2023 Nissan Ariya | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #389
2023 Nissan Ariya | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #389
Become a member at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to find out how this car performs in our tests.
This week we discuss the all-new 2023 Nissan Ariya, the second electric vehicle to join the automaker’s EV roster behind the Leaf. We discuss the extensive Ariya model lineup, how it stacks up against other electric car competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, and Subaru Solterra. We also debate how future-proof the new Nissan may be, and answer an audience question about backup camera design.
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Nissan EV History
4:41 - 2023 Nissan Ariya powertrains, range and charging
7:07 - Driving experience
13:31 - Interior
16:21 - Controls
20:39 - Nissan Ariya trim levels
25:22 - Question - Brian from Boston: Can backup camera design improve so that the camera lenses stay clean?
LINKS:
Preview: All-Electric 2023 Nissan Ariya Priced at $46,000: https://www.consumerreports.org/hybri…
2023 Nissan Ariya: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/…
Electric Cars 101: The Answers to All Your EV Questions: https://www.consumerreports.org/hybri…
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Content
1.56 -> foreign
3.59 -> [Music]
9.599 -> hi everybody welcome to another episode
11.4 -> I'm Mike Monticello I'm Alex and Isaac
14.099 -> I'm Gabe shenar So today we're going to
16.619 -> talk mostly about the all-new 2023
19.56 -> Nissan Aria uh which these are our first
23.1 -> impressions of this vehicle that we
24.84 -> rented from Nissan and this is a big
27.48 -> deal because it's Nissan's first ever
30 -> all-electric SUV to be sold in the U.S
33 -> and it's a two row uh five passenger
36.54 -> compact SUV a long you know similar in
39.12 -> size to the Nissan Rogue and just an up
42.239 -> front I I mentioned that we rented it
43.98 -> and for those of you that don't know how
45.6 -> Consumer Reports does things we do it a
47.879 -> little different than a lot of the
49.5 -> magazines websites that evaluate and
51.66 -> test cars which is that we while we do
53.76 -> rent the vehicles from the automaker's
56.399 -> Press Fleet to do a first drive uh we
59.52 -> won't test the one that we drove we will
61.5 -> wait until we buy a test vehicle and
64.5 -> that's unlike just about everybody else
65.88 -> we go out to the dealers just like you
67.68 -> folks do and we buy the vehicle we won't
70.2 -> if we don't buy it we don't test it
71.76 -> right it's as simple as that right Gabe
73.2 -> yeah that's for the formal testing which
75.72 -> means empirical measurements
77.22 -> instrumented road tests and the whole
79.5 -> nine yards right so for this
82.619 -> um Nissan says front-wheel drive models
84.9 -> of the Aria are scheduled am I saying
87.119 -> that right Arya is that how
89.04 -> I think so okay yeah
91.34 -> okay okay
94.14 -> front wheel drive model scheduled to
96.18 -> start hitting dealers at the end of the
97.979 -> year with the all-wheel drive versions
99.9 -> coming in early 23 is what they're
101.64 -> saying right now of course keep in mind
102.96 -> things are you know with the supply
104.22 -> chain issues you never know what's going
105.659 -> to happen so uh pricing starts at forty
109.02 -> three thousand one hundred ninety
110.22 -> dollars for the front wheel drive models
111.74 -> 47 190 for the all-wheel drive models we
115.619 -> rented a top trim Premier front-wheel
119.04 -> drive with the extended range battery
120.84 -> for this evaluation and the pricing for
123.42 -> the premiere starts at 54 690 but before
127.979 -> we get too much into what it's like to
129.84 -> drive the Aria game talk to us a little
132.54 -> bit about Nissan's history with EVS
134.94 -> because I mean they were one of the
136.68 -> first automakers to have a full-blown uh
139.92 -> electric vehicle right yeah as we all
142.379 -> know the Nissan Leaf was the first uh
145.14 -> readily commercially available electric
148.02 -> vehicle from an established car company
150.739 -> and uh that was uh in 2011
154.8 -> uh which really seems like uh eons ago
158.76 -> because the car had a very short range
161.16 -> and it was a hatchback as opposed to uh
164.4 -> sexy looking uh EVS that we have now but
167.22 -> uh that uh was also a way for a Nissan
169.56 -> to kind of bypass Toyota which was I had
172.92 -> a lock on the hybrid technology so uh
175.68 -> Nissan came behind uh you know with an
179.099 -> attempt of uh overshadowing Toyota a
182.099 -> little bit but now what has happened in
184.319 -> the meantime because I mean they come
186 -> out they're one of the very first but
188.04 -> Alex I mean there's been you know the
190.379 -> leaf kind of you know never really
193.14 -> progressed that far even the second
195.54 -> generation seen behind the times with
197.64 -> its its uh driving range and they still
