Ariya

Nissan was early into the EV market with the Leaf, but it wasn’t until the Ariya hit our roads in 2023 that the company had a competitive electric compact EV SUV to sell. Served up with two battery pack options and the choice of front- or all-wheel drive, the Ariya delivers between 265 and 304 miles of EPA-estimated range and, particularly with the dual-motor AWD versions, solid if not thrilling performance. The same can be said of its overall driving personality: capable but dull. What’s not the least boring is its appearance. It’s handsome and carefully tailored on the outside and stylish and well-appointed inside. The cabin of the Ariya is arguably the best in Nissan’s lineup, with materials that look good and are soft to the touch. A row of haptic control buttons embedded in the strip of wood trim that runs the full width of the dashboard adds an intriguing design element. Crisp, dual 12.3-inch screens span the driver information display area and center stack. And a handy modular cargo storage system in the way back makes it easy to separate your road snacks from the luggage—or the dog from stepping on your groceries. On the downside, the Ariya’s DC fast-recharge capability is only average and, in the upper trims, its price puts it in competition with luxury nameplates like the Audi Q4 e-tron and Lexus RZ.