Toyota bZ4X vs. Nissan Ariya: Which One Wins?

Key Points

• The Toyota bZ4X and the Nissan Ariya are two electric SUVs that entered the EV market relatively late.
• The Nissan Ariya offers more power and better performance, with up to 389 horsepower and a top speed of 124 mph.
• The Ariya also has a longer operational range of 304 miles per charge, compared to the bZ4X’s range of 252 miles per charge.
• The bZ4X has a slower acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the Ariya can do it in just 4.8 seconds.
• The Ariya has a faster charging speed, requiring around 40 minutes for a full charge at fast-charging stations, while the bZ4X takes around 30 to 60 minutes.

Electric vehicles are set to become the new normal on our roads. Most automakers turned from gas and hybrid to pure electric motors, but some are new to the game.

Two brands that entered the EV market relatively late are Toyota and Nissan. The former has recently launched its first mass-produced EV. The latter already features two fully electric vehicles in its lineup. But how do their models compare?

Find it out in this head-to-head look at the Toyota bZ4X and the Nissan Ariya.

Breaking EV News

June 9, 2023 — North America seems to be moving towards an EV charging standard. Two industry giants, Ford and General Motors (GM), recently announced that, at the start of 2024, owners will be able to use adaptors to charge their EVs at Tesla’s Superchargers. And at the start of 2025, both companies’ EVs will feature Tesla’s North American Charging Standard connector.

Toyota bZ4X vs. Nissan Ariya: Side-by-Side Comparison

Toyota bZ4X vs. Nissan Ariya: What’s the Difference?

A pioneer in the hybrid vehicle world, Toyota is rather late to the EV party. The automaker debuted its first mass-produced electric SUV in 2021 and launched it a year later in Japan. Now at its second edition, the 2023 Toyota bZ4X is already up for grabs — even though it has limited availability at the moment.

Nissan entered the EV market with its popular Leaf model. The Ariya, its second fully electric vehicle, is bigger, more powerful, and boasts a longer range than its predecessor. Similar to the bZ4X, the Ariya was launched in 2022 as a 2023 model. It doesn’t offer excessive fun behind the wheel, but it impresses with a decent driving range.

Performance

Bigger batteries and better motors have improved the performance of electric vehicles in recent years. Folks now expect their fully electric cars to have longer operational ranges and outstanding performance. Some models, such as the Tesla Model 3 or the upcoming Polestar 4, deliver as expected. However, not all electric vehicles are created equally.

Both the bZ4X and the Ariya rank rather low in the performance department. Of the two, however, the Ariya is the more promising. Nissan’s vehicle boasts up to 389 horsepower, depending on the trim. These select trims, which include the top-of-the-range PLATINUM+ e-4ORCE AWD, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 4.8 seconds, and the top speed goes up to 124 miles per hour from the 99.4 mph found in the entry-level trims.

The bZ4X comes in only two trims, both of which have the same performance. They feature up to 201 horsepower in the AWD variant and a top speed of 99.4 miles per hour. Acceleration is also slower, with Toyota’s first electric car reaching 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. Sure, that’s a respectable acceleration for the power, but it’s hardly exhilarating. Overall, both vehicles provide calm, stable rides, but they lack the sporty nature driving enthusiasts have come to expect from their SUVs.

Range and Charge Time

The Nissan Ariya doesn’t only boast more performance; it is also the best choice if you don’t really care about speed but want to go far. The larger battery pack of 87 kWh provides an operational range of 304 miles per charge. This range is similar to the Tesla Model Y and is a lot more than Toyota’s.

In fact, the bZ4X’s 71.4 kWh battery has an operational range of around 252 miles per charge. Not only do you have to plug in the car more frequently, but it also recharges slower than the Nissan. At fast-charging stations, it requires around 30 to 60 minutes — more often than not, you’ll have to wait for a full hour for the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent.

The Nissan Ariya requires around 40 minutes of charge time at fast-charging public stations. This difference in charging speed could be the result of Toyota using compatible charging stations — the Japanese brand doesn’t own or operate any charging stations. Meanwhile, Nissan developed its own network of charging stations, called CHAdeMO, which provides quick charging for proprietary vehicles. The bZ4X is compatible with most Level 3 stations, although it is incompatible with the Tesla Superchargers.

Design

The Toyota bZ4X and the Nissan Ariya are both SUVs, but slight design differences might make you prefer one over the other. For starters, both come in FWD and AWD variants. However, both of the bZ4X trims are available in both versions. In Ariya’s case, each trim comes with its own factory drivetrain that is either FWD or AWD — for instance, AWD is not available for the Engage trim, nor is FWD available for the PLATINUM+ e-4ORCE.