200.34 -> only had one model whereas we're seeing
202.2 -> other you know automakers now with
204.12 -> multiple models out why do you think
205.92 -> Alex Nissan kind of was early and then
209.94 -> just kind of went nowhere
211.92 -> yeah I mean so it's I think as simple as
214.98 -> the fact that the leaf was something new
217.379 -> when it came out completely not
219.599 -> something not available anywhere else
220.92 -> like Gabe talked about right and now the
223.379 -> Aria
224.459 -> um which we'll talk about as we go
225.78 -> through here but while it's nice and
227.94 -> competitive in a lot of ways it's not
229.68 -> really anything different or you know
232.799 -> bringing anything new to the table that
234.36 -> you can't necessarily get anywhere else
236.28 -> so I think there was that Allure and
237.959 -> that kind of initial attraction of the
239.4 -> fact that the leaf was just completely
241.68 -> you know its own thing whereas that's
244.5 -> not really true about the Aria
247.68 -> um and I also think that the Aria has
250.56 -> been delayed twice already
253.08 -> um and it's unfortunate I'm not placing
255.659 -> blame or anything but you know this was
257.34 -> originally supposed to come out mid 2021
259.979 -> and you know we're going on 2023 here
262.4 -> and still we're just kind of starting to
264.84 -> see it show up for the first time and
266.22 -> trickle out in certain versions but it's
267.9 -> not completely available and just
270.3 -> there's a lot of things have changed
271.86 -> since not only the leaf came out but
273.54 -> even in those two short years that it
275.04 -> was originally supposed to come there's
276.84 -> been a lot of competitors so I think
278.699 -> they'll uh they have their work cut out
279.96 -> for him yeah for sure uh so Gabe let's
283.02 -> tell us what we need to know
284.28 -> mechanically about the Aria like what
285.9 -> are we talking about in terms of
287.1 -> horsepower in terms of driving range
288.72 -> those kinds of things
290.04 -> yeah so uh as you said that it spans a
294.36 -> really broad price of spectrum from 43
297.54 -> 000 to 60 000 and uh battery sizes or
300.419 -> also there are two types there's a 63
302.94 -> kilowatt hour battery uh and an 87
306.24 -> kilowatt hour battery for the larger one
308.28 -> so both range and horsepower uh are also
311.52 -> uh span a quite a range uh there are
314.52 -> front wheel drive versions which go on
316.919 -> sale
317.88 -> um as we speak and all-wheel drive
320.22 -> versions uh go on sale in early 2023 so
324.12 -> um I mean all in all there are about
325.979 -> nine versions of uh of the Aria which is
329.759 -> kind of confusing but um compared to
332.639 -> other EVS uh it seems like the Aria is
336.06 -> kind of like um you know it's it's a
338.82 -> solid competitive entry but uh some of
342.18 -> the EV specific uh parameters seem a
346.32 -> little half-hearted for instance uh it
348.479 -> has only a 7.2 kilowatt uh on board
351.06 -> charger which means you're going to be
352.86 -> charging at home at 20 miles of range
355.62 -> per hour instead of 35 miles of range
359.28 -> per hour which you would get with the
362.58 -> Korean EVs and the German ones and some
365.699 -> of the ones from General Motors and Ford
369.12 -> and that makes a difference also in DC
373.02 -> public DC fast public charging uh places
375.9 -> uh the maximum acceptance rate is only
378.24 -> 130 kilowatt whereas
381.84 -> um Hyundai Kia Genesis uh will give you
386.28 -> 235 kilowatt of max power so a more
390.6 -> competitive rate is around 200. so
394.5 -> uh in those uh areas Nissan is playing
399.12 -> at either a little uh safe or it's just
402 -> simply behind the eight ball yeah and I
404.16 -> wonder if partly a lot of that stems
406.319 -> from like you said Alex that this
408.66 -> vehicle was delayed several times maybe
411.12 -> if it came out when they originally
412.56 -> wanted it to come out it wouldn't have
414.06 -> seemed kind of a little bit behind but
417.72 -> with that I know you guys have kind of
419.759 -> already uh spoiled it a little bit that
422.039 -> we're not super thrilled with with this
424.74 -> as a overall vehicle but let's get into
426.78 -> it and Alex let's start with what's it
428.94 -> like to drive this thing out of the road
430.319 -> forget you know what it says on paper
432.18 -> but what's it like out on the road yeah
434.46 -> I don't want to say I don't like the REI
437.039 -> I do think it's competitive in a lot of
438.78 -> ways and um significant ways in terms of
441.36 -> the Driving Experience I do actually
442.68 -> think that it's quite competitive in
444.419 -> terms of ride and handling and some of
446.52 -> these things
447.539 -> um
448.199 -> seems to have a little bit of like a
450.3 -> kind of lighter on its feet type of
452.099 -> feeling compared to something like an
454.139 -> ionic 5 or an id4 some of these other
456.72 -> similarly sized
458.88 -> um electric crossovers so and I think
