Unfortunately, the Nissan Chill-Out concept car, pictured above, isn’t one of the Nissan electric car options for 2023. In fact, compared to some of the other manufacturers, with multiple electric car options, it may look like Nissan isn’t even taking the EV revolution seriously.
For 2023, Nissan has only come to the marketplace with two… yes two… fully electric models and zero plug-in-hybrids. Is it possible that Nissan is placing quality over quantity? Well, let’s see in this review of Nissan’s two available electric car models for 2023.
1. 2023 Nissan ARYIA
Price: Starting at $43,190
The all-new 2023 Nissan ARYIA’s exterior is a beautiful design. The nearly identical bodylines to the popular RX series Lexus will make it quickly acceptable to most car buyers. This, combined with the fact that you can buy an all-electric ARYIA for $16,000 less than the comparable Lexus RX Electric, is why we believe the ARYIA going to be a big success for Nissan.
2023 Nissan ARYIA Trim Packages
While Nissan is only offering two EV models for 2023, the ARYIA comes in five trim packages and a total of eight variations. With this many options, you can select nearly any combination of battery size, drivetrain, and accessories that is right for you. Well, within your price range of course!
2023 Nissan ARYIA Trim Packages
| Trim | Drivetrain | Battery Size | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engage | FWD | 63 kWh | $43,190 |
| Venture+ | FWD | 87 kWh | $47,190 |
| Engage E-4ORCE | AWD | 63 kWh | $47,190 |
| Evolve+ | FWD | 87 kWh | $50,190 |
| Engage+ E-4ORCE | AWD | 87 kWh | $51,190 |
| Empower+ | FWD | 87 kWh | $53,690 |
| Evolve+ E-4ORCE | AWD | 87 kWh | $54,190 |
| Platinum+ E-4ORCE | AWD | 87 kWh | $60,190 |
The all-new Nissan ARYIA is a prime example of all the great things electric cars of today can provide: design, performance, and the latest technology.
Advanced Safety Features
If you are a subscriber to EVROOM, you know we love the advanced safety features, and we feel responsible auto manufacturers should include these systems as standard. Nissan must be reading EVROOM because they did just that. Frontal Collision Avoidance, Active Lane Correction, Blind-Spot Detection, and Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance are all standard on the 2023 ARYIA.
2023 Nissan ARYIA Interior
The ARYIA’s interior is simple and sleek. The large 12.3” digital display gives the driver a panoramic view of all the necessary driver information, while another 12.3” touchscreen infotainment center completes the dash. There are very few switches and buttons cluttering the interior.
The interior colors of the Nissan ARYIA are a bit limited. Charcoal or light gray are the only two options unless you spring the extra money for the Platinum+ E-4ORCE trim package where the interior is wrapped in a Blue Gray Nappa Leather.
I find this package surprising since, usually, the more you spend the more options you can choose from. It’s like Nissan took a page from the Lucid Air playbook where the Lucid Air flagship EV, called the Sapphire, only comes in a distinctive sapphire blue color.
Nissan Warranty
One disappointing thing about Nissan electric cars is the short 3-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty [8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty]. Many other manufacturers, like Hyundai, offer longer 5-year, 60,000-mile warranties [8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty]. With the high price of cars today, we’d like to see Nissan have a more competitive warranty.
Nevertheless, if you are seriously looking to buy a new EV in 2023 then you must take a drive over to your local Nissan dealership to drive an ARYIA. Of course, you may want to call ahead since most are awaiting their first delivery at the end of March.
2023 Nissan ARYIA
| Engage FWD | Platinum+ Eforce AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $43,190 | $60,190 |
| Battery | ||
| Charge Time @ 9.6kWh | 6.5 hours | 9 hours |
| Max Rapid Charge | 130 kW | 130 kW |
| Battery Size | 63 kWh | 87 kWh |
| Battery Heater | Included | Included |
| Charge Port Location | Passenger Front | Passenger Front |
| Motor | ||
| Motor Size | 160 kW | 290 kW |
| Motor Count | 1 | 2 |
| Horsepower | 214 hp | 389 hp |
| Torque | 221 lb-ft | 442 lb-ft |
| Performance | ||
| Range | 216 Miles | 267 Miles |
| 0-60 | 7.2 seconds | 4.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 99 mph | 124 mph |
| Drivetrain | FWD | AWD |
| Tow Weight | N/A | 1500 lbs |
| Interior | ||
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Instrument Display | 12.3” | 12.3” |
| Infotainment Display | 12.3” | 12.3” |
| Ambient Lighting | Available | Included |
| Heated Front Seats | Included | Included |
| Heated Rear Seats | Available | Available |
| Ventilated Front Seats | Not Available | Included |
| Massage Seats | Not Available | Not Available |
| Heated Steering Wheel | Included | Included |
| Leather (Real/Synthetic) | Synthetic | Synthetic |
| Sunroof Roof | Available | Included |
| Technology | ||
| Heads-up Display | Included | Included |
| Active Cruise Control | Included | Included |
| 360 View | Not Available | Included |
| App | Included | Included |
| Safety Features | ||
| Frontal Collision Avoidance w/ Ped | Included | Included |
| Active Lane Correction | Included | Included |
| Blind-Spot Detection | Included | Included |
| Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance | Included | Included |
| Warranty | ||
| Car | 3 yrs / 36,000 miles | 3 yrs / 36,000 miles |
| Battery | 8 yrs / 100,000 miles | 8 yrs / 100,000 miles |
| 2023 US Tax Credit | ||
| Qualifies? | No | No |
2. 2023 Nissan Leaf S and Leaf SV
Price: Starting at $20,540 (After the Tax Credit)
Nissan’s second all-electric model they are offering for 2023 is…you guessed it…the same ole Nissan Leaf. In fact, the Leaf is so common that you probably passed three of them today and didn’t even notice.
