2024 Nissan Ariya Empower+ Review

No gas stations for me this week!  I’ve been tooling around DFW in the 2024 all-electric Nissan Ariya, a crossover SUV that really seemed to catch everyone’s eye for its styling and sleek lines.  It’s interesting that there are many different models available and all of them have different electric ranges and as you go up in range, they go up in price as well.  I have the Empower+ package, and there are three other levels in two-wheel drive, and five different levels in all-wheel drive.  There are so many choices, I got a headache.

Exterior

Starting in the front of this Empower+ version, you see LED lighting, the familiar Nissan grill with air curtains, beautiful 19” wheels designed to deflect air (EVs are all about the aerodynamics) LED lighting in the rear, and there is a spoiler. 

The body lines are distinct on the Ariya, and there is a black roof painted over the 2T gray body color.

Powertrain

Under that hood sits the 238-horse electric engine that has 221 pound-feet of torque.  It is powered by a liquid cooled 87-kWh lithium-ion battery that provides 289-miles of all-electric driving.  A different more expensive level Ariya will get you up to 304-miles of range. The EV I have is front-wheel drive, but a dual motor all-wheel version is available, and I really think that would be the way to go.  In a surprise, there is no frunk (front trunk) like many SUVs, when you open the hood, you see the electric engine that will take you from 0-to-60 in 4.8 seconds.

Interior   

As attractive as the exterior is, the interior looks terrific.  I can only assume all EV automakers try to make them super clean and simple for some reason.  This one is no exception, and the dash is so far away from you, it feels like one of the roomiest vehicles you can buy.  As you open the door, the light gray interior is attractive, and a big center console sits between the front seats.  It electronically slides toward the front or rear, a very nice touch actually.

As you sit, the Nissan zero-gravity seats are heated, and they are comfortable and supportive.  The flat-bottomed steering wheel is beautiful, and as you hit the power button, a new 12.3” digital gauge cluster comes to life, and it is really pleasant and easy to read, also colorful.   It is configurable and gives you a drive computer in the middle, it gives you your range in miles left, and the percentage of battery you have used.

Also impressive is the infotainment system center dash, up high, which is also 12.3” and colorful, too.  The Ariya is loaded with new Nissan tech featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a terrific Head-Up Display, Wi-Fi, and front and rear USB-C ports.  There are a ton of apps, including real-time info.  The navigation system is great and will direct you to charging stations, and the cameras are fantastic, especially the 360-degree view that circles the SUV to make sure everything is good to go.  There is a wireless phone charger in the center glove compartment, but you cannot see your phone while charging, which I disapprove of. 

One neat feature is a sliding tray that you control electrically from a button on the center console.  It will not operate without the key fob, so it makes a nice place to put valuables.  Also from that same area, you can choose from three drive modes (normal, sport, and eco), you can have it park itself if you wish, and you can activate the e-Step, a version of one-pedal driving that sends a charge to the battery when you slow.

Moving to the back seat, which has more legroom than I expected, the rear seats are heated, there is a soft fold down armrest with cup holders.  There are USB-C and USB-A ports in rear, and a power outlet.  The cargo area is spacious with 22-cubic feet of cargo area, and you can fold the rear seats down for more.  The tailgate is electric and there is storage under that, including a place for the charging cord.

Safety

Let’s look at what you get on the safety side, which is impressive with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 protection.  You get automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning with intervention, rear cross traffic alert, rear emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high beam headlight assist.

You also get ProPilot Assist, which is a form of self-driving technology that gives you steering assist, adaptive cruise control with full speed stop and go capability for those times you want to let the car do the work when cruising down the highway.

Standard Equipment  and Options

Standard features on this Empower+ Ariya include:  dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated steering wheel with controls, wireless phone charging, traffic sign recognition, voice recognition, a panoramic moon roof with a power sliding cover for front and also rear seat passengers, a terrific head-up display, a rearview camera mirror, and a heated steering wheel.

Options on my tester include the $280 floor mats, $790 for exterior underneath lighting (I could live without this) and $350 for two-tone paint.

Ride and Drive

This Ariya rides and drives well, and the road noise aspect is fine.  Like most electrics, it is super quiet inside.  Acceleration is great, as is handling and ride quality.

MPG and MSRP

Fuel economy is stated in MPGe, which is the equivalent of the same car with a gas engine.  Ratings are 105 MPGe in town, 91 on the highway, and 98 overall.  Equipped as this one is, MSRP is $50,440, which is fine for these days as compared to the competition, and especially after a huge price drop to start this model year.  As I write this, there are some smoking lease deals on this SUV, and if you are not a high mileage driver, that is the way to go, especially if this is going to be your first electric vehicle.

Verdict

Two bummers you should know:  The Ariya is not eligible for the $7,500 Federal tax Credit, but believe me, Nissan will provide enough in incentives to make up for it.  Also, charging times are slow.  Even with a Level 2 charger like the one I have, it takes up to 14 hours to get an 80% charge, forget about it using a 110-outlet.  If there is any good news here, you get one-year of free charging at EVGo stations.