460.86 -> maybe part of that is it does have a
462.78 -> shorter wheelbase than some of these
464.28 -> cars especially the ionic five where
466.139 -> it's really long it's like 118 inches
468.06 -> and this is more like 109 so quite a bit
471.12 -> smaller in that regard so you just get
472.56 -> some quicker turn and things like that
474.72 -> um the steering is pretty light which
476.039 -> helps it feel kind of a little more
478.02 -> eager
479.46 -> um that being said when we did meet with
480.9 -> their Engineers they did talk about some
482.46 -> of the changes they had to make um
484.02 -> compared to the Rogue which this is
485.759 -> similar to in a lot of ways
488.28 -> um and with the Rogue they kind of have
490.199 -> this like hard-mounted front subframe
492.419 -> and just this really kind of
494.099 -> um stiff feeling steering and it turns
496.56 -> in really good and you a little bit less
498.12 -> of that here but
499.56 -> um so maybe a little less direct but
501.06 -> still quite nice and actually when we
502.5 -> got it out on the track I was pretty
503.94 -> surprised
505.259 -> um not that you would ever really take
506.759 -> your Aria to a track but just getting
508.44 -> out there and getting to explore the
509.879 -> limits a little bit it kind of came
511.319 -> alive
512.7 -> um and we saw that with the Rogue and
515.399 -> the Pathfinder those are kind of just
516.959 -> you know they drive well but they're a
518.58 -> little regular out on the road but then
519.959 -> we got them on our track and they kind
521.279 -> of have this nice rotation and off
523.44 -> throttle they like this you know the
525 -> back end comes around a little bit
527.16 -> um and this Aria did the same thing so
529.62 -> um I guess you could say it has some of
531.12 -> that uh Nissan DNA that we've been
533.399 -> seeing Alex um I thought that our
536.459 -> producer Dave Abrams had talked to you
537.899 -> about like giving a little warning I'm
540 -> gonna nerd out here and start talking
541.44 -> about subframes do you did you remember
543.3 -> when he
544.56 -> yeah he said all subframe talk is no
547.14 -> problem
548.16 -> um just kidding but now the one thing
551.1 -> well no I noticed many things about the
553.38 -> Aria but one thing Alex was it has what
556.019 -> 238 horsepower these front wheel drives
558.779 -> front-wheel drive this front wheel drive
560.16 -> version yeah it depends on the battery
561.48 -> and yeah okay so this one has 238
563.58 -> horsepower but you know it's got some of
567.6 -> that ev-ness that we like but it you
569.76 -> know if you're if you really like the
571.26 -> thrill that we've kind of become
572.58 -> accustomed to with EVS which is they
574.44 -> give you all of the torque immediately
577.44 -> right yeah yeah this one it feels a
579.36 -> little you know a little timid compared
581.279 -> to some and did you notice that as well
582.899 -> or a little bit yeah I mean
585.12 -> 238 horsepower is is good and it felt
588.779 -> powerful enough but yeah compared to
590.519 -> some of these other you know EVS
592.26 -> especially all-wheel drive EVS where you
594 -> have that torque and you also have a ton
595.5 -> of grip right away right um yeah it does
597.899 -> feel a little more mild than that
600.18 -> um I will say though I was impressed
601.86 -> with the um traction control tuning for
604.08 -> a front wheel drive EV compared to some
606.06 -> of the others we've driven like the bolt
608.1 -> the Chevy bolt and the um Toyota bz4x
611.279 -> also front wheel drive EVS that we found
613.74 -> it really really easy to spin the tires
615.779 -> particularly if you're making like a
617.1 -> left-hand turn out into traffic and you
618.839 -> kind of need to merge really quickly
620.1 -> you'll end up kind of spinning those
621.72 -> tires and I just thought they did a good
623.04 -> job here of you know it's got the power
625.32 -> to do that but they've tuned the
627.06 -> traction control nicely where they cut
629.04 -> down on the wheel spin but it doesn't
630.12 -> feel like it's just robbing you of all
631.44 -> the power
632.339 -> um so I thought that was really nice
634.56 -> um the only other thing that was missing
636.24 -> here for me is the lack of a true one
639.42 -> pedal driving mode you don't even like
641.64 -> one pedal driving I'm not a huge fan but
643.86 -> I know a lot of people are and it's not
645.72 -> about me Monty oh you I know you really
648.3 -> like one pedal this is for you
651.54 -> um but I do think if you are kind of you
653.519 -> know maybe you've never driven an EV
655.2 -> before but if you are a fan of one pedal
657.54 -> driving this might not really be uh the
659.88 -> EV for you well and so for those of you
662.64 -> that don't know what one pedal driving
664.019 -> is it's it's basically you know
665.64 -> regenerative braking but a really strong
667.8 -> version where when you let off the
670.38 -> accelerator pedal I keep wanting to call
672.06 -> the gas pedal but it's electric uh when
