2023 Nissan Ariya First Drive | Nissan’s First Electric SUV | Interior, Driving Impressions & More
2023 Nissan Ariya First Drive | Nissan’s First Electric SUV | Interior, Driving Impressions & More
Finally, over a decade after it introduced the Leaf, Nissan has launched a new EV. The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a small SUV with big expectations, and Edmunds’ Ryan ZumMallen got behind the wheel to find out if it meets the mark. The Ariya brings sleek looks, decent electric range, and a relatively affordable price to the steadily growing small EV SUV segment. Nissan has a lot riding on the Ariya — but is it good enough? Head to the video above to find out more!
2023 Nissan Ariya pricing \u0026 review: https://edmu.in/3GNEo26
00:00 Intro
00:45 Overview
02:17 Driving Impressions
07:40 Interior
11:21 Cargo
12:40 Charging
14:25 Price
15:03 Edmunds’ Take
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Content
0 ->
0.54 -> RYAN ZUMMALLEN: Hey,
it's Ryan from Edmunds.
2.37 -> And today, I'm getting to
know the 2023 Nissan Ariya.
5.73 -> What is that?
6.69 -> Well, it's a fully electric
crossover from Nissan.
9.33 -> And it's finally real.
11.4 -> But is it any good?
13.83 -> After all, Nissan has been
building electric vehicles
16.38 -> since the original Leaf in 2011.
19.2 -> The Ariya is the result
of more than a decade
22.02 -> of learning and
understanding being
24.24 -> poured into a brand new model.
26.01 -> So it had better be good.
28.14 -> Let's dive in and find out.
29.36 -> Since we're going to be
spending some time together,
31.53 -> go ahead and click that like
button and that subscribe
34.05 -> button so we can make more
videos just like this one.
36.96 -> Also, if you want
to sell your car,
38.67 -> go to Edmunds.com/SellMyCar
car and you'll get a cash offer
42.6 -> on that baby right now.
45.18 -> So this is the Ariya.
47.31 -> What do we think of the look?
48.99 -> In the comments below,
give me one word
51.18 -> that comes to mind when you
see the look of this thing--
53.53 -> can't wait to see what you got.
54.87 -> For me, on first
impression, the Ariya
57.15 -> looks a little bit generic.
59.01 -> But when you get closer and
spend some more time with it,
61.5 -> there are some cool
features that stand out.
63.81 -> First of all, I think that
sloping fastback roofline
66.45 -> comes off really nicely.
67.92 -> I like these big,
beefy fenders, too.
71.01 -> And there's a cool
lighting signature
73.17 -> and a nice backlit
feature that really
76.02 -> makes it stand out at night.
77.73 -> But what I especially like is
that the Ariya doesn't really
80.22 -> look like any other Nissan--
81.81 -> doesn't really look like a Leaf.
83.73 -> It's just Ariya.
85.3 -> OK.
85.8 -> But what about the
important stuff?
87.42 -> Well, the Ariya is a
compact crossover--
90.39 -> so four doors, up
to five passengers.
93.84 -> It's about the size of
a Rogue, if that helps.
96.66 -> Now you can get all
wheel drive versions,
98.85 -> but initially, all of
the Ariya deliveries
101.34 -> are going to be front
wheel drive like this one.
104.04 -> The Ariya is the first model
for a new electric vehicle
107.19 -> platform.
108.03 -> That's going to be shared
with Nissan, Mitsubishi,
110.52 -> and Renault. So globally, there
will be 15 different models
114.72 -> that come off of
this EV platform--
116.91 -> 15!
118.02 -> Like I said, this
has to be good.
120.21 -> Maximum range?
121.62 -> Nissan says that certain
trims of the Ariya
123.87 -> can go up to 304 miles
on a single charge.
127.38 -> We won't be able to put
that to the test today.
129.63 -> But as soon as we get an Ariya
back to our headquarters,
132.57 -> we'll put it on the
Edmunds EV test loop.
135.24 -> Now what do you say we drive it?
137.32 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
139.74 ->
141.19 -> Nissan says its Leaf owners
have logged more than 8
144.9 -> billion miles in their cars.
