Midsize SUVs are quickly becoming America’s electric vehicles (EVs) of choice. This fact is unsurprising since midsize SUVs are America’s most popular gas-powered vehicles.
Electric versions have most of the same virtues that make gas-powered midsize SUVs so popular. Their commanding seating position and ample cargo space make them flexible enough to meet most needs.
But electric versions add something new – smooth acceleration that’s hard to understand if you haven’t felt it for yourself. Electric motors don’t build up power gradually like gasoline engines do. They have 100% of it ready at all times. It makes a sedate family hauler…fun.
The Nissan Ariya is one of the most compelling new electric SUVs. Autotrader’s Executive Editor Brian Moody says, “The materials inside are good, but the design, in-car tech, and attention to detail set it apart from other $40,000 electric crossovers.” Flush touch-capacitive buttons built into backlit wood trim feel like something out of the luxury classes.
And, he says, “the Ariya feels constructed to a slightly higher standard than other mainstream electric cars.” The smooth power “combined with the interior materials, shapes, tech, and textures create a very serene environment.”
Nissan builds the Ariya in eight trim levels. But the base model is so well-equipped that, early in its run, it’s the best seller of the bunch.
Let’s see what the Nissan Ariya Engage FWD has to offer. See 2023 Nissan Ariya models for sale near you
2023 Nissan Ariya Engage FWD: $43,139
• 214-horsepower single electric motor with 221 pound-feet of torque
• 63 kilowatt-hour battery
• 216 miles of range
• Eco and Sport driving modes
• E-Step one-pedal driving
• Leatherette-appointed seats
• Heated front and outboard rear seats
• Zero Gravity front seats
• 8-way power memory driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar support
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Head-up display
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rear seat heater ducts
• Push-button start
• Power-sliding center console
• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display
• 12.3-inch central touchscreen
• Voice recognition
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• Alexa built-in
• Intelligent cruise control
• ProPILOT Assist
• Intelligent forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Intelligent lane intervention
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear automatic braking
If you haven’t been car shopping in a few years, it can be shocking to see what features come as standard equipment on even base-model EVs.
Let’s take a closer look at some of our favorite features. See 2023 Nissan Ariya Engage models for sale
Zero Gravity seats
We can’t discuss a Nissan without noting the company’s exceptional front seats. Developed with NASA research to hold the body in a neutral position that reduces fatigue, Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are the most comfortable in the automotive industry. You’ll appreciate it a bit right away. You’ll appreciate it a lot on a long road trip.
Attention to Detail in Design
When you spend time in many cars, you can tell which ones the designers were proud to work on. The Ariya’s cabin is lovely, full of design touches that aren’t typical in this class.
A long copper accent down the center of the dashboard looks elegant. So does the backlit wood panel beneath, which hides capacitive touch controls for the climate control system.
The center console slides back and forth at the touch of a button. That’s not just cool. It’s comfortable – allowing you to position the armrest precisely.
A sporty flat-bottom steering wheel hints at that brisk electric acceleration.
It feels more intentional than a typical midsize SUV cabin and will probably make you enjoy your car more than some competitors might.
Technology that adapts to your style
Cars are full of screens these days. That suits some of us just fine. For those people, Nissan has built twin 12.3-inch screens canted slightly toward the driver. The user interface is easy to master and has a trick we haven’t seen from other automakers – you can flick apps from one screen to the other.
Some of us, however, can find screens a little distracting. For them, Nissan has given the Ariya two valuable tricks that make the screens optional.
One is voice commands. Say, “Hey, Nissan,” and you can ask the car to change most climate, entertainment, and information functions without taking your hands off the wheel.
The other is a standard head-up display that projects speed and turn-by-turn directions directly in the driver’s line of sight. Those are optional on many cars but standard on the Ariya Engage FWD.
Thoughtful Cargo Space
Most midsize SUVs give you decent cargo space and the option for more by folding down the rear seats.
Nissan designers put more thought than that into how drivers will use storage space. A flat load floor (EVs don’t have that hump down the center because there’s no transmission) already makes it more spacious than expected. But the cargo area has a pop-up divider to help you organize. There are several cubbies hidden under the floor.
Storage all over the cabin is thoughtful, too. A drawer pulls out from the center of the dashboard. It has a lid that lets it serve as a desk when parked.
Perhaps our favorite feature is the simplest touch. A built-in cord winder is next to the phone tray to keep any charging cords neat — a thoughtful detail that tells you that someone at Nissan test-drove this car, looking for ways to make it more convenient.
See 2023 Nissan Ariya models for sale near you
