There are five core trims for the 2024 Ariya: Engage, Venture, Evolve, Empower, and Platinum. Nissan then offers variants based on the battery size and drivetrain. The Engage comes with a 63-kWh battery, while the remaining grades (Venture+, Engage+, Evolve+, Empower+, and Platinum+) have an 87-kWh battery. The Venture+ and Empower+ have a single electric motor for a front-wheel drivetrain (FWD). Engage and Evolve+ buyers can choose between FWD and dual-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel drive (AWD). The Engage+ and Platinum+ are exclusively AWD.
Horsepower varies by trim, powertrain, and battery size. The FWD Engage produces 214 horsepower, which increases to 238 in the Venture+, Evolve+, and Empower+ (all with FWD). The Engage with AWD makes 335 horsepower, while the AWD-equipped Engage+, Evolve+, and Platinum+ produce 389 horsepower. The same factors also impact range, which varies from 267 to 289 miles for most trims. The entry-level Engage is rated for 216 miles, which takes a slight dip to 205 miles when AWD is added. The range-leading Venture+ can travel up to 304 miles on a single charge.
This model’s combined MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) varies from 90 to 103, based on the configuration. Nissan estimates that a Level 3/DC fast charge at 130 kW can take an Ariya battery from 20% to 80% in 35 to 40 minutes. The Ariya has 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, which increases to 59.7 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded. AWD-equipped Ariyas can tow up to 1,500 pounds.
The Ariya Engage gets a good array of standard features, including heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a driver’s seat memory system, dual-zone automatic temperature control, a head-up display, heated power side mirrors (power-folding), and a power-sliding center console. It also has proximity keyless entry, push-button start, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, LED exterior lighting with automatic headlights, four USB ports, and 19-inch wheels. The Venture+ is all about maximizing range, so Nissan built it without some of the electricity-consuming features (e.g., the power-sliding center console, power front seats, the driver’s seat memory system, heated front seats, and heated leather-wrapped steering wheel). In turn, the Venture+ gets a larger battery, six-way manually adjustable front seats, and fabric upholstery.
Working off the Engage’s equipment roster, the Evolve adds a panoramic moonroof, a power liftgate, an eight-way power front passenger seat, a power-operated center storage system with a tray table, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Except for some differences in the ProPILOT driver aid technology (highlighted below), the Empower is similar to the Evolve. The Platinum is fully loaded, getting Nappa leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a motion-activated power liftgate, an enhanced driver’s memory system, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and upgraded side mirrors with reverse tilt-down and integrated turn indicators.
All trims come with numerous driver-assist technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane intervention, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, ProPILOT Assist (semi-autonomous driving support), automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, and a driver alertness monitor. The Evolve and higher trims have a digital rearview mirror and a surround-view monitor, while the Empower and Platinum get an upgraded version of ProPILOT Assist and a hands-free parking system.
The lounge-like setting of Ariya’s cabin is enhanced with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that incorporates navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. Voice recognition and the Hello Nissan digital assistant provide additional controls. All Ariya trims have access to a Wi-Fi hotspot and NissanConnect Services. Most trims get a multi-speaker audio system that’s upgraded to a ten-speaker Bose sound system in the Platinum+.
