Nissan Ariya Cargo Room: How Does It Compare With Other Nissans?
The 2023 Nissan Ariya is Nissan’s first all-electric SUV, and SUVs are known and appreciated for their versatility and cargo space, which raises the question: How big is the Ariya’s cargo area compared with other Nissan SUVs? To find out, we performed our standardized cargo test to see where the Ariya stacks up against other Nissan SUVs. Much to our surprise, the as-tested Ariya’s cargo space behind the backseat is at the bottom of the roster even when compared to an SUV-ish hatchback like the diminutive Kicks.
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The Ariya’s measured cargo room reflects the vehicle we tested, a top trip Platinum+ with standard all-wheel drive (e-4orce in Nissan-speak), and this could be one of the reasons why the Ariya’s cargo area came up short; AWD Ariyas forgo the underfloor storage and Divide-N-Hide adjustable cargo system that are in front-wheel-drive versions.
A little about Cars.com’s cargo testing: We measure the space behind the backseat to the top of the seatbacks, and not to the top of the interior, to evaluate usable cargo space while still providing rearward visibility. We also measure space below the cargo floor when it’s there. You can geek out on the rest of the methodology to see how it’s done in detail.
The Ariya Platinum+’s cargo floor length is similar to the Rogue’s and 4 inches longer than the Kicks’, but its height from the cargo floor to the top of the seatback is considerably shorter: 5 inches less than a Divide-N-Hide-equipped Rogue and 6 inches less than in a Kicks.
Front-drive Ariyas with Divide-N-Hide have space below the cargo floor that can be used as a storage compartment or for lowering the cargo floor itself for more above-floor space. Nissan says the addition of the rear motor for AWD takes up the space the Divide-N-Hide system uses in FWD versions.
A FWD Ariya with Divide-N-Hide would likely measure larger in our test because the manufacturer-provided 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space doesn’t include space under the cargo floor, which we do where available. We measured no usable space under the Platinum+’s cargo floor because it was occupied by a Bose subwoofer, flat tire repair kit and mobile charging equipment.
From biggest to smallest, here’s how Nissan’s SUVs of the ones we’ve tested rank when comparing cargo room behind the second row:
1. Pathfinder Platinum: 24.1 cubic feet
2. Armada SL: 24.0
3. Rogue Platinum: 19.3 (with Divide-N-Hide adjustable-height cargo floor)
4. Rogue SV: 17.1 (without Divide-N-Hide adjustable-height cargo floor)
5. Kicks SR: 16.9
6. Ariya Platinum+: 16.35 (without Divide-N-Hide adjustable-height cargo floor)
Among mainstream small SUVs, the Ariya Platinum+’s 16.4 cubic feet of space is more similar to a Kia Seltos (16.3) and Jeep Compass (16.0), but the Ariya’s price tag can reach luxury territory, and compared with luxury models, its cargo room is more similar to a Genesis GV70 (16.2) or Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid (16.8). Versus EV competitors, the Ariya has less space than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (19.1) or Tesla Model Y (20.9), but it’s similar to a Mercedes-EQ EQB (16.4) or Ford Mustang Mach-E (15.9).
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The Ariya also doesn’t have a front trunk that could help boost its overall cargo space and make up for room lost due to the AWD version not having underfloor storage in the back. A Model Y has another 2.9 cubic feet of usable space in its front trunk by our measurements, which is enough for a medium-size suitcase, and the Mustang Mach-E has an additional 2.0 cubic feet in its front trunk, which is still enough for some groceries or backpacks. With an AWD Ariya, what you see in the cargo area is what you get.
While the AWD Ariya has plenty of occupant room, its cargo room is more in line with Nissan’s smaller vehicle offerings. Those looking to maximize the Ariya’s cargo space might consider looking at the FWD version with its standard Divide-N-Hide system, a yet-to-be-tested configuration we’ll measure when we get a chance to see how it differs from the AWD Ariya.
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