2024 Nissan Ariya Review: Lower price makes for a more compelling EV

The 2024 Nissan Ariya hasn’t changed a bit for its second model year, and yet it’s now a lot more appealing and competitive. Why? As a philosopher once said, “it’s all about the Benjamins.” The price of most Ariya trim levels plunged by $6,000 for 2024 (the base trim is down just $3,600), bringing all but the range-topping Platinum within the $40,000 range. This lower price means that the Ariya now undercuts similarly sized competitors, while offering more space and a high-quality cabin than those with a similar price. It also makes it a bit easier to overlook the Ariya’s main flaw: slow charging speeds.

There are other ways the Ariya provides compelling value for an EV. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, meaning those in the Snow Belt should feel less compelled to get all-wheel drive, which in EVs means paying a lot more than you would with a gas engine because it also adds a lot more power (that’s the case with the Ariya’s e-4ORCE dual-motor that uniquely adds handling-enhancing torque vectoring). There’s also loads of standard equipment included in the base trim level that comes with a smaller, short-range battery – if you’re just looking for an EV as a city car, why pay for range you don’t need?

All this talk of value loses sight of the many ways the Ariya is a compelling EV. It really isn’t all about the Benjamins (or six Grover Clevelands). The cabin really is special in terms of appearance, materials and functionality – that’s even the case with lower trim levels. The difference between the Ariya and a VW ID.4, Honda Prologue or Tesla Model Y really is stark. Range, performance and interior space certainly aren’t class leading, but they’re also fully competitive. In other words, if you’re looking for a more affordable electric car, the Ariya should be on your list.

As mentioned above, the Ariya carries over unchanged, but its prices were slashed for 2024. You can see prices for each trim level here.

Clockwise from top: Interiors of the Empower+, Platinum+ and Evolve+

In short, the Ariya cabin is special. Unlike many other EVs, the Ariya manages to offer style, functionality and quality. It looks terrific with the sort of minimalist aesthetic seemingly