other at the pump. Time will tell whether drivers will like it or not. I can personally see myself being in a rush, not seeing the car plugged in, and being annoyed having to exit the car and walk around to unplug it. Other notable features of the Ariya include the LED treatment on the interior and exterior is tasteful, unique, and cool all at the same time. The Nissan emblem on the front is lighted and should look awesome at night.

General Size Comparisons

There is no front trunk, unfortunately. The cargo area is adjustable but is smaller than most, only besting the much smaller Bolt EUV/Kona EV and Kia Soul EV club. However, it should be noted that the Ariya is the shortest in its class while being one of the widest at the same time. Just like the charging port, maybe being different will be better. Some consumers are looking for a comfortable cabin but a little trimmer for easy parking and maneuverability. 

Here’s how the car stacks up exactly (Cargo numbers first) followed by exterior dimensions:

Nissan Ariya 22.6’ 183” L x 75″ W x 65″ H 

Subaru Solterra 29’ 185″ L x 73″ W x 65″ H

Toyota BZ4X  29’ 185″ L x 73″ W x 65″ H

Ford Mach-e 29’+4.7’ frunk 186″ L x 74″ W x 64″ H

Kia EV6  24’ 185″ L x 74″ W x 61″ H

VW iD4  30’ 181″ L x 73″ W x 65″ H

Tesla Model Y 30’+4’ frunk 187″ L x 76″ W x 64″ H

To summarize, I would say this car is a lot less sporty than the EV6, Mustang Mach-E or Tesla, but it is much quieter, supple, and calm inside than most EVs in its class. It offers unique features inside and out and is competent in most ways. Speaking specifically about dealer and serviceability here, I think this Nissan will be a wonderful choice for most Big Island peeps as Chevy has some issues with service, sharing space with Toyota in Hilo. The same goes for Toyota with their BZ4X. Both Ford and Subaru are new to the game, and the dealers have been hesitant to invest in the future up til now. This leaves Aloha Kia and Tesla as the only competitors able to offer good service with an eye on the future. This is why I would put the 2023 Nissan Ariya in the top three among all competitors in its class.