2023 Nissan Ariya customer deliveries in the U.S. finally begin [Update]

Update: ‘Nissan Ariya availability in U.S. to be scarce in 2023’ sub-section added.

After a year of delay, the Nissan Ariya has finally gone on sale in the United States. California-based dealer, Nissan of Tustin, delivered the first Ariyas in America on December 18, 2022.

Calverton, New York-based Riverhead Nissan, Kirkland, Washington-based Lee Johnson Nissan of Kirkland, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Fred Anderson Nissan Raleigh, and many other dealerships in the U.S. have received shipments of the Nissan electric SUV. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Nissan Ariya:

Design

The 2023 Nissan Ariya looks like no other Nissan model on the market, and that’s because it follows a new design theme – “Timeless Japanese Futurism.” The all-electric SUV-coupe exudes powerfulness with grace and simplicity, easily relatable to Japanese designs. A sleek silhouette and smooth, seamless surfaces make it look built to cut through the air with a breeze.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya has a chic design, but at the same time, it also has some attributes that portray dominance and sportiness. The thin LED headlamps built of four 20-mm mini-projectors, the giant “aerodynamic shield” in place of a traditional grille, and the drop-down LED DRLs let onlookers know exactly what’s coming their way. The new brand logo, positioned at the center of the aerodynamic shield, is illuminated, adding to the vehicle’s sci-fi first impression.

Black underbody cladding goes from the front all the way to the rear and complements the chunky alloy wheels in contributing to the classic SUV traits. At the rear, a steeply raked C-pillar merges flawlessly into the deck. That and the quickly sloping roofline are principal to the 2023 Nissan Ariya’s low-slung, sporty stance. The rear combination lamps had to have drama like the front lights, and the combined light blade with a blackened treatment ensures that.

Dimension	Measurement
Length	182.9 in.
Width	74.8 in.
Height	65.4-65.7 in.
Wheelbase	109.3 in.

Interior

The 2023 Nissan Ariya has its own identity and lays a foundation for future Nissans. The dedicated BEV platform has a flat floor, which means an uninterrupted and practical cabin that gives more legroom and easier interaction between the front- and rear-seat occupants. However, there are some raised sections in the middle, and those are because of the harness for some systems (like ProPILOT 2.0) that need to draw power from the sub-battery. Hikaru Nakajima, the chief vehicle engineer of the 2023 Nissan Ariya, revealed this in an interview with blog.evsmart.net in September 2020.

Nissan says that the interior is closer to a sleek cafe lounge on a starship than an ordinary vehicle cabin (no reason to argue on that!). The dashboard has been designed to look sleeker and seamlessly merge with the door panels. It aligns with the vehicle’s minimalist nature, perhaps in the highest degree of all parts, with almost no physical controls. The company has integrated the primary climate control functions into a wooden center dash – premium and close to nature – with capacitive haptic switches.

The steering wheel is a fancy two-spoke unit, underscoring the “less is more” philosophy. Two large displays – a fully digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen central display – are positioned upright to allow the driver to view information and easily access the infotainment system.

In the U.S., Nissan sells the Ariya in Engage, Engage+, Venture+, Evolve+, Empower+, Premiere, and Platinum+ grades. ProPILOT Assist 2.0, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, and Nissan Safety Shield 360 are among the available features.

Range & Performance

Along with a striking exterior and an exceptionally minimalist interior, the 2023 Nissan Ariya rides on a brand new Alliance platform, the CMF-EV. Unlike the Leaf, the battery packs of the 2023 Nissan Ariya are liquid-cooled. Four power electric (PE) configurations are available, and we’ve classified them as follows for a simpler understanding:

• SR FWD (Standard-Range Front Wheel Drive)
• ER FWD (Extended-Range Front Wheel Drive)
• SR AWD (Standard-Range All Wheel Drive)
• ER AWD (Extended-Range All Wheel Drive)

Nissan is prioritizing deliveries of the Ariyas specified in the SR FWD and ER FWD configurations. The SR FWD and SR AWD configurations share a 63 kWh battery pack, while the ER FWD and ER AWD configurations share an 87 kWh battery pack.

The SR FWD configuration has a 214 hp/221 lb.-ft. front motor, and its EPA-est. range is 216 miles. The ER FWD configuration has a 238 hp/221 lb.-ft. front motor, and its EPA-est. range is 289 miles (Evolve+, Empower+, and Premiere)/304 miles (Venture+).