147.37 -> The company should have a
pretty good understanding of how
151 -> electric vehicles should drive.
153.19 -> And my first impressions in the
Ariya have been pretty good.
156.04 -> But first, I want to talk
about the different versions
159.04 -> you can get.
160.48 -> Let's talk front wheel
drive models first,
162.49 -> since those are the
ones that are going
164.11 -> to be delivered initially.
166.03 -> There is a smaller
battery option.
168.76 -> That one's a 63
kilowatt hour pack,
172.57 -> making about 214 horsepower.
175.03 -> But this one that I'm
driving is the premiere.
177.82 -> And along with some
other trims, it
179.53 -> gets an extended battery pack--
181.48 -> 87 kilowatt hours
and 238 horsepower.
186.28 -> Just driving around town,
this is really smooth,
189.52 -> really well executed.
191.14 -> It's not jerky at all when
you come on the throttle
194.23 -> or come off it and the
regenerative brakes pop on.
197.11 -> Instead, it's a really
smooth, nice ride,
199.45 -> which I think is important.
200.86 -> It shows that the
company knows how to do
202.78 -> a refined electric vehicle.
204.85 -> What does that 238 horsepower
feel like on the road?
208.57 -> Well, when you step on it,
there's a nice initial burst
212.53 -> and then, it smooths out
and becomes very linear.
216.85 -> It's not the most
power in the world.
218.56 -> This is not a performance
electric SUV by any means.
222.37 -> But there is plenty of
muscle when you need it.
225.82 -> That's what's important.
227.38 -> As for the regenerative
braking, the braking system
230.59 -> will allow you to come off
the throttle and just coast.
234.1 -> It slows you down
slightly, but not too much.
237.04 -> And I like the fact that
it allows you to just coast
239.68 -> because a lot of
electric vehicles don't.
242.32 -> Then, when you get
into the brake pedal,
245.08 -> it's really smooth,
consistent, no surprises.
250.03 -> Again, that's not how
it is with all EVs.
252.19 -> So, you know, this is
saying something, here.
254.65 -> If you want to strengthen
the regenerative braking,
257.05 -> Nissan has a little button down
here to activate wait calls
260.86 -> e-Step.
261.88 -> Now that makes it
more forceful when
263.89 -> you come off the accelerator.
266.23 -> So when I let off of
the pedal, there's
269.05 -> a little bit more force there.
270.67 -> But it's not as
much as many EVs.
273.94 -> It focuses on smoothness
here for sure.
276.61 -> On the plus side, that helps
you slow down in a hurry
279.79 -> without having to
touch the brake pedal.
281.92 -> On the downside, for
a lot of EV owners
284.5 -> anyway, it will not go
all the way to a stop.
287.23 -> So true, one-pedal driving
is not really possible
291.25 -> in the Ariya--
293.26 -> at least not now.
295.09 -> Steering and handling wise,
I'm pretty impressed so far--
298.72 -> steering wheel feels
pretty responsive.
301.21 -> And yes, of course,
electric vehicles
302.95 -> have their batteries
under the floor so they
304.78 -> have a low center of gravity.
306.04 -> But I've been kind of surprised
lately how many EVs still
309.67 -> feel like they're
wobbling around when
312.04 -> you go through a hard turn.
313.33 -> And I haven't noticed
that yet in the Ariya,
315.28 -> so that's a good sign.
317.02 -> And then another point I want
to touch on is the NVH here,
320.11 -> or how quiet it is in the cabin.
323.32 -> Now at low speeds going around
the city, this is great.
326.8 -> You really don't get much
sound at all inside the car.
330.28 -> The motor is quiet.
331.72 -> The wind outside is quiet--
so is the road noise.
335.01 -> You just don't get very much.
336.22 -> It feels like a solidly
constructed cabin
339.49 -> with pretty airtight seals.
341.14 -> When you leave the city
and get onto highways,
343.3 -> you will feel more noise.
345.01 -> I mean, first of all,
there's no engine
346.63 -> to drown out the
wind and everything.
