Nissan Ariya vs Toyota bZ4X

By 2023, it should be clear that electric vehicles (EVs) are here to stay. Companies that got started early on EVs have a head start, and when considering the current era of electric mobility, no major automaker got out of the starting blocks faster than Nissan. The 2010 Nissan Leaf invited the masses to experience quiet, efficient motoring—but in the decade-plus since its debut, it has been caught by more impressive competition.

The all-new 2023 Nissan Ariya aims to retake market share in the electric vehicle space. With front- and all-wheel-drive powertrain options, slick design, immersive technology, and a competitive price tag, the Ariya looks capable of putting Nissan back into the EV conversation. We tested a single-motor Ariya in the fall of 2022 and have since evaluated the dual-motor e-4ORCE model for this updated review.

Toyota is not known for battery-electric vehicles. Aside from the RAV4 EV models built to satisfy California regulations, Japan’s largest automaker’s quest to reduce emissions has mostly focused on hybrids like the Prius. So, the 2023 Toyota bZ4X is a major shift for the firm.

The bZ4X is Toyota’s first electric car for the North American market aimed at volume sales—and it won’t be the last. The “bZ” prefix stands for “Beyond Zero,” the name Toyota is using for a family of planned electric models. For now, the bZ4X enters a crowded market of small electric crossover SUVs, already populated with a long list of entries like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya, and Volkswagen ID.4, among others.

When it comes to configurations, Toyota keeps things simple. In Canada, buyers can choose between L, LE, and XLE trim levels, and single-motor front-wheel drive (FWD) or dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains. This bZ4X review is based on our experience with the U.S. equivalent of an XLE AWD model with the Technology package.