The 2023 Nissan Ariya was originally supposed to have been introduced in early 2022, but is finally forthcoming later this fall. The delay in delivery was so pronounced that back in May, Nissan actually suspended reservations for the Ariya and despite already having announced pricing back in November of 2021 when reservations initially opened, Nissan has now revised 2023 Ariya pricing ahead of the imminent launch. Like most others vehicles, the pricing is being revised upward, in this case by $1,240. However, with the announcement of a smaller battery base model variant (63-kWh in place of the 87-kWh), there is a lower cost front-wheel drive model available.

So what will it cost? $44,485 for the front-wheel drive smaller battery Engage trim level. Several trim levels, a higher battery capacity version and e-4orce dual-motor all-wheel drive bring the decked out Platinum trim in at exactly $17k higher or $61,485. Initial deliveries will be of the 87-kWh battery and enthusiasm will center around the larger battery AWD 389-hp variant (no big deal, just +175-hp & 2x torque vs. the base single motor). But what to make of the base Engage?

Nissan Ariya
The interior is quite spacious and airy…yea?
Some of the interior controls are capacitive touch and integrated into the wood trim. Nice… touch?

Let’s start by comparing it to it’s 2WD base competitive set.  Volkswagen recently announced a lower battery capacity, low priced RWD entry level model for the 2023 ID.4 (aptly named ‘Standard’), Toyota recently launched the bZ4X which will be available in a base FWD variant and the Mach E, Ioniq 5 & EV6 all come in a ‘standard range’ RWD variant as well.

There’s other EVs both smaller and cheaper (Bolt EUV comes to mind) or more premium (and more expensive), but the aforementioned models round out the most direct competitive set. So let’s get to it.

Price (all include destination)

  • ID.4 Standard – $38,790
  • IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range – $41,245
  • EV6 Light – $42,695
  • bZ4X XLE – $43,335
  • Ariya Engage – $44,485
  • Mach E Select – $48,195

While it’s in the ballpark, the Ariya is on the higher end undercutting only the Mach E and a not insignificant $5,695 above the ID.4.

Volkswagen ID.4

Range

  • ID.4 Standard – 208 miles
  • IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range – 220 miles
  • EV6 Light – 232 miles
  • bZ4X XLE – 252 miles
  • Ariya Engage – 216 miles
  • Mach E Select – 247 miles

Ariya comes in 8 miles above the ID.4, but below the rest of the pack, but still, once again, in the ballpark.

Ford ‘Mustang’ Mach E

Power

  • ID.4 Standard – 201-hp
  • IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range – 168-hp
  • EV6 Light – 168-hp
  • bZ4X XLE – 201-hp
  • Ariya Engage – 214-hp
  • Mach E Select – 266-hp

Here, Ariya has the second highest horsepower, but once again, midpack numbers.

Kia EV6
Hyundai IONIQ 5

In summary, the Ariya lands somewhere midpack amongst its competitors, but the price is on the higher side, the range on the lower side and horsepower about right in the middle. A full comparison test would reveal just how it compares head-to-head.  But based on the numbers, it would seem the ID.4 is the value winner, the Mach E is the pricier performance leader. Ultimately if you’re considering one or more of the vehicles on this list, it would be worth including the Ariya in your consideration set.