Inside, Nissan managed to give the cabin personality without going overboard. The cabin strikes a modern, clean and open vibe. Highlights include a minimalist control aesthetic, loads of front headroom and legroom, some neat ambient lighting and a couple of unusual features.
A pair of big 12.3 inch screens — an instrument panel and touchscreen for the infotainment system — take center stage. They’re both programmable and customizable, allowing the driver to prioritize which info is prominently displayed. The infotainment system’s menus are logically set up for quick access and use, and the screen itself is responsive. It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa, and wireless Apple CarPlay is standard; as with some other vehicles, however, us Android Auto users must make do with a wired connection.
The physical controls situation is varied. There’s a large volume dial under the screen next to a station-tuning toggle switch. The climate controls under the screen are touch-sensitive panels, which are usually hit or miss, and Nissan did a nice job overall. Once touched, they provide a bit of tactile feedback as well as a thunking sound that indicates the control was selected. There are more touch-sensitive panels on the center console for things such as the drive mode selector; I liked these less because they required multiple stabs to engage.
A few features help the cabin stand out. A standard power-sliding center console can motor forward or backward depending on your desired position. Powering it all the way back opens up a giant open space ahead of and between the seats; this contributes to the cabin’s open feeling and is great for storing a large bag.
There’s also a small storage bin and tray that extends from the dashboard with the push of a button. Nissan says it can be used as a workspace, but it would only work for something like a small tablet or an order of french fries.
In the back, legroom is generous and there’s an extra lower Latch anchor in the middle seat, making it more flexible for car seat installation. While at 5-feet, 6 inches I fit fine in the back, taller passengers might need more headroom because of the sloping roofline.
Nissan says the Ariya can hold 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats, or up to 59.7 cubic feet with those seats folded down — a little more than the Bolt EUV and a little less than the ID.4 and Mustang Mach-E, according to automaker-provided specifications. The Ariya’s cargo opening is wide and the space generous; there’s also a bit of underfloor storage for management of smaller items. There’s no front trunk (frunk), however; a small but helpful storage space that some other EVs have, such as the Mustnag Mach-E.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
2023 Nissan Ariya | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
All versions of the Ariya come with standard features such as Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of safety systems. Nissan is debuting its ProPilot Park system on the Ariya that can automatically park the vehicle in both perpendicular and parallel spots. Also new and debuting on the Ariya is Nissan’s updated ProPilot Assist technology. The available driver assistance system allows for hands-off, eyes-on driving on mapped highways. It uses a variety of radar, cameras and sensors to guide the car and will even make lane changes.
I found it to be a capable system, similar to GM’s SuperCruise, but a couple of differences stand out, specifically related to when hands are required. When the system senses it’s in a construction zone, it requires hands on the wheel; GM’s system just alerts you to the construction without requiring hands on. Similarly, ProPilot Assist will suggest lane changes for passing or when exiting the highway using the guided navigation feature, but it also requires hands on for the actual lane change — another departure from GM’s system, which will change lanes hands free.
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Value and Tax Credit Status
2023 Nissan Ariya | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
The 2023 Nissan Ariya starts at around $44,000 (all prices include destination) for the base Engage trim with the standard battery and FWD; that model with AWD starts at around $48,000. Variants with the long-range battery and FWD start at around $48,000; AWD bumps that to around $52,000. The Ariya lineup tops out at $61,485 for the highest trim with the long-range battery and AWD. FWD versions of the Ariya go on sale later in the fall; Nissan said AWD models have been delayed until the spring of 2023.
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts around $48,000 after orders closed for 2022 models and Ford raised prices for model-year 2023. The 2023 VW ID.4 starts lower at around $39,000, and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV is a bargain after the brand’s price cuts lowered it to $28,425.
Note that it’s unlikely the Ariya will be eligible for any federal tax incentives in the short term after the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s recent overhaul of EV tax credit rules. Effective immediately is a requirement that vehicles be assembled in North America to be eligible for the credit; most currently are not, including the Ariya, which is made in Japan.
With an appealing cabin, solid road manners and loads of tech, the Ariya is good, but it could be better — range is on the low side and cost is on the high side. Nissan was an EV pioneer with the Leaf, so it’s no surprise the Ariya is good. What is surprising is that it took the automaker so long to launch its first all-electric SUV.
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