THE NEW ARIYA IS FINALLY HERE! BUT IS IT ALREADY TOO LATE FOR NISSAN?

EV Channels Review

The Nissan Ariya, Nissan's electric follow-up to the Leaf, arrives with a premium interior and a comfortable ride, featuring Napa leather and a unique, adjustable center console. Its e-Force all-wheel-drive system offers good acceleration (0-60 in 4.8 seconds) and Nissan's ProPilot 2.0 driver assistance is functional, though can be finicky. However, the Ariya suffers from significant drawbacks: its charging speed maxes out at 130 kW, which is slow compared to competitors, and its Japanese manufacturing means it doesn't qualify for the federal $7,500 tax credit, making its $62,770 price tag for the tested model considerably higher than rivals like the Tesla Model Y. The placement of the charge port on the passenger side is also a notable inconvenience compared to the Leaf's front-mounted port. While the Ariya is a well-executed vehicle with a charming, luxurious feel, its late arrival and high price point present substantial headwinds in the competitive EV market.