348.43 -> But I am noticing that that
air-tight quality goes away
352.93 -> just a little bit, feeling
like more wind is getting in
356.71 -> and interrupting that silence
I was enjoying so much.
359.56 -> But there's more
good news to add,
361.45 -> and that is the ride quality.
363.22 -> Feel like the Ariya
has really figured
365.29 -> out its suspension geometry.
367.18 -> And a lot of that is
that heavy battery pack
369.13 -> on the bottom keeping the
car close to the ground--
371.83 -> but haven't noticed harsh
vibrations or really big jolts
377.05 -> when I go over
cracks in the road.
378.91 -> This has been a very nice,
composed ride so far.
382.27 -> There's a lot to like here.
383.77 -> As for all wheel
drive models, you
385.27 -> can get that same
smaller battery pack
387.25 -> or the extended version.
389.35 -> But what's nice is you
have an electric motor
392.68 -> on the front wheels
and on the rear wheels,
395.11 -> giving you that all wheel drive.
396.82 -> But because you've
got two motors,
398.32 -> you can get up to
389 horsepower.
403 -> Yes-- 389.
405.85 -> And I feel like that's
a big differentiator
407.68 -> between the Ariya and
some of its competitors
409.81 -> that don't offer bigger
horsepower versions--
412.87 -> can't wait to drive that one.
414.52 -> We're going to have to wait
a little while, though.
416.71 -> The Ariya's all wheel drive
system is called force.
419.59 -> And, yes-- tragically,
that's force with a four.
424.66 -> The last thing I want to touch
on about driving the Ariya
427.03 -> is its hands free
driving system.
429.16 -> I didn't get a
chance to film it,
430.72 -> but Propilot Assist
2.0 works just
433.48 -> like adaptive cruise control.
435.16 -> It automatically keeps
the distance and speed
437.86 -> without you needing to touch
the accelerator or the brakes.
441.34 -> But it takes it to
another level by also
443.68 -> allowing you to take
your hands off the wheel.
446.35 -> It can even make lane changes
when you use the turn signal
449.47 -> and keep your
hands on the wheel.
451.12 -> Now I only used it
briefly, but it felt good
453.55 -> and seems comparable to
BlueCruise from Ford and Super
456.91 -> Cruise from General Motors.
458.81 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
461.4 -> The interior is one area
where EVs can really
464.1 -> separate from one another.
465.66 -> And I feel like
Nissan has really
467.49 -> done a nice job of
that with the Ariya.
469.74 -> The aesthetic is minimalist but
very sleek at the same time.
476.07 -> There are a few ways that this
is illustrated most clearly.
480.72 -> The first is the amount
of wood in here--
484.05 -> from this portion
stretching along the dash
486.42 -> to this center console.
488.13 -> It's just a really nice feeling.
490.17 -> And the second thing is the way
that the buttons and controls
493.59 -> are integrated in here.
495.27 -> You've got your climate up on
the wood and the same thing
498.54 -> with these controls down here.
500.61 -> So you do get haptic feedback
when you press on them hard,
504.03 -> so you know that you pressed it.
505.71 -> But there's no cutouts
for the buttons.
508.08 -> Everything's just real
smooth and looks really nice.
511.59 -> Up front, you've got two
screens in front of the driver--
514.17 -> one directly in front of the
driver, the digital display,
516.69 -> and one center touch screen.
518.88 -> Both of them are 12.3 inches.
521.13 -> Both of them are
standard on every Ariya.
523.71 -> On top of all that,
Nissan did put
526.05 -> some pretty flashy,
cool features in here.
529.23 -> The first thing is this
relatively flat floor
532.53 -> and open tunnel space out here.
534.84 -> Since you don't have a
traditional transmission
537.57 -> tunnel, you've got
all this space.
539.16 -> And they opted to leave it open.
541.32 -> It just makes me a
little bit nervous
543.12 -> when something could potentially
roll over from side to side
546.18 -> and get under your feet.
547.44 -> But maybe I'm overreacting.
549.07 -> Let me know what you
think in the comments.
550.86 -> It is nice to have a big,
airy, open feel in here.
