The Ariya is an upscale all-electric utility vehicle that feels more premium than its price tag – and Nissan badges – would suggest. This SUV has tasteful, attractive exterior styling, the interior is spacious and richly appointed, and the Ariya offers respectable amounts of range, up to 289 miles on the EPA testing regimen. Making this electric vehicle an even better deal, the price is being slashed by thousands of dollars in one international market.
A Huge Discount In The UK
Thanks, in part, to the introduction of a new entry-level model called the Shiro, the most affordable version of the Ariya offered in the UK is now more than £6,000 (around $8,100) cheaper than before. According to a report from Electrek, ahead of the Shiro’s introduction, the Ariya started at more than $50,000, which meant the vehicle was only eligible for part of an available £1,500 ($2,000) grant. The new base model, however, starts around $45,500 with the relevant grant, a huge difference between the outgoing model, which kicked off at nearly $54,000.
Even better news, two higher-end trim levels of the Ariya – e-4orce all-wheel drive and Nismo – that are fitted with the larger, 87-kilowatt-hour battery pack are also eligible for grant money. This lowers the vehicle’s price to roughly $48,200, an reasonable figure. In the UK, when properly equipped, the Ariya offers up to 330 miles of range on the generous WLTP test cycle. Versions of this all-electric SUV fitted with the smaller, 63-kWh battery only deliver up to 251 miles on a full charge.
In addition to this big Ariya price cut, Nissan is working on introducing more EVs in global markets, including a totally redesigned Leaf hatchback, which is expected to hit the road in the UK early next year. “And this is just the beginning,” said Fiona Mackay, the UK marketing director at Nissan, so expect even more electric models from the Japanese manufacturer.
Pricing In The U.S.
In the U.S., the Ariya is available in five different trim levels. The base Engage model comes standard with front-wheel drive, offers 216 miles of range, and starts at a little more than $41,000, including $1,390 in destination fees. As for the top-shelf model, the Platinum+ Dual Motor e-4orce trim, if you check every option box, you can spend nearly $57,000 on this Nissan.
Unfortunately, the Ariya is not eligible for any U.S. federal tax credits. Ultium-based vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer and the Silverado EV, as well as the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue, are eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. Beyond that, a range of Hyundai Motor Group products including the Ioniq 5, Kia EV9, and Genesis Electrified GV70 are also eligible for this discount.
If there’s a bit of bad news here, federal EV subsidies are scheduled to disappear at the end of September. So, if you’re looking to grab a new electric vehicle – something other than the Ariya – you’d better act soon before this discount is gone.
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