The SR AWD configuration sports two motors, one at the front and one at the rear, which produce 335 hp and 413 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Nissan’s calculation, it should deliver a range of 207 miles. The ER AWD configuration combines two punchier motors that produce 389 hp and 442 lb.-ft. of torque. If specified with 19-inch wheels, Nissan’s estimate is that it can deliver a range of 268 miles (Platinum+) or 272 miles (Engage+ and Evolve+). With the optional 20″ wheels, the company expects its range to be lower – 258 miles.

Aspect	SR FWD	ER FWD	SR AWD	ER AWD
No. of Motors	One (Front)	One (Front)	Two (Front & Rear)	Two (Front & Rear)
Power	214 hp	238 hp	335 hp	389 hp
Torque	221 lb.-ft.	221 lb.-ft.	413 lb.-ft.	442 lb.-ft.
Battery Pack Capacity	63 kWh	87 kWh	63 kWh	87 kWh
Range	216 miles [EPA-est.]	289 or 304 miles [EPA-est.]	207 miles [Nissan-est.]	268 or 272 miles (with 19″ wheels)/258 miles (with 20″ wheels) [Nissan-est.]
Max. AC Charging Power	7.2 kW	7.2 kW	7.2 kW	7.2 kW
Level 2 Charging Time (0-100% SoC)	10.5 hours	14 hours	14 hours	14 hours
Max. DC Charging Power	130 kW	130 kW	130 kW	130 kW
Level 3 Charging Time (20-80% SoC)	35 minutes (at 130 kW)/65 minutes (at 50 kW)	40 minutes (at 130 kW)/90 minutes (at 50 kW)	40 minutes (at 130 kW)/90 minutes (at 50 kW)	40 minutes (at 130 kW)/90 minutes (at 50 kW)
Towing Capacity	Not Available	Not Available	To Be Announced	To Be Announced

The charging technology is the same across the range. Customers can charge their Ariya at up to 7.2 kW on alternating current or at up to 130 kW on direct current. With a Level 2 charger, charging from 0 to 100% SoC takes 10.5 hours (63 kWh battery pack)/14 hours (87 kWh battery pack). With a Level 3 charger, charging from 0 to 80% SoC can be as quick as 35 minutes 63 kWh battery pack)/40 minutes (87 kWh battery pack).

2023 Nissan Ariya home charger

Ariya customers in the U.S. can use Wallbox’s Pulsar Plus home charger which retails at USD 649. Nissan started offering this charger at its local dealers in early July 2022, along with the convenience of scheduling the installation online through nissanusa.com. The company said that it will provide a rebate on the charger and installation to customers who purchase through the new program with Wallbox.

Wallbox Pulsar Plus is a Matte Black Level 2 (240V) charger that allows charging on alternating current at up to 9.6 kW. It has a 25-inch cable and supports voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Price

On September 27, 2022, Nissan announced a price hike and an expanded grade structure (incl. new Engage, Engage+, and Empower options) for the 2023 Ariya in the U.S. The price range changed from USD 45,950-58,950 (excl. USD 1,175 destination and handling charge) to USD 43,190-60,190 (excl. USD 1,295 destination and handling charge).

Configuration	Battery Pack	Performance	Range	Price
Ariya Engage FWD	63 kWh	214 hp/221 lb.-ft.	216 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 43,190
Ariya Venture+ FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	304 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 47,190
Ariya Evolve+ FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	289 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 50,190
Ariya Empower+ FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	289 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 53,690
Ariya Premiere FWD (limited edition)	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	289 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 54,690
Ariya Engage e-4ORCE	63 kWh	335 hp/413 lb.-ft.	207 miles [Nissan-est.]	USD 47,190
Ariya Engage+ e-4ORCE	87 kWh	389 hp/442 lb.-ft.	272 miles [Nissan-est.]	USD 51,190
Ariya Evolve+ e-4ORCE	87 kWh	389 hp/442 lb.-ft.	272 miles [Nissan-est.]	USD 54,190
Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD	87 kWh	389 hp/442 lb.-ft.	268 miles (with 19″ wheels)/258 miles (with 20″ wheels) [Nissan-est.]	USD 60,190

Customers who reserved their Ariya earlier get it at the original price. The table above shows the current prices, while below are the original prices:

Configuration	Battery Pack	Performance	Range	Price
Ariya Venture+ FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	304 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 45,950
Ariya Evolve+ FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	289 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 48,950
Ariya Premiere FWD	87 kWh	238 hp/221 lb.-ft.	289 miles [EPA-est.]	USD 53,450
Ariya Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD	87 kWh	389 hp/442 lb.-ft.	268 miles (with 19″ wheels)/258 miles (with 20″ wheels) [Nissan-est.]	USD 58,950

With the Inflation Reduction Act enacted, Clean Vehicle Credit has replaced Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit under the Biden administration. Had Nissan launched the Ariya in the U.S. in late 2021 as originally planned, at least a few thousand customers could have saved up to USD 7,500 on their purchase under the scheme.

