Up Close With the 2023 Nissan Ariya: Airier Interior Shows Promise

The 2023 Nissan Ariya all-electric SUV enters a growing field of battery-electric SUVs from more mainstream (read: not Tesla) automakers, and we got our first chance to check it out at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show. While details aren’t fully finalized just yet, the Ariya should be fairly competitive if it comes close to Nissan’s range and horsepower estimates.

Related: More Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Let’s get those estimates out of the way: Nissan is targeting 300 miles of range for the long-range version and around 300 horsepower. Those numbers are quickly becoming the new EV Mendoza Line, replacing the old 200-mile, 200-hp benchmarks. The vehicle we saw was also not a production version, so some elements might differ from the version that goes on sale in early 2022.

Less Futuristic Looks

The Ariya looks the part of Nissan’s future design language — if less futuristic than it once seemed, given the automaker has updated more of its lineup since the all-electric SUV debuted in 2020. It’s a handsome, sportback-esque SUV that leans on styling over absolute utility. The grille is flanked by slim, angular LED headlights, which connect to a character line along the side that runs all the way to the rear. Also along the sides are fender flares that sit above 19- or 20-inch wheels (the ones in these images are the 20s). The C-pillars are raked steeply towards the rear, with a rear spoiler topping things off. A two-tone color scheme with a black floating roof, as seen here, is available with multiple paint colors; there will be single-color options, as well.

The overall look is still a few years ahead of most Nissan models, but it’s also not the prettiest Nissan on the show floor — that title goes to the Z Proto on display nearby. But the Ariya doesn’t look so different from competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4; it shouldn’t be a significant plus or minus for shoppers on board with one of the three.

Tech-Forward, Console-Forward Interior

Nissan is taking advantage of the Ariya’s EV powertrain to improve interior room, with a flat floor and lots of open space. The floor console between the front seats extends into open air, giving the front a particularly roomy feeling. It also has a power-sliding console, allowing occupants to motor it forward or backward to their desired position. There’s a bit of storage below it, too. Could Nissan have traded that space for extra storage? Perhaps, but I appreciate the open feeling. In back, there’s a little less room for my 6-foot-1 frame, and my knees were raised a little, but adults can make it work.

Cargo space seemed adequate, with Nissan quoting 22.8 cubic feet behind the backseat and 59.7 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. Roominess is hampered slightly by the sloping roofline, but again, the Ariya doesn’t seem aimed for absolute utility. Like the Leaf but unlike many other EVs, the Ariya also doesn’t have a front trunk. 

The only downside inside is the reliance on touch-sensitive controls for the climate controls and a few other features, though Nissan thankfully provides a physical volume knob and tuning toggle switch. The dual 12.3-inch screens weren’t fully functional during our time in the Ariya, but the graphics show promise, and Nissan says the Ariya will have standard wireless integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Amazon Alexa integration. It’s also the first Nissan capable of over-the-air firmware updates, the automaker says.

Showing Promise

Following in the footsteps of the Leaf, the Ariya is the next step for Nissan’s EV plans and shows a good deal of promise. The spacious interior (up front, at least) is likely to impress shoppers who don’t need an enormous backseat, but we’ll have to wait and see if the Ariya can hit its power and range targets. When reservations open later in 2021, we’ll know if shoppers have decided to embrace the Ariya as a viable choice in a growing segment. If not, they won’t be short on alternatives.

More From Cars.com:

• Nissan Ariya: All-New, All-Electric SUV to Join Mileage-High Club
• Electric Cars With the Longest Range
• Here’s What the 2021 Nissan Murano Costs
• 2021 Nissan Leaf Review: Is It Still Relevant?
• 2021 Chicago Auto Show, Summer Edition: What Can You Expect?

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.