2025 Nissan Ariya Road Test and Review

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

While we were spending a week with the 2025 Nissan Ariya this month, news broke that Nissan is dropping this electric crossover from its U.S. lineup.

After Nissan was an early leader in electric vehicles with its Leaf hatchback, the Ariya faced repeated delays in reaching the market – eventually going on sale in 2023 alongside a host of competition. And in a saturated market, it didn’t manage to find a foothold. Then came 15 percent tariffs on this Japanese-built EV, the elimination of federal tax credits for leased electric vehicles, and Nissan’s focus on a redesigned, more Ariya-like Leaf, which goes on sale this fall. 

And yet, we enjoyed our week in the ill-fated Ariya. If you’re interested in a mid-size electric crossover with a luxury flavor, you’d do well to consider one of the remaining Ariyas in Nissan’s inventory – especially if you’d make the deal within the next few days. 

In this review, we’ll take a deep dive into the 2025 Ariya’s pros and cons. Keep reading to learn more about it and to see if this is the right EV for you.  

Lots of Standard Features

When the Ariya hit the market as an all-new 2023 model, it had a starting price of $43,190 and topped $60,000 with all-wheel drive, a bigger battery, and all the options. That’s not unreasonable for an upscale mid-size crossover SUV, but it proved too high for the segment. 

These days, as most cars have gotten more expensive, Nissan has made the Ariya cheaper. The base Engage model starts at $39,770 – and that’s with heated leatherette front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charger, adaptive cruise control, power-folding side mirrors, and big 19-inch wheels. 

The Ariya’s model lineup gets complicated by a mix of battery sizes and electric power output, as well as more features. But every Ariya is generously equipped and has a similar sticker price to an equivalent (and similarly styled) gas-powered Nissan Murano. Our test vehicle is the top Platinum+ trim level, which costs $54,370 with such extra amenities as Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, and hands-free highway driving. 

As with many other EVs, the Ariya is often heavily discounted from its sticker price – especially if you lease. When you lease an Ariya before the end of September 2025, a $7,500 federal tax credit will also sweeten the deal. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Up to 289 Miles per Charge

The Ariya is sold with a choice of two batteries – one with a 63 kWh capacity and one with 87 kWh (which Nissan designates with a “+”). It also comes in a choice of front-wheel and all-wheel drive (which Nissan calls E-4ORCE). The weights and wheel sizes of different trim levels also affect its range. 

If you’re interested in going as far as possible in an Ariya, you want the trim level called Evolve+. Priced at $44,370, it includes front-wheel drive and the 87 kWh battery. In EPA testing, the Ariya Evolve+ travels 289 miles per charge and gets the energy equivalent of 98 miles per gallon. The base Engage, meanwhile, uses the 63 kWh battery and goes just 216 miles per charge with front-wheel drive and 205 miles with all-wheel drive. That’s still more than enough for most Americans’ daily use with miles to spare, but it won’t be your pick if you’re interested in a road trip – especially because EVs typically achieve less range at highway speeds than around town.

AWD Ariyas with the bigger battery, like our test vehicle, get an EPA-estimated 257 to 272 miles per charge at 87 to 92 MPGe, depending on the trim level and wheel size. We drove our Platinum+ model 219 miles from a full charge. At that point, it reported a 23 percent remaining battery charge and 77 miles of remaining range – putting it on pace to comfortably exceed the EPA’s 267-mile range estimate for this model. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Charge It Up

Charging the Ariya from empty takes 10.5 hours with the 62 kWh battery and 14 hours with 87 kWh using a 240-volt car charger, like you’d install at home or find in some public places. When you’re in a rush, a public DC fast charger takes 35 minutes (or 40 minutes with the larger battery) to get you from 10 percent to 80 percent capacity. That’s not the fastest charging speed in the business, so if you plan frequent long trips, budget a few more minutes than a Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, or Kia EV6. 

Speaking of Tesla, the Ariya has a CCS-style charging port like you’ll find at most brands of DC charging station. But this EV can also charge at a Tesla Supercharger station via an NACS adapter – giving Ariya drivers access to America’s best-regarded charging network. We also collected 4.5 miles of range per hour from a standard 120-volt outlet, which adds up if you're plugged in at home overnight.

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Sleek Silhouette

Automakers have taken different approaches to their EVs – everything from futuristic transportation pods to ordinary cars that happen to be gas-free. The Ariya splits the difference. 

At a glance, the Ariya is an upscale-looking, sleekly styled crossover SUV with a high windowline, small windows, and a coupe-like silhouette. From the rear, its shape, sharp creases, and slim taillights give us a European vibe. Yet up at the front, there’s a big black panel that has the shape of a grille yet which obviously doesn’t let in any air. (No engine, no need for airflow.) Overall, the Ariya looks upscale without the high-performance attitude you might get from a Kia EV6 or Ford Mustang Mach E. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Luxury-Grade Cabin

Tesla interiors are famously sterile, and many other EVs at this price point have followed suit. Nissan, by contrast, distinguishes the Ariya with a luxury-grade cabin. Sumptuous materials and well-honed moving parts help justify the Ariya’s price tag before you even consider it an EV. 

