This week, Nissan invited a select group of writers up to Wine Country to test drive the pre-production models of its all-electric 2023 Ariya crossover SUV. This was my first experience in the Ariya and I was excited at the opportunity to try out Nissan’s AWD e-4ORCE technology. It did not disappoint. These upcoming Ariya EVs deserve a look as a viable EV option loaded with standard features you won’t find in many of its competitor’s EVs, but the automaker may still have trouble standing out from the pack.
Table of contents
2023 hopes to be a promising year for the Nissan Ariya
The Ariya sits as Nissan’s first all-electric SUV and second BEV model behind the long-beloved LEAF. The compact crossover made its initial debut in the summer of 2020 as Nissan’s first EV on its new CMF-EV platform.
Production was slotted for 2021 but delayed until 2022 due to chip shortages brought about by the pandemic, but we did get a chance to test out a pre-production version of the FWD Ariya last spring, ahead of the first customer deliveries this past fall.
Mikey G’s impressions of the front wheel version were overall positive, but ever since then, I’ve been looking forward to experiencing Nissan’s e-4ORCE AWD technology after it was introduced around that same time. This week, I had that much-anticipated opportunity to experience plenty of driving throughout Sonoma County, California in a 2023 Ariya Platinum+ – Nissan’s top-tier trim of the crossover EV.
The 2023 AWD Nissan Ariya is a beyond adequate EV
In spending an entire day behind the wheel of the 2023 Ariya through the rolling hills of Northern California, the track at Sonoma Speedway, and the winding coastal roads of Bodega Bay, I can say with certainty that Nissan has produced an electric SUV that many consumers are going to love – whether they’re loyal to the Japanese brand already, or they’re making the switch over to it.
Nissan’s team told us that 62% of customers purchasing an Ariya are new to the brand, encouraging news for an automaker that has promised 27 new electrified models by 2030, 19 of which will be BEVs. I told them they’d better get a move on, but it’s nothing they’re not already aware of. We will save that story for another day.
For now, my focus, as well as Nissan’s, is on the 2023 Ariya, of which my Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD version offered the following specs.
Powertrain: Dual Motor AWD with e-4ORCE
Battery Capacity: 91 kWh
EPA est. Range: 265 miles
Horsepower: 389 hp
Torque: 442 lb.-ft.
0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Max Cargo Capacity: 59.7 cubic-feet (3 golf bags)
Overall, this is a truly delightful SUV to drive as it offers all the comforts and technologies you want in an EV, placed intuitively in a comfortable environment throughout the cabin. From the haptic switches to the dual 12-inch displays on the dash, the Nissan team has found a nice balance of updatable touchscreen functions and physical switches on the dash and center console. Features like the retractable table in the center dash (see images below) contribute to the cabin’s versatility as an office or place for entertainment while charging or parked.
I found the driver’s display too busy at first, but quickly learned I could switch to different options, whether it was settings, or the radar display of cars around the Ariya, thanks to its ProPILOT Assist 2.0 ADAS – another huge perk worth noting.
I started off my drive down the freeway and had the opportunity to test out ProPILOT Assist hands-free driving and it couldn’t have been easier. I simply tapped a button on the steering wheel to activate the technology, then pushed “set” to engage it.
Like similar ADAS hands-free tech like BlueCruise and Super Cruise, ProPILOT Assist uses HD mapping, sonar, and radar on specifically programmed roadways, allowing for three different levels of driver assistance. The first is a white light shown on the driver display as well as across the top of the dash for passengers – that’s Intelligent Cruise Mode, similar to your typical lane assist.
Next, the Ariya switched to green, stepping in to drive, but requiring hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. From there, ProPILOT Assist moved to blue, which is hands-free driving with eyes on the road. I let this run for a solid 20 minutes with no issues and only had to step in one time due to a stream of cars merging from an on-ramp to my right. Check it out:
Like much of the design and technology in the 2023 Nissan Ariya, I found ProPILOT Assist 2.0 more than adequate and think its technology is well on its way to further autonomy – perhaps with the help of Luminar?
