When it comes to the Nissan Ariya EV, it may seem like the journey from concept to production reality has been one filled with many twists and turns (as well as a few COVID-19 related potholes along the way.) At last, the journey is now over, with Nissan not only revealing final U.S. pricing for the Ariya but also opening up reservations for the new model too.
Nissan Following GM Playbook In Regards To Ariya Ordering
Look at the Ariya’s launch plans, and it appears that Nissan is borrowing a page or two from GM’s approach to things. GM is initially planning to release only a few combinations of upcoming EV models like the Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq, and Nissan will be following suit with the Ariya. Currently, reservations are being limited to a few versions starting with the entry-level (for now) Venture+ which starts at $47,950 before green tax credits are factored into the mix.
The Venture+ is also the Ariya variant that will have the most significant range, with this variant getting up to 300 miles per charge. Power comes from a liquid-cooled battery pack paired with a single electric motor that produces 238 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, with power being sent to the front wheels. This Ariya trim also has an impressive amount of premium touches, including standard, LED lighting, 19-inch wheels, cloth seats, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with bundled in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
Evolve+ and Premiere cost $50,125 and $54,625, respectively. While range does dip down to 285 miles per charge, they bring more equipment to the parade with goodies such as automatic wipers, wireless phone charging, and hands-free ProPilotAssist 2.0, which is a response to GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s Blue Cruise technology.
Last but not least is the $60,125 Platinum + e-4-ORCE which is where things truly start to get spicy in the Ariya. The single motor setup is replaced with an uplevel dual-motor configuration paired with a standard all-wheel-drive system to produce 389 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The range goes down further to 265 miles, but it packs on the luxury with Nappa leather seats, active noise cancellation, and a Bose 10-speaker sound system.
When Can I Buy A 2023 Ariya?
In addition to the fore-mentioned Ariya models, rumors are swirling that other (and perhaps cheaper) Ariya models are coming. Still, Nissan is not ready to talk about those versions just yet. In the meantime, if the current roster of Ariya models floats your boat, Nissan is opening up reservations with the first 10,000 Ariya buyers getting a complimentary two-year membership to EVGo with a $500 charging credit.
Front-wheel drive Ariya models will begin arriving in dealerships next fall, with the all-wheel-drive versions arriving shortly afterward. The electric vehicle market is rapidly growing, and it will be interesting to see if the Ariya will help Nissan carve out a welcome slice of the pie for itself.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.