There are plenty of great electric vehicles available in the U.S. today. With generous bumper-to-bumper and battery pack warranties, many of these EVs are excellent options for value-conscious shoppers who are looking for a used car or truck. But what is the best pre-owned EV for 2025? Well, according to one study published by electric vehicle analytics firm Recurrent, it’s a rather unexpected option: the 2023 Nissan Ariya.
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10 Things You Need To Know About The Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya marks the the start of a new era in the electrification of Nissan, and it already looks quite promising
Upscale, Efficient, And Ready For Action
While not a perfect product (really, what is?), this all-electric SUV nonetheless delivers a competitive range, coddles passengers with a surprisingly upscale cabin, and offers plenty of helpful amenities. Even though it’s been on the market for a couple years now, the Ariya is still something of an under-the-radar option. Fewer than 20,000 were sold in the U.S. last year, making this Nissan significantly less popular than a Mustang Mach-E or the staggeringly successful Tesla Model Y.
Regardless of its showroom performance, however, the Ariya did extremely well in Recurrent’s analysis. Overall, the company’s research team analyzed data from more than 26,000 vehicles connected to their platform. This analysis factors in things like cost and vehicle availability as well as affordability, charging speed, and the accuracy of range estimates. After all the numbers were crunched, the 2023 Nissan Ariya rose to the top, beating 30 other models that were evaluated.
According to Recurrent, “The Ariya promises to be a reliable and steadfast car, with an accurate dashboard, very little range degradation, and most of its battery warranty left. It shines in terms of winter weather performance, where it holds on to 83-percent of its max range at freezing temps,” and that last item is particularly important for drivers that live in regions that experience extreme cold. Frigid conditions can salvage an electric vehicle’s estimated range, so minimizing those losses is a huge bonus.
Other benefits of the Ariya include available ProPilot Assist 2.0, a hands-free driving aid that works on limited access, divided highway. This SUV also earned a Top Safety Pick crash-test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an excellent performance.
Rising To The Top Of A Crowded Field
For 2025, the Ariya beat a range of other electric vehicles like the Volkswagen ID.4, which the company found to be a good value while also offering access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. The Chevrolet Bolt EUV was another runner-up, praised for its
excellent Super Cruise hands-free driving
aid and value pricing. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E performed well in testing, too, thanks to its jaunty looks, good charging performance, and excellent range.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, Recurrent’s 2024 winner was the 2018 Tesla Model 3 sedan, which was praised for offering excellent range and value pricing. Back in 2023, the winner was the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, a low-cost but surprisingly livable offering.