While ProPILOT Assist 2.0 was certainly a highlight of my drive in the Ariya, it’s Nissan’s e-4ORCE that stood out as the main feature to relay to you, readers.
e-4ORCE steals the show in this EV
As you can see from the specs above, the 2023 Nissan Ariya is not really a leading EV in any performance category. It can and will, by all means, compete with the likes of the Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai IONIQ 5, but where it can really stand out to consumers is with e-4ORCE… as long as they experience it themselves.
e-4ORCE is Nissan’s proprietary electric-drive four-wheel-control system that helps efficiently control driving force using integrated control of the front and rear motors and brakes. Per Nissan:
The system calculates the driving force required to turn, accelerate, and decelerate in response to the driver’s operation and in accordance with ever-changing driving and road conditions, then controls the driving force of the four wheels via the front and rear motors and the left and right brakes. This realizes driving from everyday driving to slippery road driving.
Our first stop on our drive was Sonoma Speedway, where the Nissan team had set up a short but sweet course for us to experience the unmatched stickiness of e-4ORCE. They wetted down a sharp turn on the course and advised me to give it hell (which I did) – and wow was I impressed. All that instant torque and speed coming around that bend, right when you feel like your back end is going to fishtail out, it simply corrects itself, stays on track, and keeps chuggin’.
This was the same through some slaloms which I also went full bore through. Again, there were zero doubts about my complete control of the crossover in keeping the shiny side facing up. That was an experience indeed, but I didn’t truly learn to appreciate the grip of e-4ORCE until I was driving from Bodega Bay back to Healdsburg through countless winding turns ranging from speed limits of 20 to 55 mph.
I admittedly put the 2023 Nissan Ariya through its paces whenever possible, and it stuck to every curve, wet road, and everything else I threw at it. I found myself accelerating much harder than usual through turns, and I just kept pushing it to no avail. Out of everything I experienced in this compact SUV, e-4ORCE is hands down the most impressive and exciting feature to me.
I think those who experience it themselves will agree, and this could be a huge selling point for Nissan, which is looking to catch up from previous Ariya production woes and get more of these EVs out into the world. But how do they do it?
You can read my words and read all about the technology that goes into e-4ORCE, but it’s something you have to experience for yourself to truly understand and appreciate. It might be a hurdle for Nissan to relay how innovative its AWD system is, but if it can succeed, it should wrangle even more customers.
e-4ORCE dominating a soaking wet turn at the Sonoma Speedway / Credit: Nissan
The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a viable option for consumers
After spending an entire day behind the wheel of the 2023 Nissan Ariya, I can see why the team is excited about its potential and its role as a sort of kicking-off point for its incoming lineup of BEVs. It’s off to a good start, especially with ADAS like ProPILOT Assist 2.0 and e-4ORCE.
I personally found the regenerative braking far too loose for my liking, as the EV never really comes to a full halt, and it will roll when you take your foot off the brake. Contrary to my preference, that sort of regen style could better serve consumers that are not used to one-pedal driving, so it sort of goes both ways.
The exterior and interior were well done, the cabin was quiet enough thanks to acoustic laminated glass, and I really liked the haptic switches, which I think blended nicely into the dash and center console. The overall specs leave a bit to be desired on paper, but when you’re actually driving the Ariya, the acceleration feels more than adequate and is quite fun when paired with e-4ORCE.
Granted, I was in the top-tier trim of the 2023 Ariya, but there are still plenty of amazing specs and features as you go down the row. In fact, the 2023 Ariya should do well in its specific compact SUV segment as Nissan offers a ton of features standard on its base level Engage FWD trim (which starts at $43,190). Other competitors charge thousands in add-on fees for features standard on every trim of the Ariya, such as Head Up Display (HUD), heated rear seats and steering wheel, plus ambient interior lighting.
Overall, I think the 2023 Ariya is an amazing option for consumers new to EVs or those who are perhaps coming from the Nissan LEAF or something comparable. Experienced EV drivers will certainly still enjoy the ride and the SUV’s features, but may not be as impressed on the performance side.
I’m looking forward to the next drive event with Nissan and can’t wait to see how e-4ORCE and ProPILOT Assist are further implemented and improved in future EVs. Remember, Nissan still has close to 20 models it needs to introduce in the next seven years. I’ll be watching and waiting!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk threw shade at Waymo for having “rookie numbers” amid Tesla’s own disappointing autonomous-driving performance, raising the question: Is Elon Musk delusional or simply lying about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving?
Every year since 2018, Musk has alternately claimed that Tesla would solve self-driving “by the end of the year” or “next year.”
It never happened.