673.98 -> you let off the accelerator pedal it
675.66 -> immediately starts slowing the car down
678 -> and if if it has a true one pedal
681.3 -> driving brake regeneration system it's
683.339 -> going to be strong enough in the way it
685.14 -> slows the car down that you wouldn't
686.339 -> even need to touch the brake pedal right
688.14 -> but and it'll bring you to a complete
690.42 -> stop right like this one doesn't do that
692.82 -> it has something called e-step which is
695.279 -> uh which Nissan had in the has in the
697.2 -> leaf as well which is a pretty strong
699.3 -> version of regenerative braking but it
701.7 -> doesn't bring you to a complete stop so
703.86 -> you've got two things if you don't have
705 -> step on the brake pedal is a little bit
707.04 -> spongy but a lot of EVS are like that if
709.68 -> you have e-step on it does this uh this
714.18 -> Eerie thing that we noticed with the
715.62 -> Mercedes-Benz eqs where when it does its
718.98 -> brake regeneration it the brake pedal
721.56 -> physically goes in which is very just
723.18 -> wait for you but you're going to have to
725.16 -> use it's one thing if you don't have if
726.66 -> you're doing one pedal driving and you
728.04 -> don't need to hit the brake pedal but
729.12 -> you will always have to hit the brake
730.38 -> pedal to come to a complete stop so now
732.48 -> you go to hit the brake pedal the brake
734.88 -> pedal is in much further than you
736.32 -> expected and it feels very wooden so uh
739.079 -> that was kind of annoying and Gabe I
740.76 -> mean you know did it bother you as well
742.92 -> I know you're also not a huge one pedal
745.62 -> driving kind of guy but what did you
747.48 -> think about that kind of weird uh brake
750.42 -> pedal movie on its own thing
753.06 -> well there is one pedal driving and
754.8 -> there is one pedal driving uh I like it
757.26 -> in a for the front 250 lightning I like
759.839 -> it in the Lucid air uh cars that have it
763.079 -> uh have a well sorted out regenerative
764.94 -> braking and uh and one pedal drive uh
767.82 -> are are fine but uh at the e-pedal in
772.8 -> the in the Aria I couldn't stand it I
775.74 -> mean I had it on for about three minutes
777.6 -> and uh it was so aggressive it uh the
782.459 -> deceleration felt so pronounced and uh
785.82 -> it uh I mean luckily I didn't have any
787.68 -> passengers with me because uh there'd be
791.7 -> throwing up
794.18 -> Gabe this is a family show come on keep
796.98 -> it clean keep it clean yeah so uh so I
801 -> couldn't stand it I turned it off and uh
804.36 -> and the pedal itself uh was was okay I
807.54 -> mean had a little bit of that machinist
809.519 -> but it wasn't too hard to get used to
811.68 -> yeah so let's move on to the interior uh
814.74 -> real quick and just just uh off the top
816.959 -> for me anyway uh just the basic stuff
819.18 -> the front seats work really well for me
820.86 -> I think they're really well bolstered
822.66 -> again this is the top trim so we don't
824.519 -> know what the lower trims are gonna have
826.86 -> but these seats worked really well for
828.48 -> me in terms of good bolstering on both
830.1 -> the seat back and the bottom cushion and
831.72 -> I love the grippy suede material that
833.279 -> this these seats have the rear seat also
835.74 -> I thought was was pretty comfortable uh
838.019 -> and has plenty of Headroom if I had a
840.779 -> kind of a fault and also good toe space
843 -> under the front seats which we're not
844.2 -> seeing in a lot of vehicles these days I
846.18 -> I thought there could have been a little
847.56 -> better maybe if they raked the bottom
849.779 -> cushion back a little more it would have
851.279 -> a little bit better like support but
853.2 -> overall I thought I thought pretty good
854.88 -> yeah um the driving position now that's
857.94 -> kind of interesting because it has this
859.56 -> power operated center console which I
861.6 -> certainly don't remember seeing any time
863.279 -> recently which it's kind of cool I think
865.56 -> it's kind of cool in a way I know uh
868.26 -> maybe Alex and Dave may not be but I'll
870.72 -> say this first of all I think it's kind
871.92 -> of neat because I I do adjust my driving
874.92 -> position throughout a trip right now in
877.32 -> the end it turns out I would power it
880.019 -> all the way forwards is the way I kind
881.459 -> of really wanted it anyway and even with
883.38 -> that I still didn't have any center
885.12 -> console intrusion with my right knee uh
887.639 -> which you know was always bothersome and
889.38 -> I didn't have that here but what I
892.139 -> didn't like was
893.88 -> um that uh the door armrest is like on a
898.92 -> totally different Lane this yeah so I
901.44 -> mean it was so low compared to the
903.06 -> center armrest that I mean it was
904.56 -> basically unusable for me and the other
907.019 -> thing I had is the way the the
909.3 -> instrument cluster is and the steering
