Nissan Ariya vs Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling model in the world, with global sales of 1.2 million units in 2023. Does that make it the best vehicle in the world or even in its class? Does McDonald’s make the best hamburgers in the world? Or even the best fast food hamburger, for that matter? Like the Tesla Y, the Nissan ARIYA is a compact EV crossover, and it is sized and priced to compete directly with the Model Y in the popular compact crossover market. Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington finds several reasons for you to consider it over the four-wheel Big Mac.

Drivetrain Choices

Every Model Y is equipped with a 75-kW battery pack. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) single-motor models produce 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The single-motor Model Y is estimated at 260 miles with 19-inch wheels and 242 miles with the available 20-inch wheels. All-wheel drive (AWD) Model Ys feature a motor in both the front and rear with combined system power of 384 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. Wearing 19-inch wheels, the Dual Motor Model Y is rated at 310 miles of range, dropping to 292 miles with the available 20-inch wheels. 

The ARIYA is available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD with a choice of either a 63 kWh or 87 kWh battery pack. In its most basic form, the FWD ARIYA with the smaller battery produces 215 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque and is rated at 216 miles of range. AWD with the small battery drops the range to 204 miles. Unsurprisingly, the longest range comes from the FWD single-motor model with the 87 kWh battery, which has an estimated range of 304 miles. Dual-motor AWD models with a larger battery range from 257 to 272 miles, depending on the trim level. 

While the Tesla model generally has a longer range, the best way to own either of these vehicles is to charge them at home, which makes the range largely irrelevant until you opt for a long trip. Tesla models had the advantage of long-trip travel due to the well-established Tesla charging network. However, Nissan has negotiated with Tesla to enable access to their charge network with a NACS adapter, which should be available on ARIYA models by the time you read this. 

Exterior Design

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we think there is an excellent case to be made that the ARIYA is the better-looking vehicle. The Model Y basically looks like a Model 3 with a taller roof because that is essentially what it is. Both share the same body surfacing and have the same look in the front. The ARIYA has similar proportions with a very short front overhang and a similar unbroken curved roofline that slopes downward in the rear for aerodynamic purposes. That said, the ARIYA has a significantly bolder exterior with greater contrast in the front, sleek low-profile front lighting clusters, a sharp crease along the beltline, and two-tone exterior paint treatments. 

The ARIYA has a smaller footprint than the Model Y, with a 5-inch shorter wheelbase and 4 inches less overall length. Elsewhere, they are closer in size, with the ARIYA having one inch less width but one more inch in height. Both generally have 2-row, 5-passenger cabins, though the Model Y does have a $2,500 third-row seat option. One look at the Model Y’s sloping roofline tells you how useful those seats are going to be.

Interior Design

The bolder appearance case is even stronger in the cabin. Tesla continues its practice of absolute minimalism with a dash consisting of a panel, an oversized center screen, a steering wheel, and not much else. All controls and key driver information, including speed, are wrapped up on that big screen. Even the air direction from the vents is controlled through the screen. Tesla promotes this screen-dependent system as the way of the future, but in fact, it is primarily a measure of cutting design and fabrication costs. 

The ARIYA dash has a decidedly more premium appearance. Essential driver information is directly in front, where you expect it to be on a configurable digital display. A second touchscreen display is alongside it. Below the screens is a door-to-door recessed area that houses the climate vents, which you can actually control directly with your hands. What a concept! 

Dead center in that area is the audio power button/volume knob because a knob is still the best way to adjust the volume. Below the knob is an array of touch controls for the climate system that makes it very easy to make minor adjustments without messing with screen menus. The steering wheel contains multiple redundant controls for the audio and other systems, which is not unusual for any modern vehicle besides a Tesla. Also found on almost every vehicle except Tesla is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for the center screen. The Model Y does not have this in any form, while the ARIYA not only has it but also has a wireless connection on all models. 

Real Pricing

The models overlap in the price range. The ARIYA has a starting MSRP of $39,950. You have to be careful looking at prices on the Tesla website because they include an assumed $6,000 in gas savings, which is a questionable way to price a vehicle and would apply to the ARIYA and any other EV. It also assumes you qualify for the $7,500 Federal Tax credit. Without these assumptions, the accurate starting price for the Model Y is $44,990. The price range of both model lines extends to the mid-50s.

The Ariya is an attractive, luxurious, and practical vehicle that should be on the list of anyone considering an EV or crossover vehicle. It is hard to ignore Tesla in the EV world, but Nissan has shown how an EV can be done from an EV pioneer who has also been an established automaker for over a century. If you’ve read this far, you must have had an interest in EVs, so we welcome you to visit Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington for your ARIYA test drive.