Tesla claimed a sort of victory this year with the launch of its “Robotaxi” service in Austin, Texas, but even that has been misleading since the service only operates a few vehicles in a geofenced area, something Musk has criticized Waymo for in the past, and unlike Waymo, Tesla has in-car supervisors with a finger on a killswitch to stop the vehicle in case of a potential accident.
Now, Musk called Waymo’s 2,500 fully autonomous vehicles currently in operation “rookie numbers”:
To put the comment in perspective, Tesla is believed to have about ~30 “Robotaxis” in its Austin fleet. In addition, Tesla claims to be operating “robotaxis” in the Bay Area with just over 100 cars, but it is officially considered a ride-hailing service because drivers are in the driver’s seat, and Tesla hasn’t even applied for an autonomous driving permit in California.
Tesla has also been pushing increasingly more misleading claims about its “Full Self-Driving” system being safer than humans.”
In the last few weeks, Tesla has repeatedly shared this misleading data as “proof” that its system is safer than humans:
This dataset is based on Tesla’s quarterly “Autopilot safety” report, which is known to be misleading.
There are three major problems with these reports:
Methodology is self‑reported. Tesla counts only crashes that trigger an airbag or restraint; minor bumps are excluded, and raw crash counts or VMT are not disclosed.
Road type bias. Autopilot is mainly used on limited‑access highways—already the safest roads—while the federal baseline blends all road classes. Meaning there are more crashes per mile on city streets than highways.
Driver mix & fleet age. Tesla drivers skew newer‑vehicle, higher‑income, and tech‑enthusiast; these demographics typically crash less.
With the new chart on the right above, Tesla appears to have separated Autopilot and FSD mileage, which gives us a little more data, but it still has all the same problems listed above, except the road-type bias is less pronounced, since FSD is also used on city streets.
However, many FSD drivers choose not to engage FSD in potentially dangerous or more difficult situations, especially in inclement weather, which contributes to many crashes – crashes that are counted in the human driver data Tesla is comparing itself against.
Lastly, it is unfair to say that the data proves FSD is safer than human drivers, as even with the flawed data, Tesla should claim that FSD with human supervision is safer than human drivers. It’s not FSD versus humans, it’s FSD plus humans versus humans.
It leads us to this.
With Tesla and Musk being undoubtedly wrong and misleading about the performance and the very nature of its current autonomous driving offering, I wanted to know your opinion about the situation through this poll:
Electrek’s Take
Personally, I think it’s a little of both.
I think he sometimes really believes Tesla is on the verge of solving autonomy, but at the same time, he is perfectly willing to cross the line and mislead people into thinking Tesla is further ahead than it actually is.
For example, I believe I can explain this comment about Waymo having “rookie numbers” despite the Alphabet company having about 10x more “robotaxis” than Tesla – even with Tesla’s very loose definition of a robotaxi.
Based on job listings across the US and his recent ridiculous comment that Tesla will magically cover half of the US population with robotaxis by the end of the year, I think Tesla is hiring thousands of drivers. Soon, it will put them in Model Ys with ‘Robotaxi’ stickers on them and have them drive on FSD and give rides in the Robotaxi app in several US cities.
Musk will claim that Tesla’s Robotaxi is now bigger than Waymo, even though it will basically be the equivalent of Uber drivers in Tesla cars with FSD, which is already the case. Just this week, I took an Uber from the Montreal airport, and it was in a Model Y with FSD. Has Tesla launched ‘Robotaxi’ in Montreal?
It’s either that or he counts consumer vehicles with FSD, which is even dumber.
In short, he is delusional, and when he realizes that he was wrong, he is willing to lie to cover things up.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Solar and wind are growing fast enough to meet all new electricity demand worldwide for the first three quarters of 2025, according to new data from energy think tank Ember. The group now expects fossil power to stay flat for the full year, marking the first time since the pandemic that fossil generation won’t increase.
Solar and wind aren’t just expanding; they’re outpacing global electricity demand itself. Solar generation jumped 498 TWh (+31%) compared to the same period last year, already topping all the solar power produced in 2024. Wind added another 137 TWh (+7.6%). Together, they supplied 635 TWh of new clean electricity, beating out the 603 TWh rise in global demand (+2.7%).
That lifted solar and wind to 17.6% of global electricity in the first three quarters of the year, up from 15.2% year-over-year. That brought the total share of renewables in global electricity – solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy, and geothermal – to 43%. Fossil fuels slid to 57.1%, down from 58.7%.
Renewables are beating coal
For the first time in 2025, renewables collectively generated more electricity than coal. And fossil generation as a whole has stalled. Fossil output slipped slightly by 0.1% (-17 TWh) through the end of Q3. Ember expects no fossil-fuel growth for the full year, driven by clean power growth outpacing demand.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
China and India are partly driving that shift. In China, fossil generation fell 52 TWh (-1.1%) as clean energy met all new demand, resulting from a structural change in its power system. India saw fossil generation drop 34 TWh (-3.3%), thanks to record solar and wind growth and milder weather.
Solar is leading the charge
Solar is doing the heavy lifting. It’s now the single biggest driver of change in the global power sector, with growth more than three times larger than any other electricity source in the first three quarters of the year.
“Record solar power growth and stagnating fossil fuels in 2025 show how clean power has become the driving force in the power sector,” said Nicolas Fulghum, senior data analyst at Ember. “Historically a growth segment, fossil power now appears to be entering a period of stagnation and managed decline. China, the largest source of fossil growth, has turned a corner, signaling that reliance on fossil fuels to meet growing power demand is no longer required.”
Electricity demand rose 2.7% in the first three quarters of 2025, far slower than the 4.9% jump seen last year when extreme heatwaves pushed up cooling demand in China, India, and the US. This year’s milder weather helped take some pressure off the grid, making it easier for clean energy to close the gap.
A turning point for the global power system
For the first time outside of major crises such as the pandemic or the global financial crash, clean energy growth has not only kept up with demand but surpassed it. The next big question: can solar, wind, and the rest of the clean power sector keep up this pace consistently? If they can, 2025 may be remembered as the year global fossil generation plateaued.
If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!
Your personalized heat pump quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – *ad
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Genesis is taking luxury to the next level with its new flagship SUV. The GV90 is shaping up to be the brand’s most lavish vehicle yet, offering ultra-premium features like coach doors.
Genesis GV90 caught with coach doors in real life
After unveiling the Neolun Concept at the New York Auto Show last March, Genesis said it was a preview of its first full-size SUV.
The “ultra-luxe, state-of-the-art SUV,” as Genesis describes it, will be the brand’s largest and most luxurious vehicle yet, slotted above the GV80.
It wasn’t the stunning design or the over-the-top interior that caught most people’s attention, but the B-pillarless coach doors.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Although we were worried that some of the ultra-premium features, like the coach doors, wouldn’t make it to the production model, new spy photos reveal otherwise.
A GV90 prototype was spotted out in public with the coach doors wide open, giving us our closest look at the setup. The new spy photos, courtesy of SH Proshots (via TheKoreanCarBlog), show the hinged door system in action and offer a glimpse of the interior.
Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor filed several patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, detailing new door latching devices.
Two patents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” offer a better idea of how the Genesis GV90’s coach doors will work.
Genesis has previously said that B-pillarless coach doors are now a reality in production vehicles. It looks like the GV90 will be the first to debut it.
Yes, the Genesis GV90 will be available with coach doors, but it likely won’t be standard on all trims. It could be a premium feature reserved for higher-priced variants. The GV90 has been spotted out in public several times now with a traditional door design. We’ve also caught a glimpse of other premium features it will offer, like adaptive air suspension.
The Genesis Neolun electric SUV concept (Source: Genesis)
Genesis has yet to reveal prices or final specs. We could see the GV90 debut by the end of the year, with sales expected to start in mid-2026.
One thing is for sure: The Genesis GV90 won’t be cheap. It’s expected to start around $100,000, but higher trims could cost upwards of $120,000.
Genesis Neolun electric SUV concept interior (Source: Hyundai Motor)
Earlier this week, a production version of the GV90 was caught for the first time driving in South Korea. It was still covered in camouflage, but from what’s shown, it looks nearly identical to the Neolun concept.
Reports suggest the flagship SUV could debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform. Hyundai claims the platform will deliver a 50% improvement in driving range per charge compared to its current EVs. It’s also expected to offer Level 3 autonomous driving and other advanced driver assist capabilities.
The flagship electric SUV will serve as a tech beacon, showcasing Hyundai’s latest tech and software. It’s expected to feature a massive 24″ curved infotainment as part of a digital cockpit design.
Genesis is also launching its first hybrid, the GV80, next year, and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) in late 2026 or early 2027. The luxury brand will also introduce a new off-road SUV as it expands into new segments.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.