2025 Nissan Ariya: A Closer Look at This Electric SUV
Only when you consider the history of Nissan EVs do you truly understand the application of the adage that necessity is truly the mother of invention, a story of innovation in the most demanding of conditions that not many manufacturers would have survived. The 2025 Nissan Ariya is now the name of many SUV enthusiasts' lips, and although it's the manufacturer’s first all-electric SUV, it's just one of the many innovative electric vehicle solutions that have defined Nissan's position as one of the most successful automakers in the last century.
The story dates back to 1947 when Nissan released its first EV, the Tama. It came after World War II, when Japan was short on oil and gas, compelling Nissan to look for a solution that didn’t depend on these fuels. Bad as the EV technology was at the time, Nissan had already made great strides in this front, considering that this car could make up to 40 miles on a full charge. Also notable was its top speed of 21mph, and this car simply laid the ground for new EVs, such as the Prairie Joy EV released in the 1990s, which could run on Li-Ion batteries. With a full charge, this EV could do around 124 miles, and then came other models like the Hypermini and later the Leaf, arguably Nissan’s most popular EV in the last two decades.
Nissan’s EV journey has been simply awe-inspiring, especially considering the success of the Nissan Leaf (the first mass-produced EV in history) and its revolutionary impact on the trajectory of electric cars. Although it took them until 2022 fall to release Ariya, the automaker’s first all-electric SUV, the company has made significant refinements to its technology to ensure this world-class car can compete with other renowned brands such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV 6, and others of this class. And there’s even more to look forward to in the 2025 Nissan Ariya, which has new features previously unavailable in last year’s edition. We invite you to read our elaborate 2025 Nissan Ariya guide to discover what’s new and why Nissan EV lovers have a reason to get excited when they think of the Ariya.
Overview of the 2025 Nissan Ariya Lineup
When the Ariya first entered the EV fray, it had six trims that included:
Engage FWD
- Engage e-4ORCE
- Evolve+ FWD
- Engage+ e-4ORCE
- Evolve+ e-4ORCE
- Platinum+ e-4ORCE
But the 2025 Nissan Ariya edition has condensed them into four, including the base Engage model, Engage+, Evolve+, and the premium Platinum+, and rightly so because the e-4ORCE was simply a pseudo name for models with an all-wheel-drive electric powertrain. Noteworthy is that the reduction in trim number means that rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive modes are optional in the Engage and Evolve+ models, while the top cream models now come standard with the All-Wheel-Drive. The other remarkable additions to the 2025 edition include dark-tinted rear glass in all the models, a wireless smartphone charging system, and USB-C ports in place of the erstwhile slow USB-A ports on the car’s rear passenger seat.
So how do the trims fare against each other? Let’s discuss them in detail below.
2025 Nissan Ariya Engage
It’s the base model of the Ariya series and comes with standard features such as 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and super-comfy Leatherette-appointed seats. It also has a flat floor, which adds to the feeling of a roomy interior with comforts such as a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats, and a six-speaker audio system for great sound quality on your drives.
The Engage has a 63 kWh net battery capacity that delivers power to the 160 kWh AC Synchronous Motor, giving the front-wheel-drive model an output of 238 horsepower. Speed aficionados will be frustrated by this base trim, as it's not as fast as other remarkable EV competitors like the Ford Mach Mustang Mach E, which takes a whopping 7.5 seconds to hit 60mph.
Also, as highlighted before, there’s an AWD option available, which is more powerful, boosting the horsepower output from 238hp to 335hp. However, it doesn’t have the gust of pace associated with most SUV EVs. Its range is also comparatively average at around 216 miles, which is understandable considering the small battery size. All in all, it's still a worthwhile investment for those looking for a low-priced all-electric SUV with a stable ride. The price ranges from $39,770 to around $43,770 for the FWD and AWD, depending on the motor option you choose.
2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve+
What’s standard here? Everything in the Engage trim is available with the Evolve+, as are unique additions such as a Panoramic Moonroof and an Intelligent Around View Monitor. The Evolve+ also comes with a larger 87 kWh net battery capacity that provides an average range of around 289 miles on a full charge. Noteworthy is that it charges pretty fast, taking around 40 minutes to fill up on a DC fast charger and 14 hours on a 240V charging outlet.
The AWD, priced from $48,370, with a 389 horsepower powertrain, is the more viable option for those looking to improve the power output of the Evolve+ FWD, which retails slightly above the Engage AWD model at $44,370.