Clean Vehicle Credit requires the final assembly of the electrified vehicle to take place in North America, which makes the Ariya ineligible for subsidy as it stands. The U.S. gets the Leaf from the local Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant (Tennessee), but the Ariya is shipped from the Nissan Tochigi Plant, which is located in Japan.

Nissan Ariya availability in U.S. to be scarce in 2023

In a National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) meeting between Nissan and its approximately 200 dealers in the U.S., the company cautioned the retailers about limited availability of the Ariya for the rest of the year, Automotive News reported on January 29, 2023. The Japanese automaker cited rising material cost for batteries as the primary factor behind its decision to limit the supply of the Ariya for the U.S. market, notes the report.

Nissan Dealer Advisory Board Chairman Tyler Slade told the American publication that dealers have potential buyers queued for the Ariya, but there simply aren’t enough units available to fulfill the demand.

Freebie for reservation holders

Customers in the U.S. have long been waiting to see the 2023 Nissan Ariya in their garage, and that situation is unlikely to change soon for many reservation holders. However, Nissan was feeling generous ahead of the holiday season in 2022, gifting select reservation holders a Meta Quest 2 to keep them excited for the Ariya. The virtual reality headset costs USD 399.99 onwards retail and came pre-loaded with the Nissan Ariya VR Experience. Customers who got this gift can virtually experience the Ariya while they wait for delivery.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya has arrived at a time when the demand for electric SUVs is witnessing a boom in America. Given its SUV body style, range, price, and high-end technologies, it should become Nissan’s best-selling electric car. Nissan sold less than 15,000 units of the Leaf in the USA in 2021. 2022 didn’t look any different for the compact electric hatchback, as the company delivered 8,898 units between January and September. We expect the more advanced Ariya to be far more popular once supply stabilizes.

Nissan U.S. electrification strategy

“I’m signing an executive order setting out a target of 50 percent of all passenger vehicles sold by 2030 will be electric,” U.S. President Joe Biden announced on August 5, 2021. On the same day, Nissan announced that it plans to convert more than 40% of U.S. vehicle sales to pure-electric models by 2030. The announcement followed the company’s January 2021 statement that confirmed the electrification of the entire Nissan product lineup in key markets like Japan, China, the U.S., and European countries by the early 2030s. The Japanese automaker’s ultimate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050.

Nissan Ariya NISMO variant

Guillaume Cartier, Chairperson, Nissan (AMIEO), told Top Gear that the brand is looking at bringing the NISMO badge back under the spotlight, according to the publication’s May 4, 2022 report. The brand currently has the Ariya, Leaf, and the upcoming Micra electric, which could wear the NISMO badge, but an official decision is awaited. An Ariya NISMO could be on the table, considering the growing demand for SUVs. Enthusiasts would love to bet on a performance-focused Ariya, and many customers would be seeking an alternative to the VW ID.5 GTX, Kia EV6 GT, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and the Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS iV.

What would an Ariya NISMO look like? Our illustration (unofficial render) above has been curated to shed light on what to expect. Our NISMO treatment includes aggressive bumpers, side body cladding in black and red, red brake calipers, 20-inch black alloy wheels and a fixed rear wing to give the SUV physics-defying performance. A lowered ride height and a sprinkling of red accents would seal the deal. As for the cabin, we’d expect bucket seats, red and black faux leather upholstery, metal-finish pedals, a G-force meter, and a lap timer.

Powertrain-wise, Nissan may build on the Ariya e-4ORCE AWD version. Chassis upgrades, including stiffened suspension and recalibrated steering and brakes, would make the Nismo hard to resist. Nissan may also use learnings from motorsport and Formula E, especially to finetune the NISMO models.

TopElectricSUV says

With four different power-electric (PE) configurations, seven trim options, and a wide price range, the Ariya has something for everyone. Multiple delays in the launch and losing the eligibility for federal tax credits did ruin the excitement for some Ariya customers, though, and Nissan needs to bring its A-game and speed up deliveries to avoid losing reservations to rivals. Over time, the company will need to lower prices to make it more competitive against the VW ID.4, and that looks to be achievable through localization in North America.

Nissan Ariya FAQs

Featured image: Nissan