The second-generation Nissan Leaf has been nearly identical since 2018, and it’s in desperate need of an update. To make matters worse, The front and grill are nearly indistinguishable from its bigger SUV brother, the Rogue. So if you want to be a wallflower when you’re out driving your EV then the 2023 Leaf may be the right choice for you.
The 2023 Nissan Leaf only comes in two trim packages. The entry-level Leaf S and the fully optioned Leaf SV Plus. Nissan decided to pass on the smaller battery, lower range, Leaf SV. We kind of wish they just skipped the 40kWh Leaf S entirely.
Nissan S
The $28,000 Nissan S is, IMHO… NOT an option if you are looking for a new electric car for 2023. With a 40kWh battery and less than 150 miles of range, it is far too low for today’s EV buyer. Even if your commute is short, you will likely struggle to find another buyer to take this EV off your hands in the future.
The Nissan S also omits Active Cruise Control and 360 View, which comes standard in the better optioned and greater range Nissan SV Plus trim.
Nissan SV Plus
If you’re committed to spending your hard-earned cash on a Nissan Leaf, then I think you MUST spend the extra $8,000 for the SV Plus trim. The SV Plus not only comes with a larger 60kWh battery with 212 miles of range, but it also comes standard with Active Cruise Control, 360 View, plus heated front seats and steering wheel.
Federal Tax Credit
One great benefit of the Nissan Leaf lineup is that both the Leaf S and the Leaf SV Plus qualify for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit. This is a huge deal considering the changes to the federal tax credit excluded many other new 2023 electric vehicles. Find out if you qualify here.
2023 Nissan Leaf
| Nissan Leaf S | Nissan Leaf S SV Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $28,040 | $36,040 |
| Battery | ||
| Charge Time @ 9.6kWh | 7.5 hours | 11 hours |
| Max Rapid Charge | 50 kW | 100 kW |
| Battery Size | 40 kWh | 60 kWh |
| Battery Heater | Not Available | Included |
| Charge Port Location | Front | Front |
| Motor | ||
| Motor Size | 110 kW | 160 kW |
| Motor Count | 1 | 1 |
| Horsepower | 147 hp | 214 hp |
| Torque | 236 lb-ft | 250 lb-ft |
| Performance | ||
| Range | 149 Miles | 212 Miles |
| 0-60 | 7.4 seconds | 6.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
| Interior | ||
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Instrument Display | 7” | 7” |
| Infotainment Display | 8” | 8” |
| Ambient Lighting | Not Available | Not Available |
| Heated Front Seats | Not Available | Included |
| Heated Rear Seats | Not Available | Not Available |
| Ventilated Front Seats | Not Available | Not Available |
| Massage Seats | Not Available | Not Available |
| Heated Steering Wheel | Not Available | Included |
| Leather (Real/Synthetic) | Not Available | Not Available |
| Sunroof Roof | Not Available | Not Available |
| Technology | ||
| Heads-up Display | Not Available | Not Available |
| Active Cruise Control | Not Available | Included |
| 360 View | Not Available | Included |
| App | Not Available | Included |
| Safety Features | ||
| Frontal Collision Avoidance w/ Ped | Included | Included |
| Active Lane Correction | Included | Included |
| Blind-Spot Detection | Included | Included |
| Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance | Included | Included |
| Warranty | ||
| Car | 3 yrs / 36,000 miles | 3 yrs / 36,000 miles |
| Battery | 8 yrs / 100,000 miles | 8 yrs / 100,000 miles |
| 2023 US Tax Credit | ||
| Qualifies? | Yes | Yes |
Bottom Line
Despite the shortlist of Nissan electric cars, the ARYIA is looking promising. With 10+ years of EV manufacturing behind them, the all-electric Nissans should have most of the common EV bugs that other newcomers are dealing with, already worked out.
As far as the Leaf is concerned… It’s a strong pass from us! Compared to other electric cars under the $35,000 price point, the Nissan Leaf is falling behind in terms of styling, safety features, and battery size.
Fun Fact: TAMA: Nissan’s First Electric Car
Did you know that due to the oil shortage following World War II, Nissan built the all-electric TAMA from 1947 through 1951? The TAMA had a range of 60 miles and a top speed of 22 MPH. Not too bad considering that was over 70 years ago!
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