554.79 -> Elsewhere, that
big center console
556.66 -> I was talking about
earlier-- you've got buttons
558.66 -> right here to power adjust it--
move it all the way forward
564.12 -> or move it back, depending
on where you want it to be.
566.94 -> You press this button
right here and watch this--
570.6 -> get a little storage
space that pops out.
574.41 -> Extra-- so some extra
cords or stuff in there.
578.07 -> And then, with another press,
it just goes right back in.
582.12 -> Now that feature is cool, but it
brings up the issue of storage.
585.24 -> And that bin is going to
be helpful because you
587.58 -> don't get much in here.
589.23 -> If you open this up,
there is a charging pad
591.39 -> for your phone, which is great.
592.89 -> But that's all you
get in the center
597.12 -> console storage
area-- so maybe enough
599.73 -> for some keys, or earrings, or
a watch and that's about it.
604.26 -> Last and final thing is this
rear view mirror camera.
607.47 -> And this is coming on
a lot of cars, now,
609.18 -> but it's just
really nice to have.
611.13 -> And that is something
that I think
612.99 -> lends to the more
futuristic tech
614.82 -> feel that the Ariya deserves.
618.18 -> To the back.
619.26 -> First things first--
nice, tall opening
623.22 -> so I didn't have to
duck too much to get in.
625.08 -> And a pretty flat
floor, so I didn't have
627.3 -> to lift my legs over, either.
629.91 -> Something that some
EVs struggle with
631.95 -> is having a big,
bulky sill right there
634.11 -> that you got to swing your legs
over-- not so here, really.
636.96 -> Again, you got a nice, flat
floor-- so a big airy space.
639.69 -> And at six feet, I've got
a lot of room back here.
643.11 -> I can set back and
settle in nicely.
645.99 -> I've still got lots of leg room.
647.49 -> And if I want max leg room--
like, that's pretty good size.
651.45 -> So even though the area is
about the size of a Rogue,
654.93 -> it's got the wheelbase
of a bigger Murano.
657.63 -> And so you can see where
they put most of that space--
660.69 -> here in leg room.
661.94 -> I've also got
pretty good headroom
663.36 -> even though we've got a big
panoramic sunroof in here.
666.57 -> Nissan didn't leave the
back seat completely bare.
669.18 -> So rear passengers do get some
of the same cool amenities
672.72 -> as the front ones.
673.86 -> So you've got nice,
cool textures here
676.2 -> and soft surfaces, buttons
for your heated seats,
678.87 -> and two USB ports.
680.7 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
683.25 -> Let's talk cargo space.
684.91 -> First thing to know--
even though this
686.49 -> is an electric vehicle,
there is no frunk.
689.34 -> I don't understand this.
690.51 -> You've got no engine up front.
691.89 -> You've got a brand new platform.
693.42 -> You can design anything in
the world that you want.
695.55 -> And you decide not to
put a storage space
698.22 -> and utilize that extra room.
700.83 -> I don't know why.
701.73 -> Well we better move on before
I get too upset about it.
704.07 -> In the back, you've got
over 22 cubic feet of space
708.09 -> behind the rear seats.
709.38 -> That's a good amount of
space, as you can see,
711.3 -> but it does pale in
comparison to competitors,
714.33 -> like the VW ID.4 and the
Tesla Model Y. However,
718.26 -> it is pretty deep in there.
719.48 -> The load floor is a
little high, but there's
721.62 -> a nice, wide opening.
722.82 -> So it's still a
pretty usable space.
724.62 -> And if you fold down
those second row seats,
726.6 -> you get over 59
cubic feet of space,
728.82 -> which is much more in
line with the competition.
731.37 -> The area does have a cool trick
feature, though-- this divide
734.4 -> and hide system.
735.54 -> So you can lift up one
panel or even two--
741.78 -> I can get my laptop
bag in there--
743.61 -> and close it up.
744.93 -> And you're not going to be able
to see it from the outside.
748.96 -> And you can still use
all of this space.
750.91 -> So there is a nice
usability factor in here,
754.03 -> but not a whole lot
to really wow me
756.88 -> if cargo space is
super important to you.