2025 Nissan Ariya Engage+
Now, here comes one of the models that emerged from the condensing of the former six trims to four. With the top-spec Platinum+, they’re the only Ariya models that come with AWD (e-4ORCE) as the standard drive without an FWD option. Also noteworthy is that you’ll find most of the features available in the other models in the Engage+, and like the base Engage trim, it also has LED headlights with signature feature.
It’s priced from $45,370 and, with an 87kWh net battery capacity, has enough reserves to give a range of around 272 miles when fully charged. Like the other models, filling it up is quite a breeze, requiring around 40 minutes on DC fast chargers and 14 hours on a 240V home charging outlet to power up its battery to the brim. This car can also help you save on fuel costs, given its fuel economy of 92 MPGe (Combined City + Highway).
2025 Nissan Ariya Platinum+
It’s the crème de la crème of the Ariyas, coming with a range of exquisite features that you don’t find in the other models, such as Nappa leather-appointed seats in the place of the simple Leatherette-appointed seats on the other three lower trim models. Its sound output is also beefed up by the inclusion of a ten-speaker Bose Premium Audio System designed to boost the sound quality, giving a particularly enhanced stereo harmony that you don’t experience with the six-speaker system of the other models.
Also noteworthy is that the other three models are only equipped with the ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link navigation system, which is quite effective in decelerating the car when it's driving through bends as a safety measure while also slowing the driving speed in correspondence with the speed limit signs on the roadsides. However, the Platinum+ is even better, beefed up with an advanced version of the erstwhile system called the ProPILOT Assist 2.0 and ProPILOT Park—the ProPILOT Assist 2.0 is sort of an assisted driving system that enables functionalities such as:
1. Hands-free driving on single-lane highways and a super effective lane detecting system to help you maintain your lane.
2. Lane changing assist and highway driving assist while also suggesting scenarios when it's safest to pass.
3. Exquisitely effective satellite system that aids in the detection of lanes.
The ProPILOT Park property, on the other hand, comes in handy during parking, especially in the tightest of spaces. Activating this mode is possible even via Intelligent Key, meaning you don’t necessarily have to be inside the car. How about its power output? Well, being the premier car in this series, you should expect the maximum powertrain, at 389 horsepower, enabled by its 87kWh net battery capacity. Its range of 267 miles is also decent, although not quite at par with the other renowned electric SUVs.
It is priced at $54,370, which is quite pricey because you can get a Kia EV6 GT-Line (definitely a superb electric SUV) for a nearly similar amount. However, for a first trial in the SUV EV market, Nissan has truly exceeded expectations.
2025 Nissan Ariya Pros and Cons
The EV market is fiercely competitive, and only the car with the edge over the rest comes out on top, a feat that, frankly, the Ariya seems a long way from achieving. Don’t get this wrong, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is a pretty decent SUV with a breathtaking cabin, a really smooth ride, and a dependable driving range, especially for the top models. It also has a flat floor, a factor that contributes to the roomy feel you get while inside the car. Its seats are also well spaced that you don’t feel cramped up, and there is sufficient legroom, so it’s just ideal for long-distance drives.
However, no significant feature of the SUV really sets it apart from its competitors. First, its base model’s driving range is quite below par, and even with the advanced trims, you don’t get the sports car strut like with other compact SUVs such as the Mustang Mach E or the Ioniq 5. Another issue with this car is the price considering that its premier trim, the Platinum+ model retails from $54,370, which is quite pricey considering there are alternatives that cost cheaper and still post better performance. For instance, the Performance Trim of the Tesla Model 3 retails from $56,630, and it beats the Ariya hands down in so many areas that foregoing the Tesla for the Ariya feels like a really nasty con game.
All in all, if you’re a Nissan enthusiast and probably would like to give the Ariya a shot, don’t feel discouraged because it's still a decent car despite the highlighted shortfalls.
Conclusion
The 2025 Nissan Ariya will be a truly interesting model to watch, especially after Nissan decided to trim down the models from six to four. Yes, it has some apparent downsides compared to rival models that we’ve highlighted in the guide, but its concept is still impressive and perfectly suited to a young lad looking for an ideal family car with premium features. Remember, up until now, the Ariya is the highest-ranking electric SUV that Nissan has manufactured, and it has quite some competitive prices, especially for the base models.
