Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
This week we are getting some seat time in the 2024 Nissan Ariya, Platinum AWD edition. The Nissan Ariya is a battery-electric compact crossover SUV that is produced by Nissan since January 2022. The Ariya is the brand’s first zero-emissions SUV. Due to the chip shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ariya’s launch was delayed to 2022 from its original 2021 launch
Upon first look you notice the 19” alloy wheels with Aero wheel covers. The front-end of the Ariya pops with LED lighting signatures, such as the LED low and high beam headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED turn signals, LED taillights and full width illumination LED fog lights. The model that we received came in a two-tone blue and black hue. The Nissan Ariya has enough curb appeal to capture the eye on and off the road.
The interior is nice with a comfy cabin. The 2024 Ariya has blue suede material on the dashboard and door panels, simulated matte-finish wood trim on the dashboard and center console, bronze accents, and illuminated textured panels to provide ambient lighting. I really enjoyed the futuristic vibe that the interior of the Ariya gave off. The dashboard is really smooth and sleek, matching up with the design of the exterior. The inside feels very spacious and even has zero-gravity seats that fit right with the futuristic feel of the vehicle. The cabin was pleasingly quiet so that was a plus.
I enjoyed the infotainment system in the Ariya. The model that we reviewed came with two 12.3-inch displays. One contains digital instrumentation and numerous menus providing access to data, vehicle settings, and more. The other is a touchscreen with NissanConnect technology. The infotainment system features both Amazon Alexa and a built-in voice assistant. The Ariya also has Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, Sirius XM and a BOSE premium audio system with 10 speakers. The sound was crystal clear and kept us grooving as we made our way around town.
The Ariya that we reviewed was the powerful e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive Ariya. It is noticeably quicker than the rest. A 290kW AC synchronous motor alongside an 87 kWh usable Lithium-Ion battery kicks out 389 horsepower with 442 pound-feet of torque. The Ariya provides a comfortable ride that should please most buyers. The model we had carried some pep in it’s step but it was far from a sports car. The Ariya is listed at 93 mpge in the city, 87 mpge on the highway and 90 mpge combined. On a full charge, the Ariya has a driving range of 267 miles.
Safety is important to Nissan. The Ariya comes equipped with ProPilot 2.0, Nissan’s second generation of the ProPilot driver-assistance technology. Key safety features include, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with a hands-free driving mode, high beam assist and more.
Nissan gives the Ariya a basic warranty package that includes a competitive bumper-to-bumper policy as well as battery protection that stretches over eight years or 100,000 miles. The Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, the Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles and the Battery warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles but there is no complimentary scheduled maintenance available.
The 2024 Nissan Ariya is in a competitive class going up against the Toyota bZ4X, Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2, Volvo EX30, Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. One of the shortcomings is that it’s maximum DC-fast charging rate is 130 kW. That is much lower than the competition so pack your patience when you need to charge it.
Overall, the Ariya is great when it comes to space, power and style. The interior is elegant with wood-trim and soft touch buttons on the dashboard. I will say that a bit more range would be useful with faster charging but is in no way a deal breaker. The model that we tested comes in at $56,940 so it is jump from the Leaf. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