From a visual standpoint, the bZ4X features a larger wheelbase and is slightly longer than the Ariya, although the former is taller and wider. Nevertheless, Toyota provides more ground clearance of 8.1 inches (Nissan Ariya’s ground clearance is 7.8 inches). While the difference is minimal, you can drive the Toyota over rougher ground.

Aesthetically speaking, the bZ4X is sleeker than most Toyota models. The Nissan Ariya maintains a similar design to other Nissans, including the Juke and the X-Trail.

User Interface

Modern cars are much more than metal cases on wheels. Infotainment systems let you check important information at a touch, control non-essential car functions, or access multimedia.

For its part, the Toyota bZ4X comes with a 12-inch touchscreen display that runs on proprietary software. The interface is as intuitive as it gets, while the system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In addition to the touchscreen, the dashboard features minimal buttons and an uncluttered appearance.

A separate 7-inch digital gauge cluster displays all essential information. The infotainment system comes with SiriusXM satellite radio as standard, as well as cloud-based navigation. Multimedia is also accessible via USB, or you can connect your mobile devices. The base version comes with a six-speaker stereo, but you can upgrade to a nine-speaker JBL system on the Limited trim.

The Ariya features a similar touchscreen that is customizable — it is Sirius-based and compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features a voice assistant that allows you to interact with the system fully hands-free (Toyota features a similar system, too). Instead of JBL, Ariya’s audio system can be upgraded to BOSE.

Safety

Key similarities between the bZ4X and the Ariya can be found in their respective safety features. Both vehicles feature advanced safety systems that include traffic detection, lane keeping and lane departure assistance, and parking assistance, to name just a few.

Fully self-driving capabilities are not available from either brand, but both Toyota and Nissan feature adaptive cruise control and hands-free driving in certain road conditions on approved roads.

Comfort

The Ariya and the bZ4X are similar in size. Both have a capacity of five passengers, but the latter is more comfortable. Toyota’s main advantage is the higher design of the roof at the rear of the car. More headroom translates into higher comfort for adults.

The bZ4X also provides plenty of legroom for both front and rear passengers. A flat floor at the rear makes it comfortable for three adults to squeeze in. In-cabin storage is not abundant, but the 27.7 cubic feet trunk fits four carry-ons.

The Ariya also has a flat floor at the back, but the car’s roof is lower. This vehicle is more suitable for families, as kids can sit comfortably on the rear bench for longer periods. The opposite is true for adults, especially for taller folks. Nissan’s EV also has a smaller trunk of only 22.8 cubic feet.

Price

The Toyota bZ4X and the Nissan Ariya are similar in many ways, but the latter is slightly more expensive. Ariya’s MRSP is $43,190 for the entry-level model, and it can go up to $60,190 on the high-end trims. These prices don’t include any optional functions, so a custom color or other add-ons will drive those prices up.

The bZ4X XLE has a starting MRSP of $42,000, while the Limited starts at $46,700. Sure, it might not be as powerful as the Ariya, nor match its range, but you could save a lot with this car. Both vehicles are eligible for federal tax credits of up to $1,000.

Toyota bZ4X vs. Nissan Ariya: 5 Must-Know Facts

• The bZ4X is Toyota’s first pure electric vehicle built on the same platform as Subaru Solterra.
• The Ariya is Nissan’s second vehicle in its electric lineup. This SUV is bigger and more powerful than the Leaf.
• The entry-level models from both brands have similar performance. However, Nissan’s top-of-the-range model is more powerful and capable than the bZ4X.
• The Ariya charges faster than the bZ4X, but Nissan has its own network of charge stations. Toyota doesn’t own or operate charge stations.
• The bZ4X is cheaper and more comfortable than the Ariya. However, you’ll have to settle for less power and a shorter range.

Toyota bZ4X vs. Nissan Ariya: Which One is Better?

The Toyota bZ4X and the Nissan Ariya aren’t radically different, and the choice often comes down to preference or budget. If you want a capable car without going over the top, the bZ4X could save you a buck. However, you’ll get a shorter range, longer charge time, and fewer horses.

The Ariya is more expensive but also more powerful. It charges faster, and it has a longer range, making the Ariya well worth the money. None of the two cars are compatible with Tesla Supercharger stations, but only Nissan has its own network. All these benefits make the Ariya well worth it.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Paceman/Shutterstock.com.