2023 Nissan Alya priced at $44,485 and promises 304 miles of range

It seems like forever since Nissan first took the covers off the 2023 Ariya in mid-2020, but the small electric crossover is nearing showrooms and Nissan has assured us that it will go on sale this fall.

Those hoping for Nissan's originally promised starting price of around $40,000 will be disappointed, as the 2023 Alya starts at $44,485 including a $1,295 destination charge. This price is for the base grade Ariya Engage, which Nissan estimates will have a 63 kwh battery and a range of about 216 miles.

Those who want a reasonable range will need to upgrade to the Ariya Venture+, which starts at $48,485, has an 87kwh battery, and an estimated range of 304 miles EPA-rated values have not yet been released.

Further up are the Evolve+, Empower+, Premiere, and Platinum grades, which do not feature larger batteries.

The Premier is front-wheel drive only, while the Platinum is all-wheel drive only.

The front-wheel drive Aria comes with a single electric motor rated at 214 hp, while the all-wheel drive model adds a dual-motor powertrain rated at 389 hp. The dual-motor powertrain also has torque vectoring capability.

In addition, Nissan is offering slightly lower prices on some models for early reservation holders and says it will keep its word to these customers.

The Alya is designed to target vehicles like the Ford Mustang Mach E, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4. It is similar in size to these models, with an overall length of 182.9 inches and a wheelbase of 109.3 inches. The cabin is two-row, with enough space for five adults.

The cabin is also loaded with standard technology: a 12.3-inch digital meter cluster faces the driver and is joined by a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and color head-up display. The Aaliyah also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and voice activation via Nissan's own system or Amazon Alexa.

The Ariya also comes with several electronic driver assistance features, including useful items such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Nissan's ProPilot 2.0 driver assistance system is also available, which allows single-lane driving on highways but requires the driver to be careful when choosing when to change roads or pass slower vehicles. An automatic parking system is also available.

The Aria is mounted on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-EV platform for electric vehicles. The platform will underpin many of Nissan's models, as the company aims to convert 40% of its U.S. sales to EVs by 2030, and hybrids for most of the remainder.