911.04 -> wheel I needed to have the steering
912.779 -> wheel up higher kind of more bus like uh
915.48 -> which is something we've been seeing on
916.68 -> more and more cars lately it's like uh
918.779 -> so because otherwise if you have it down
920.459 -> where you want it or where some of us
922.079 -> want it it's going to cut off the top of
923.76 -> of the uh the uh instrument cluster yeah
927.18 -> that's quickly becoming a pet peeve of
929.1 -> mine I feel like almost all of these
930.72 -> cars that have a you know large
932.22 -> rectangular screen for their gauge
934.199 -> cluster this is happening and it's
936.3 -> pretty frustrating depending on what
938.04 -> gets cut off sometimes it's just like
939.6 -> Graphics or something but other times
941.04 -> it's critical symbols and you know
943.32 -> information
944.339 -> um some cars speed I kind of want to
946.5 -> know that now Gabe let's talk about the
949.56 -> controls as well because I mean on the
952.44 -> one hand it's kind of neat when you look
954.48 -> at it and it's got this kind of
955.68 -> minimalistic what I would call I guess a
957.54 -> center stack the way that the uh some of
960.72 -> the climate controls are on this you
962.459 -> know kind of wood panel right and
964.62 -> they're capacity what we call capacitive
966.3 -> touch touch capacitive basically you you
968.339 -> know they aren't physical buttons but at
971.88 -> the same time they don't have all of the
973.62 -> climate controls there so they have some
975.18 -> but then you still need to go into the
976.56 -> touch screen uh to do like seat heaters
979.26 -> or to adjust airflow mode Gabe what's
981.24 -> your overall impression on kind of what
982.8 -> they did with these controls yeah first
985.26 -> before I forget I'd like to say that I
987.18 -> like the slidable power slidable so it's
990.42 -> two to one it's on the other one in-game
992.459 -> win I just don't know why it needed to
994.32 -> be in a giant electronic Contraption why
996.54 -> couldn't it just been like the sliding
998.279 -> you know manual armrest like because
1000.56 -> when it breaks down the road it'll be
1002.839 -> fun to see where it ends up
1005.24 -> in the one position that you set it in
1007.399 -> and never changed it from that's where
1008.839 -> that's where it is a fair point we've
1011.839 -> seen the manual version of it in some
1013.639 -> minivans years ago right but anyway
1015.32 -> that's besides the point so we want to
1017.06 -> talk about controls right yeah so uh I
1019.339 -> kind of like uh the uh the the row of
1022.459 -> buttons that are kind of integrated with
1024.439 -> that matte wood strip uh right in front
1027.199 -> of you I think uh they're easy to see
1029.839 -> and uh easy to to hit when you when you
1032.959 -> need something but uh but yeah the uh
1035.72 -> haptic or capacitive uh touch is just
1038.6 -> doesn't give you the right kind of
1039.86 -> feedback and doesn't give you the uh and
1042.919 -> nothing is really uh protruding so you
1045.439 -> can't really reach and um and grab
1048.86 -> something while you're driving without
1050.419 -> really looking and deciphering exactly
1052.46 -> where where you want your finger to be
1054.5 -> other than that uh deeper interactions
1057.559 -> through the touch screen is uh which is
1060.2 -> a little far away is not really ideal I
1063.32 -> mean I certainly like some some hard
1065.12 -> buttons particularly for for volume and
1067.94 -> on off and temperature adjustments so
1070.16 -> you know in my uh short drive I just
1072.38 -> remember that I couldn't find a lot of
1074.9 -> the things that I wanted and um
1077.72 -> and didn't really uh dive in and didn't
1081.2 -> really like take the car live with it
1083.36 -> like day and night uh to really have a
1086.299 -> good sense of it but we'll know more
1088.4 -> once we we get our own Alex I know your
1091.34 -> big controls evaluator for us what did
1093.799 -> you think it's a control freak he's a
1095.179 -> controller it totally is it might be
1097.22 -> true I'm learning that now ask his wife
1101.02 -> turn the volume down on my computer here
1104.419 -> um yeah so I guess my take here is they
1107.96 -> say when we met with them that they're
1109.46 -> really going for mainstream with this
1111.14 -> like you know every Nissan vehicle
1113.36 -> outside of I guess the GTR is going for
1115.82 -> mainstream
1117.62 -> um but the controls kind of feel like a
1119.78 -> huge departure from where they are with
1121.76 -> you know the Rogue and the Pathfinder
1123.26 -> for example where you're mostly hard
1124.46 -> button based you do have an infotainment
1126.44 -> system but almost everything is
1127.88 -> redundant and that infotainment system
1129.86 -> is really easy to use so I agree the the
1133.039 -> touch capacitive controls are really
1134.96 -> beautiful in like a manufacturing feet
1137.299 -> just to look at them but the fact that I
1139.94 -> have to go in to do the heated seats in