The Ariya has a simple dashboard that spans the cabin without a center stack that dips down to join the center console. It’s a clean, uncluttered look. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel, connected to a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen at the center of the dash. The infotainment system is Nissan’s standard issue, which means it’s easy to use without much pizzazz. And it supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Compared with some EVs’ out-there interior details, we expect many buyers will appreciate the simplicity and let the Ariya’s interior materials handle the dazzle.

The touch-sensitive buttons that hide flush in the dashboard’s wood trim require some extra concentration to tap, but they do clean up the interior style nicely. Plenty of cars achieve less of an effect with far worse controls. Seat heating and ventilation require a careful tap on the touchscreen, though, and we pined for a physical control to quickly adjust the climate temperature.

2024 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Roomy and Comfortable

The Ariya’s luxury vibe extends to its spacious, comfortable seats. The driver sits high and enjoys a firm, supportive cushion. As we mentioned, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel are included on all trim levels but the Venture+. That’s quite useful in an EV because it’s more efficient to warm a seat than use the electric heater to warm the entire cabin. On the same front, we wish that ventilated front seats were available on more than just the top-of-the-line Platinum+, though some rivals don’t offer them at all. 

The Ariya’s backseat is comfortable, too. Rear passengers get acres of legroom, and the sporty-looking roofline doesn’t rob head space. There is an impact on cargo, though, as we’ll discuss in a moment. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

OK Space for Your Stuff

The Ariya is a mid-size crossover with nearly identical dimensions to a Hyundai Ioniq 5. That makes it smaller than a Tesla Model Y, and the roofline cuts into cargo space behind the rear seat. 

By the numbers, the Ariya has 22.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat – less than a subcompact Nissan Kicks crossover, and about 5 to 7 cubic feet shy of an Ioniq 5 or Model Y. Still, there’s a decent amount of floor space, and the cargo floor is adjustable. You can have a higher floor with hidden storage underneath, which is level with the folded rear seatbacks. Alternatively, you can lower the floor for the largest possible open space. Total cargo space with the rear seat folded matches the Ioniq 5 at 59.7 cubic feet, though the Model Y has 76 cubic feet of total volume. Nissan doesn’t provide a front trunk, or “frunk,” but the Ariya is rated to tow a small 1,500-pound trailer. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Easy to Drive

Some EVs, including the best-selling Tesla, are built as performance vehicles. That means speedy acceleration, agile handling, and sometimes-bumpy rides. Nissan takes a more relaxed approach to the Ariya. 

Front-drive Ariyas make 214 to 238 horsepower depending on the battery size and need about 7 seconds to reach 60 mph. That’s decently quick for an SUV – especially considering that you don’t hear the sound of an engine laboring – but nothing incredible. AWD models, with an extra electric motor, make a mightier 335 to 389 hp that cuts the 0-60 sprint to around 5 seconds. That’s sports-car fast but only about average among the Ariya’s high-speed peers.

While the Ariya's ride isn’t quite as cushy as a Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, or Hyundai Ioniq 5, it’s decently comfortable and particularly quiet. And the Ariya isn’t clumsy, inspiring confidence in routine driving, though it loses its poise if you push harder around a tight curve. 

What’s more, upper-trim Ariyas have an upgraded hands-free adaptive cruise control: Nissan invites you to take your hands off the wheel while you stay in your lane on the freeway. Ford and General Motors have even slicker hands-free systems, but Tesla asks you to keep your hands on the wheel.  

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Plenty of Competition

As we’ve mentioned, the Ariya faces plenty of competition. The Tesla Model Y is the natural benchmark, and as we’ve mentioned, the Ariya is more conventionally luxurious and easier to use than the Tesla – with a richer interior, quieter ride, and simpler controls, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Tesla is quicker, goes farther on a charge, and has more space, all for less money. 

We’d also shop the Ariya against the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, two EV cousins with similar bones and different styles. The Ariya costs a bit less than these competitors and has a fancier interior, but they charge faster, accelerate faster, and have more cargo space. 

The Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra – two EV cousins with the same bones and near-identical style – are mild-mannered, comfortable ways to go electric, but they cost more than the Ariya and have shorter ranges per charge. 

The Chevrolet Blazer EV and Honda Prologue are two corporate cousins (both built by General Motors) with longer ranges per charge than the Ariya. But the Nissan is quicker and fancier, and only the Honda has Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Finally, given Nissan’s focus on the redesigned 2026 Leaf, some customers will likely cross-shop it with leftover Ariya models. They have a similar shape to their bodies and interiors, but the Leaf is smaller and less expensive – and you’ll feel that. It also doesn’t offer AWD like the Ariya. If you’re looking at a Leaf, you might find a deeply discounted Ariya for not much more money.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The More Affordable Luxury EV

When we tally up the Ariya’s pros and cons against the Tesla Model Y, we’re not surprised that it failed to catch on like Nissan had hoped. But the Ariya has a lot to offer, too. 

It’s no high-tech marvel, without the gee-whiz speed or advanced infotainment of a Tesla or the ultra-fast charging of a Hyundai or Kia. But it works well as an electric car, yet it’s also a stylish and upscale regular SUV. And especially when you can nab a discount, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is an agreeable way to go electric without some of the usual downsides. 

2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ ・ Photo by Brady Holt