2023 Nissan Ariya AWD Long Range – Highway Range & Efficiency Test

Summary

In this video, Charlie from Daily Motor puts the 2023 Nissan Aria all-wheel drive through a real-world highway range and efficiency test. He drives 50 miles out and 50 miles back at an average of 70 mph to determine how well the vehicle performs on long trips. With a large 87 kWh battery and e-force all-wheel drive, the Aria impresses by achieving nearly 270 miles of highway driving range. Despite some quirks with the steering assist, the vehicle delivers a quiet, comfortable ride and great efficiency, hitting real-world expectations closely aligned with EPA estimates.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2023 Nissan Aria all-wheel drive offers an estimated highway range of around 270 miles, according to real-world testing.
• 😀 The test involved a 101.2-mile highway drive at an average speed of 70 mph to evaluate real-world range and efficiency.
• 😀 The Nissan Aria achieved an impressive 3.1 miles per kWh efficiency, surpassing the expected 3.0 miles per kWh based on the car’s internal estimates.
• 😀 At the halfway point, the vehicle had used only 37% of its battery and maintained an average efficiency of 3.0 miles per kWh.
• 😀 Despite being a pre-production model, the Nissan Aria's active lane-keeping system was effective but required constant hand pressure to stay active.
• 😀 The climate control was set to 73°F during the test, optimizing the vehicle's efficiency for highway driving.
• 😀 The Aria's interior was notably quiet, contributing to a comfortable driving experience on the highway.
• 😀 The car's seats, although adequate for highway driving, were not ideal for city use due to their high position and lack of bolstering.
• 😀 The vehicle's real-world highway range closely matched its EPA estimate, which is uncommon for electric vehicles.
• 😀 After 101.2 miles, the car had 62% of the battery remaining, equating to a range of approximately 260-270 miles for highway driving.
• 😀 The Nissan Aria’s real-world performance is competitive with other EVs, offering a strong alternative to options like the Tesla Model Y in terms of highway efficiency and range.

Q & A

What is the purpose of this real-world testing of the Nissan Aria?

The purpose of the real-world testing is to evaluate the highway range and efficiency of the 2023 Nissan Aria all-wheel drive, providing a realistic driving range estimate based on actual highway driving conditions.

What is the estimated highway range of the Nissan Aria according to the test?

The estimated highway range of the Nissan Aria is around 270 miles, based on its EPA-rated MPGe and the test conditions.

How does the Nissan Aria's efficiency compare to the EPA's estimates?

The Nissan Aria performed very well in the real-world test, achieving 3.1 miles per kilowatt-hour, closely matching the EPA's estimated highway range, which is around 270 miles.

What factors could affect the Nissan Aria's real-world range?

Factors that could affect the range include weather conditions, the use of climate control (e.g., air conditioning), driving speeds, tire pressure, and the vehicle's load.

What was the climate and road conditions like during the test?

The climate was relatively ideal, with temperatures around 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit, which is generally favorable for electric vehicles. The test was conducted on the highway, with a consistent speed of around 70 miles per hour.

What challenges were mentioned regarding the Nissan Aria's steering assist system?

The steering assist system was noted to be somewhat unresponsive if the hands weren't firmly placed on the steering wheel, requiring the driver to actively apply force for the system to acknowledge that they were in control.

How does the Nissan Aria perform in terms of comfort during highway driving?

The Nissan Aria is comfortable for highway driving, with quiet cabin conditions and seats that are reasonably comfortable for long trips, although the seating position was a bit difficult for getting in and out of the car.

How much energy did the Nissan Aria consume during the test?

During the test, the Nissan Aria used about 31.6 kilowatt-hours to travel 101.2 miles, which resulted in an efficiency of 3.2 miles per kilowatt-hour, slightly better than the car's own estimate of 3 miles per kilowatt-hour.

How does the Nissan Aria's range compare to other electric vehicles?

Compared to other electric vehicles, such as the standard range Tesla Model Y, the Nissan Aria performed better in terms of highway efficiency. The Tesla, for instance, was estimated to achieve 180 miles at highway speeds, whereas the Aria reached close to its EPA range of 270 miles.

What is the final range estimate for the Nissan Aria after the test?

After completing the test, the final range estimate for the Nissan Aria was around 260 miles, which is a safe, realistic range based on the test conditions and battery usage during the drive.