Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Nissan Ariya

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles built after March 2023

Fully electric
2023 Nissan Ariya 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system
Superior
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
Superior
Optional system (built before April 2023)
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Nissan Ariya Engage e-4ORCE 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Ariya, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced for the 2023 model year. These ratings do not apply to the AWD extended range battery variant.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

During the crash, the seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy to the extent that its head hit the steering wheel hard through the airbag.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN2307
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN2307
Head
HIC-15 339
Peak gs at hard contact 107
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 21
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 34
Right 43

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Nissan Ariya EV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Ariya, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced for the 2023 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Ariya conducted by Nissan. These ratings do not apply to the AWD extended range battery variant.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2320
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Footrest (cm) 6
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 7
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Upper dash (cm) 9
Right lower dash (cm) 9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2320
Head
HIC-15 138
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 30
Maximum Nij 0.41
Chest maximum compression (mm) 17
Femur (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 7
Right 6
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.46
Right 0.48
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 28
Right 39

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2320
Head
HIC-15 39
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.14
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.31
Right 0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 28
Right 36

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Nissan Ariya EV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Ariya, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced for the 2023 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Ariya conducted by Nissan. These ratings do not apply to the AWD extended range battery variant.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF2318
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 8
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 3
Right (cm) 7
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2318
Head
HIC-15 98
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.7
Femur force - right (kN) 0.9
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 3
Maximum tibia index - left 0.39
Maximum tibia index - right 0.38
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.6
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 33
Right 49

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Nissan Ariya Engage E-4orce EV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Ariya, an all-new electric SUV, was introduced for the 2023 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Ariya conducted by Nissan. These ratings do not apply to the AWD extended range battery variant.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2341
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) 25.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2341
Head
HIC-15 48
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 19
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.61
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.32
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2341
Head
HIC-15 51
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 20
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 16
Average deflection (mm) 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.10
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.16
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.8

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built after March 2023
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves, fair on the sharp left curve and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2023-24 models built after March 2023
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 79.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.7 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 70.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 136.5 m
Straightaway left edge 136.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 87.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 71.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 57.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built before April 2023
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2023 models built before April 2023
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 114.3 m 36.9%
Straightaway left edge 64.6 m 36.9%
250m radius right curve, right edge 87.8 m 56.6%
250m radius left curve, right edge 62.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 72.6 m 52.4%
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 174.5 m
Straightaway left edge 162.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 92.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 75.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 73.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 65.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

System details

  • optional Pro-Pilot Assist 2.0

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2023-24 models of the following trim lines: EMPOWER+ trim, PLATINUM+ E-4ORCE trim

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph. A warning was issued 1.7 seconds before impact.

System details

  • standard ProPilot Assist

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2023-24 models of the following trim lines: ENGAGE trim, VENTURE+ trim, ENGAGE E-4ORCE trim, EVOLVE+ trim, ENGAGE+ E-4ORCE trim, EVOLVE+ E-4ORCE trim

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle nearly avoided a collision. A warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

Night

System details

  • standard ProPilot Assist

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to 2023-24 models of the following trim lines: ENGAGE trim, VENTURE+ trim, ENGAGE E-4ORCE trim, EVOLVE+ trim, ENGAGE+ E-4ORCE trim, EVOLVE+ E-4ORCE trim
Superior
Superior

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 32 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph and a warning was issued 1.3 seconds before impact.

Night

System details

  • optional Pro-Pilot Assist 2.0

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to 2023-24 models built before April 2023 of the following trim lines: EMPOWER+ trim, PLATINUM+ E-4ORCE trim
Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 30 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 2.1 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph and a warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 49 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 65 dB
Difference between background and signal 15.7 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 65 dB
Difference between background and signal 12.2 dB
Dominant audio frequency 584 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim Premiere
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor, a single lower anchor and the ability to borrow the second anchor from another position.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim Premiere
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
1 dedicated anchor and 1 that can be borrowed from seat 3
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 5
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 8
Clearance angle (degrees) 87
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 9
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation