Nissan Ariya: 30,000 Miles Tackling the Arizona Desert

The Sonoran Desert hides a secret: 3,000 acres of the Arizona Testing Center (ATC) for Nissan. The desert, south of Phoenix, often sees summer temperatures as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes this a specific area to test the reliability and livability of any new car that’s being developed. If it can survive summer testing here, there isn’t much else that can take it down.  

A Vehicle that can Handle Long Hours without any Gas 

Keeping this area safe and secure, as well as making sure there are no prying eyes that could leak future vehicles, is a very specific task that very few vehicles can handle. When you’re miles from a gas station and need a vehicle that can sit idle for hours without overheating or running out of gas, what exactly do you do? Enter the Nissan Ariya EV.  

A Special Way to Secure the ATC 

The previous vehicles that Nissan used for the security team were the Armada and Frontier, which both handled it well. However, starting in the fall of 2023, Nissan decided to test the full capabilities of the Ariya by putting it into active service as its one and only security vehicle model around the ATC campus. One of the vehicles even got off-road tires, a roof rack, extra off-road lighting, and special Security decals. Nissan says that in the first year alone, each Ariya in the security detail was driven more than 30,000 hard, desert miles.  

A Word from Nissan 

“These vehicles are in near-constant operation, including significant idling time, making the Ariya ideal for reducing fuel costs and eliminating tailpipe emissions,” said Owen Thunes, Senior Manager of Test Operations at ATC. He continued, “ATC has a large portion of its property operated as a farm, which means the vehicles are continuously driving on dirt and gravel paths with ruts and washboard. After a monsoon, some of these access roads turn into a mud bog, creating an even tougher challenge…It has thrived on a steady diet of nothing but dirt and fast charging.” 

Price, Trim Levels, and Range 

Nissan offers the Ariya from just $41,160. It is available in five trim levels with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Below are all of the trim levels with their respective driving ranges.

• Engage FWD
  • 216 miles
• Engage e-4ORCE AWD
  • 205 miles
• Evolve+ FWD
  • 289 miles
• Engage+ e-4ORCE AWD
  • 272 miles
• Evolve+ e-4ORCE AWD
  • 272 miles
• Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD
  • 267 miles
• Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD w/ 20-inch wheels
  • 257 miles

Come Take a Look at the Brilliant and Safe Nissan Ariya 

The Nissan Ariya has been named a Top Safey Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and Recurrent ranked it as the best used electric vehicle to buy. If you aren’t familiar with EVs or are curious about the Ariya, the helpful sales associates at Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington will be able to answer all of your questions.  

Why Choose Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington  

At Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington, we believe our customers deserve the best prices and services. With over 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.