Nissan has taken a slash and burn approach to pricing for its Ariya EV with a stunning offer that applies across the range and cuts the cost to as little as $42,990 driveaway. The eye-catching move comes soon after Tesla shifted the goalposts by dropping the price of its Model Y and Model 3 by up to $3750.

The base-spec Engage usually sells for $55,840 before on-roads. That has now been cut to just $42,990 driveaway, representing a saving of up to $17,500 depending on which state the vehicle is bought in.

7

Moving up the spec tree, the Advance goes from $59,840 to $44,990 for an immense saving of around $19,800, and the Advance+ drops from $63,840 to $51,990, with customers saving approximately $17,000. The top-of-the-line Evolve usually sells for $71,840 but is now being offered for $60,900, with the saving amounting to just over $16,000.

Nissan says the offer is only available through participating dealerships, and it is open to private buyers but not rental, government or fleet customers. The price cuts apply to new and demonstrator vehicles, and they must be ordered before the end of October, with delivery to take place before November 11. The 10-year/300,000km warranty will be unaffected.

Those huge drops make the Ariya cheaper than some of its biggest rivals in the medium SUV segment, including the Mazda CX-6e and Toyota’s bZ4X, at a time when sales of Nissan’s model have been flagging badly. 

6

The offer also undercuts the Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive, which can now be had for $55,950 before on-roads after Tesla gave customers a $2950 discount – about a five per cent reduction – last week as it seeks to clear existing stock with MY27 upgrades on the way for the Y and Model 3.

Available in four trim levels, the Ariya offers 63kWh and 87kWh battery options, as well as front- or all-wheel drive. With a driving range between 385km and 504km depending on the variant, and fast-charging support up to 130kW DC, the Ariya is designed to suit both urban drivers and those who travel longer distances. 

A 10–80 per cent charge takes just 35 minutes using a high-speed charger. Engage and Advance variants produce 160kW and 300Nm, with three Drive Modes (Eco, Standard and Sport), while the Advance+ increases power to 178kW.