1142.039 -> the touch screen specifically
1144.02 -> is it's not only that they're in there
1146.12 -> but also the way they chose to design
1147.62 -> that interface is really confusing and
1149.78 -> frustrating so I think you know if
1151.28 -> they're going to put them in there they
1152.24 -> gotta at least make them easy to use
1155.179 -> um the other thing in game it jogged my
1157.88 -> memory when Gabe talked about driving it
1159.2 -> at night the backlighting of all the
1162.02 -> controls is a really nuanced thing but
1163.58 -> you usually never have a problem with it
1164.9 -> but for some reason
1166.46 -> the back lighting behind all the buttons
1168.32 -> at night time was just so like so super
1171.38 -> dim you couldn't see him at all unless
1173.48 -> you turned it all the way up until it's
1174.74 -> like blinding but one click down and
1176.419 -> they were just like Total Blackout you
1177.98 -> can't see them at all hoping that's a
1180.02 -> pre-production you know this is a
1181.94 -> pre-production model that we drove so
1183.26 -> I'm hoping it's that
1185 -> um but yeah so just some stuff like that
1186.98 -> that was kind of you know details that
1188.78 -> were off the mark a little bit for me
1190.039 -> but
1191.12 -> um I think the other thing that we
1192.32 -> should mention is the motorized uh
1194.9 -> center console or not the console the
1197.179 -> like panel underneath the touchscreen
1199.34 -> that like comes out that little storage
1201.44 -> console I don't know how you guys feel
1203.419 -> about that but it's founded to be a
1205.1 -> little silly
1206.36 -> so it's like a jewelry box
1209.48 -> and Gabe wears a lot of jewelry that's
1211.58 -> right he's been known to I feel like all
1213.799 -> these EVS they're trying to give you
1215.12 -> something to do while you're charging
1217.22 -> like ah Tesla's you have like a web
1220.039 -> browser some of the Fords you can play
1221.84 -> games Hyundai you can recline the seats
1224.12 -> so they told us that it's a table and
1226.039 -> when you extend it out it's got this
1227.36 -> like flat surface
1228.98 -> but it's also very very small so I'm not
1231.5 -> really sure the point of it just felt
1233 -> like a little I didn't understand it I
1234.559 -> didn't understand what I was supposed to
1235.58 -> do with it until I honest with you I
1236.84 -> really did so we'll fiddle more with
1238.28 -> that folks when we get our own Gabe you
1239.96 -> mentioned this and I just want us would
1242.12 -> you elaborate a little more on the
1243.919 -> inordinate amount of
1246.2 -> trim levels that this vehicle is
1248.84 -> available in just touch on it real quick
1250.58 -> and tell us whether you think that's a
1251.9 -> good thing or a bad thing for consumers
1253.4 -> well the bad thing is it's uh way too
1255.98 -> confusing nine trim lines and everyone
1258.5 -> has a plus somewhere and a four
1260.6 -> somewhere else and a and word words like
1264.26 -> force and evolve and whatnot uh it's
1268.039 -> it's really hard to keep track of but uh
1270.74 -> it uh the good news is that it gives you
1273.86 -> a variety of choices and uh and it gives
1277.64 -> customers a wide price span so you can
1280.82 -> probably find what you want uh or you
1283.88 -> can also outfit it to be a pretty
1288.679 -> luxurious vehicle or particularly in
1291.559 -> Platinum and we should also mention that
1294.02 -> there are only two trim lines where you
1296.299 -> can get the uh Pro pilot 2.0 which is uh
1300.559 -> the next phase after uh profile desist
1304.22 -> and uh the difference here is that it
1306.74 -> gives you a direct driver monitor system
1309.58 -> it also has the ability to be a true
1313.52 -> level two uh
1315.7 -> semi-automated system that allows some
1319.34 -> hands-free driving and it has a lane
1321.62 -> change feature that you can the car will
1324.86 -> perform a lane change on its own if the
1328.159 -> camera has determined that everything is
1330.2 -> clear and your user return signal very
1333.5 -> much like what Tesla does and the top
1336.2 -> versions of BMW and Mercedes too so uh
1340.159 -> what I'm hearing there is on the bright
1341.78 -> side
1342.74 -> direct driver monitoring infrared camera
1345.38 -> which we like maybe not so good is the
1348.74 -> fact that we're going to have to buy a
1350.539 -> higher trim it looks like to get that
1353.059 -> than we would normally uh purchase
1356.299 -> correct correct okay so let's let's wrap
1359.059 -> this up Alex just initial Impressions uh
1362.6 -> where do you think the Aria Stacks up
1364.76 -> against this other EV competitors yeah I
1367.039 -> think like we talked about I think it's
1369.08 -> competitive in terms of its driving
1371.059 -> Dynamics and it's ride Comfort handling
1374.299 -> that sort of thing it's power for the at
1376.039 -> least for this front wheel drive version
1377.419 -> and you know what it's able to deliver
1379.82 -> on that front we'll wait to see what the
1381.38 -> all-wheel drive is like I think where
1383.659 -> it's kind of unique in some ways to what
1386.179 -> Gabe talked about is how much choice you
1388.28 -> have as confusing as the trim names and
1390.86 -> all that stuff is it is unique that they
1392.9 -> give you so many options I mean I think
1394.82 -> this is the only EV that's giving you
1396.799 -> two battery sizes and you can get
1398.78 -> all-wheel drive with the smaller battery
1400.34 -> pack I don't know who that customer is
1402.2 -> but they're giving you that option so
1403.58 -> that's there that being said it's more
1406.22 -> expensive than the ionic 5 and the id4
1408.74 -> and I don't really know if you're
1410.6 -> getting
1411.5 -> you know anything for that extra cost it
1414.02 -> just doesn't have anything that stands
1415.64 -> out to me as unique or you know
1417.679 -> groundbreaking I mean I think the L2 or
1420.14 -> excuse me the hands-free driving system
1421.76 -> that Gabe mentioned that Pro pilot
1423.799 -> assist 2.0
1425.179 -> you know that's something new that's new
1426.799 -> for Nissan but they're not the only ones
1428.179 -> with a system like that so
1430.039 -> some of those things the questionable
1431.9 -> controls and then maybe the you know
1434.659 -> just average charging characteristics
1437.12 -> kind of make me question you know if
1439.1 -> this was a lot cheaper than some of the
1440.9 -> others uh then you know my tone would be
1443.059 -> a lot different but I think as it stands
1445.34 -> um it kind of just Falls somewhere in
1447.44 -> the playing field it doesn't really rise
1449.24 -> above all right Gabe take us home what
1451.22 -> do you what's your what's your initial
1452.78 -> final opinion on this right now oh it's
1455.179 -> a as I said it's a very pleasant uh SUV
1458.419 -> competitive and uh in terms of uh
1461.9 -> electric drive it's uh I think it's
1464.84 -> gonna satisfy a lot of people yeah if
1467.36 -> you're someone who just charges
1469.64 -> overnight and you don't care if your car
1472.039 -> is gaining 20 or 35 miles uh of range
1476.48 -> per hour then it's probably not going to
1478.58 -> matter to you and if you look at the
1480.919 -> future uh then you you want to be a
1483.98 -> little future proof and it seems like
1486.08 -> the thinking behind the Aria wasn't uh
1488.419 -> so future proof here so the Nissan may
1491.78 -> may be able to uh give you some
1493.88 -> improvements over time but as it stands
1496.82 -> right now it seems a little uh it
1500.059 -> doesn't seem as enthusiastic about some
1502.28 -> of the EV aspects of the vehicle gotcha
1504.679 -> okay well so we have more information on
1507.38 -> the 2023 Aria up on our website
1509.74 -> consumerreports.org so please go there
1511.4 -> and check that out as we said we'll be
1513.559 -> buying an all-wheel drive version as
1515.6 -> soon as uh they are available in early
1518 -> 2023 so stay tuned for our full road
1521.24 -> test results on that as soon as we get
1522.98 -> it
1524.12 -> um and now let's move on to our audience
1526.82 -> question of the week segment and just a
1529.46 -> quick reminder for those of you uh the
1532.34 -> best way to reach us is to send a
1535.279 -> question comment 30 second video clips
1537.14 -> to talking cars at icloud.com
1540.62 -> and you know we do mention that we love
1543.14 -> the video clips because we really enjoy
1545.6 -> seeing you know your smiling faces and
1548.299 -> often the cool cars and backgrounds that
1550.64 -> you have for us so keep those coming and
1553.58 -> once you know it we have one of those
1555.14 -> today so let's run that clip
1557.24 -> hey talking cars I'm a huge fan I've
1561.14 -> actually sent in a question before which
1562.52 -> you guys answered which is super helpful
1564.62 -> um just not in the air I'm hoping this
1565.88 -> one gets on the air I'm from just
1567.32 -> outside of Boston and I've just pulled
1569.72 -> into my garage in the rain in my Chevy
1571.76 -> bolt EV which is awesome I love the
1573.86 -> vehicle and it made me think of
1576.14 -> something the camera was like totally
1578.419 -> worthless covered in droplets of water
1580.4 -> and it seems like Volkswagen's the only
1582.98 -> one who's done anything about this by
1584.6 -> hiding the camera behind the badge and
1586.52 -> it pops out when you pop into reverse
1588.44 -> and that way it's not just getting all
1590.059 -> gunked up the whole time that you're
1591.559 -> driving around I don't understand why
1593.539 -> everyone hasn't done this I don't think
1595.039 -> VW has a patent on it even Audis don't
1597.86 -> do it and they're the same company so
1600.38 -> I'm just wondering what do you think
1601.94 -> about this do you see any reason why
1603.98 -> this can't be done and maybe it's
1605.48 -> something CR could actually advocate for
1607.279 -> since the backup cameras are also part
1609.86 -> of the safety equipment if we don't want
1611.779 -> to be driving over something that we
1613.58 -> can't see because of water droplets so
1615.5 -> maybe you have thoughts on it anyway
1616.64 -> keep up the good work keep talking cars
1619.22 -> love the show thanks so much so Gabe
1621.799 -> Brian certainly brings up a good point
1623.419 -> about the way VW has its you know backup
1626.72 -> camera with that you know it's got that
1628.22 -> giant VW emblem and they're putting it
1630.5 -> to use you know that you it it comes up
1632.539 -> why aren't other automakers doing
1635.179 -> something similar to that to keep that
1637.46 -> backup camera clean
1639.62 -> for the record it's not only VW uh BMW
1642.62 -> has it in the X2 and Mercedes has it in
1645.38 -> some other uh models and uh even Buick
1649.4 -> had it in the models that were made by
1652.52 -> Opel uh GM's previous uh German uh
1656.419 -> subsidiary which they sold since then
1659 -> and yeah Audi doesn't have a round logo
1661.58 -> so it's a little hard to uh for for Audi
1664.4 -> to do this I mean maybe how he should
1666.14 -> change their logo to instead of four uh
1669.14 -> circles side by side to four circles
1671.72 -> stacked on top and he's talking about
1674.419 -> the Chevy bolt right UV that's what he
1676.7 -> has and that's even worse the bow tie
1678.679 -> how are you gonna make that into uh into
1680.72 -> a circle right but
1682.82 -> um yeah I guess you can't but it's
1684.679 -> probably expensive and uh
1687.38 -> but uh yeah but I will say though that
1690.799 -> uh there are some other of course like
1692.299 -> high-end Fords for instance have a jet
1694.279 -> that uh washes the lens and uh I think
1698.419 -> the GM models that use that lens for the
1701.779 -> rear view mirror also has a jet that
1703.76 -> keeps the the lens clean and by the way
1706.4 -> that lens has certain coating that uh
1709.279 -> doesn't uh that prevents it from
1711.26 -> collecting too much uh dirt but I
1714.799 -> actually uh made it to Habit uh uh when
1717.26 -> I walk down the streets I see those uh I
1719.419 -> see a dirty lens I just wipe it for
1721.82 -> somebody
1728.26 -> he's making other people's car alarms go
1731.059 -> off
1731.26 -> [Laughter]
1733.58 -> don't worry just cleaning your camera
1736.779 -> gets a little overwhelming when some of
1738.919 -> these cars have like 20 cameras on them
1740.6 -> you just yeah
1741.799 -> yeah
1742.4 -> um yeah you think it's mostly cost cost
1744.5 -> reasons Alex it's not that's my guess
1746.12 -> but patent or anything like that right I
1748.1 -> don't think so um that's my that's my
1750.08 -> immediate gut reaction it's just it's
1751.58 -> more expensive to do that and I think
1753.62 -> um it correct me wrong but VW
1756.08 -> historically has kind of had the um
1758.299 -> hatch release under the handle as well
1759.919 -> so they kind of already had like that
1761.36 -> flipping mechanism I'm not saying
1763.1 -> definitely that they reused it or
1764.48 -> anything but you know they kind of
1766.159 -> already have that idea but
1767.659 -> um to Gabe's point about the washers I
1769.22 -> will say some of them seem to work
1771.32 -> better than others I don't know if
1772.64 -> you've experienced the same thing some
1774.32 -> of them clean the camera really well
1775.76 -> it's just like kind of a quick little
1777.14 -> you know jet of the washer fluid and
1778.82 -> other ones you'll like hear the pump go
1780.98 -> and then nothing really happens you got
1782.72 -> to try it a couple times it's just a
1783.98 -> little flaky on on some of those models
1785.899 -> so
1786.919 -> um there are options out there but
1788.12 -> definitely agree that there should be
1789.679 -> something to uh keep the cameras clean
1792.02 -> whether it's a logo a washer or just
1794.48 -> Gabe walking around yeah so we all need
1797.059 -> we all need a little Gabe in our life
1798.559 -> but I'm with bro it's too bad the the
1801.799 -> bolt is too far away in Boston right you
1804.74 -> can just uh provide my services I mean
1807.38 -> I'm I'm with Brian in this one it seems
1809 -> to me like it's such an ingenious thing
1810.74 -> that VW did they already were using that
1813.559 -> to open the hatch uh and then then they
1817.039 -> used it for their backup camera and it
1819.919 -> seems like honestly it's a great way to
1821.419 -> keep them clean so why not but anyway
1823.399 -> we'll see what happens down the road all
1825.14 -> right well that's going to do it for
1826.46 -> this episode if you want to learn more
1828.02 -> about the cars and the topics that we
1829.58 -> talked about you can click on the links
1830.899 -> in the show notes don't forget to send
1832.64 -> those questions comments 30 second video
1834.559 -> clips of talking cars at icloud.com this
1837.86 -> episode was produced by Dave Abrams and
1840.02 -> edited by Andrew Belize thanks so much
1842.48 -> for watching and we'll see you all next
1844.159 -> week
1845.65 -> [Music]
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnP-4_6287I