Give us the hard questions on an SUV that points at the future of its brand and we’ll answer them
- Nissan introduced the Ariya, its first EV, almost four years ago.
- Now, for 2024 it’s less expensive, but still comes with all the same features.
- We’re about to drive it and want to answer every question you have about it.
Just about every single major automaker has at least one electric vehicle in its stable but Nissan is unique. It was one of the earliest pioneers of the EV movement with the Leaf. Now, as that car leaves production, the Ariya will take its torch and try to keep running. We’re going to drive it for a week and want to answer every question you have about it.
The Ariya starts at $39,590 but for just a little more, $41,190, you’ll get a huge leap in range from 216 miles to 304 miles. Nissan offers six main trim levels for the Ariya and pricing tops out at around $54,190. Our test car is what Nissan calls the Ariya Empower+ FWD and it starts at $47,690.
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The unit we’re driving has three options including two-tone paint ($350), carpeted floor mats ($260), and an exterior ground lighting kit ($750). In total, the MSRP is $50,440 after a $1,390 destination charge. For that, we get 289 miles of range in optimal conditions. The battery has a maximum charging rate of 130 kW which is okay but far behind competitors from Kia and Hyundai.
At the same time, it’s worth noting just how much Nissan seems to have pushed itself outside of its own comfort zone. Keep in mind that this is the same company that is now scrambling to catch up in the hybrid game. While Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru struggle to put together strong EV sales, Nissan brought the Ariya to market ahead of them.
All of that said, Nissan surely wants to see the Ariya become a larger player in the EV market. It was 14th last year. In the next few years, it’ll become more competitive thanks to a new NISMO trim, NACS charging, and possibly a solid-state battery with better charging speeds and more range.
For now, this is the car we can all buy though. What do you want to know about it? Let us know in the comments below!
#Driving #Nissan #Ariya