759.56 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
760.74 -> When it comes to
charging, Nissan
762.24 -> has two main components
inside the new Ariya
765.09 -> that are competent, but not
necessarily wowing anybody.
768.96 -> The first is the
onboard charger, which
770.91 -> is rated at 7.2 kilowatts.
773.22 -> Now that's more
than a Toyota bZ4X,
775.5 -> but less than most competitors.
777.84 -> And so, it's just going to limit
the max amount of electricity
780.96 -> you can put into
the car at one time.
783.54 -> On top of that, the architecture
is a 400 volt system.
786.96 -> Again, that's pretty standard
for most EVs these days.
789.54 -> But some of them, like
the Hyundai IONIQ 5,
791.79 -> go above and beyond--
793.35 -> up to 800 volts, which will just
give you a faster max charge.
796.92 -> When it comes to actually
charging the Ariya,
798.99 -> all you do is pop open
this door flap here
801.57 -> and you've got the connectors.
803.61 -> Now this is a departure
from the Leaf.
805.71 -> For the Ariya, Nissan
is using a CCS system.
808.71 -> And that just means
you've got two ports--
810.72 -> one for traditional, AC,
slow charging and one for DC,
814.62 -> fast charging.
815.67 -> This is just becoming a
more universally accepted
818.58 -> charging system in the US.
819.94 -> And so, they wanted the Ariya
to have something that would
822.36 -> be easy for US buyers to use.
824.94 -> It's got pretty good
capability, too.
827.25 -> Nissan says you can charge from
20% to 80% battery life in as
831.54 -> little as 35 minutes,
depending on the charger
834.48 -> and trim level you have.
835.91 -> If you're thinking
about getting an Ariya,
837.66 -> there is an incentive that
you should know about.
839.94 -> Contact your dealer and see if
you can qualify for up to $500
843.18 -> in credits at EVgo
charging stations.
845.94 -> It's a pretty sweet deal.
847.59 -> On top of that, Nissan
dealers have free fast
851.07 -> charging as well.
852.27 -> Now, those aren't super fast.
854.1 -> Most of them are going to be
limited to just 30 kilowatts.
856.83 -> But if you're visiting
the dealership already
859.17 -> or you just happen
to be in town,
860.91 -> it's nice to stop in
and plug in for free.
864.04 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
865.86 -> What is all that
going to cost you?
868.08 -> Well, the 2023 Ariya is
starting just over $44,000
872.16 -> including destination.
873.54 -> And this particular
model is going
875.34 -> to run you closer to $56,000.
878.1 -> If you want the all wheel drive
models that will eventually
880.56 -> come out in 2023, tack
on about an extra $4,000,
884.82 -> depending on which trim
you're looking for.
886.83 -> Now, Nissan is
fighting hard to be
889.08 -> included in those new round
of federal tax credits
892.08 -> that are available.
893.1 -> But as of right now, there's
not a lot of information.
895.68 -> So be sure to check back to
Edmunds.com for all the latest.
899.1 -> Or give your dealer a call
and see what information
901.32 -> they can give you.
902.54 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
905.39 -> I found my first drive with the
Ariya to be pretty pleasant.
908.48 -> And thankfully, there are
no fatal flaws, at least
911.78 -> on first impression-- you know,
something like the Toyota bZ4X
915.23 -> having pretty bad
ergonomics or the Volkswagen
918.59 -> ID.4 for having really annoying
touch sensitive controls.
922.34 -> The Ariya doesn't really make
any unforced errors like that--
925.49 -> other than spelling
force with a four.
928.01 -> But is it good enough?
930.83 -> Still not sure.
931.97 -> We'll have to wait until
we can get an Ariya
934.25 -> back into the Edmunds
lab and do our full round
936.89 -> of comprehensive
tests before we truly
939.26 -> know where it stacks up
against the competition.
941.84 -> I'm also looking
forward to getting
943.7 -> into that all wheel drive
Ariya in a few months time.
946.37 -> So stay tuned for that.
947.84 -> As for now, I got to
go find some food--
950.6 -> with an f, not a four.
952.31 -> [MUSIC PLAYING]
955.06 ->
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3-uHYVmp2o