CHATHAM, Mass. – Nissan took the cliché “less is more” to heart when it priced the 2024 model-year Ariya, making this second-year battery-electric vehicle (BEV) a better value by pricing it below last year’s.
The entry-level Ariya Engage single-motor front-wheel-drive (AWD) model dropped $3,600 to $39,500, while the twin-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) 2024 Ariya Platinum+ e-4orce like I recently sampled carried a $54,190 base price or a $6,000 reduction from 2023.
The lower price brings the same five-passenger, up-to-267 miles of range, comfortable, stylish crossover (CUV/SUV) the Japanese brand launched, and I reviewed, more than a year ago.
Lots of power in a compact package
The dual, externally excited synchronous motors (EESM) of the Ariya produce 389 horsepower and 442 pounds-feet of torque, numbers which were once the hallmark of high-performance gasoline-fueled vehicles, but today are more common for vehicles powered by electric motors.
Power for the Ariya’s motors comes from a Lithium-ion, liquid-cooled, underfloor-mounted 91kWh battery (of which 87kWh is usable). The battery is heated which is a major plus in the northern climes where frigid temperatures can sap a BEV’s battery of usable energy. (On a test of a BEV pickup during the coldest weekend of the season, I saw the vehicle’s range halved despite a full charge.)
Fast charging with a Level 3 system (130kW) can bring the Ariya’s battery from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes.
As usual, hooking up to my Level 2 Autel MaxiCharger AC Wallbox Home unit, which is plugged into a 240-Volt NEMA 14-50 outlet in my garage, each night meant I began each day with the Ariya at full charge.
I have begun to look at the miles per kWh to determine operating efficiency and I was getting an average of 3.0 miles/kWh which translates into 261 miles of range. This was a competitive number within the BEV world.
I helped boost range by engaging the e-Step Pedal which is Nissan’s name for the Ariya’s aggressive regenerative-braking system. Pressing the e-Step Pedal button on the center console turns the system on and whenever the driver reduces pressure on the accelerator, the motors become generators and noticeably slow the vehicle.
But this action never brings the Ariya to a complete stop, which means it is not a one-pedal-driving system. Instead, it will slow the CUV to a 4 miles-per-hour creep. Lesser regenerative actions occur when the shifter is in either the B or D modes and the accelerator is released and/or the friction brakes applied.
As for driving performance, like most BEVs, the 2024 Ariya Platinum e-4orce felt strong and powerful whenever I depressed the accelerator. And I mean as soon as I pressed the loud button, the Ariya moved because the electric motors in the Nissan go to full torque immediately; there is no build up (maximum torque at 0 RPM is the phrase).
As for the numbers, Car and Driver testing resulted in a 0-60 miles-per-hour sprint at 5.0 seconds, a time once limited to very-high-performance cars, now the territory of common BEVs. Common this type of performance might be amongst the electrics, but it is still exhilarating and quick for the driver.
Platform also performs
The smooth, always-there, silent power helped the Ariya virtually glide through twisting roads throughout the Mid Cape. I always felt like the chassis was up to whatever the powertrain could deliver. The Ariya might not be considered a sports sedan, but its on-road performance allowed it to act like one when I wanted that kind of performance.
The components enabling such activity include a fully independent suspension featuring struts with coil springs and a hollow 23.4mm stabilizer bar in the front and a multi-link setup with 28.6mm hollow stabilizer bar in the rear.
The electric power rack-and-pinion steering was a quick 2.55 turns lock-to-lock.
The friction braking system includes electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, anti-lock (ABS), an electronic parking brake and vented rotors all around (14.3×1.18 inches front, 13.0×0.63 inches in the rear).
The 19×7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels with aero covers (completely obscuring the brake rotors and calipers from being seen) are fitted with 235/55R19 all-season tires.
Long list of ADAS standard
Befitting the top of the range Platinum+ e4orce designation, the review Ariya came with a comprehensive array of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These systems included automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection; intelligent cruise control with distance-control assist; intelligent forward-collision warning; lane-departure warning; intelligent lane intervention; blind-spot warning; intelligent blind-spot intervention; rear cross-traffic alert; rear automatic braking; traffic-sign recognition; ProPILOT Assist with Navilink; ProPILOT Assist 2.0. and ProPILOT Park.
Thoroughly modern interior
Like many ground-up-design EVs, the 2024 Ariya’s interior is clean, straightforward and devoid of numerous buttons and switches.
Many of the vehicle’s systems are controlled by the 12.3-inch color touchscreen at the center of the dashboard. The display is the heart of the infotainment system which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; SiriusXM satellite radio; Amazon Alexa; Bluetooth streaming audio, standard navigation (with one of the better map user-interfaces) and sound provided by the 10-speaker Bose® Premium Audio system.
The Nappa leather covered seats are heated front and rear with the fronts featuring ventilation as well as power adjustment and two-person memory (driver AND passenger).
Overall, it is an attractive and quite comfortable place for a short spin or a long highway ride. Like most BEVs, the cabin heat comes on quickly (though the seat and steering-wheel heaters are a bit on the weak side and having to turn them on through the touchscreen a bit of an annoyance), the infotainment interface is clear and simple to use (which makes it a standout in today’s over-designed infotainment world) and the seats are firm but comfortable.
Simple in looks, effective in operation.
Solid BEV entry
Nissan was one of the first brands with a mainstream BEV, releasing its Leaf in 2010. More than 600,000 Leafs sold since puts the company in a strong position of understanding this market.
The Ariya is a much more advanced offering than the Leaf, showing what more than a decade of experience can produce. The review model, as mentioned, had a base price of $54,190 to which carpeted floor mats added $260, ground lighting with logo and rear illumination $750, two-tone paint $350 and destination charges $1,390. This brought the as-tested price to $55,940, a competitive number for a BEV crossover like the Ariya.
The 2024 Ariya belongs on anyone’s shopping list this holiday season if they are interested in a comfortable, compact BEV CUV with modern touches and solid performance.
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