The opening day of Major League Baseball is almost here. You can practically smell the popcorn and peanuts and hear bats cracking as they hit baseballs out of the park. The new 2023 Nissan Ariya 4-4orce AWD gives us similar feelings to seeing a baseball flying out of the park. This new all-electric Nissan SUV brings the heat and puts the ball in play for consumers looking to get into their first electric SUV.

What is the 2023 Nissan Ariya E-4orce AWD?

Simply put, E-4orce is the name given to the AWD system of this new Nissan electric SUV. In that way, it seems I’m being redundant in saying E-4orce AWD. Still, it might be helpful to some until we get used to this new name.

This new AWD system name suggests the Nissan Ariya can have more power (force) to offer a sportier drive. That’s certainly the case. The difference between the FWD and E-4orce models is similar to a singles hitter and a home run hitter.

What’s the actual power difference between FWD and E-4orce Ariya models?

The FWD version of the 2023 Nissan Ariya has a single electric motor attached to the front axle to provide 238 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This version allows the Nissan electric SUV to hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Nobody will brag about that sprint time.

The dual-motor 2023 Nissan Ariya E-4orce AWD includes an electric motor on each axle resulting in 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. That’s a significant bump from the single-motor version. The sprint time is 4.8 seconds for the E-4orce mode, which could impress some of your friends.

How does the Sport mode feel in this Nissan electric SUV?

From a first-hand perspective, Damon Bell of Cars.com tells us the Sport mode in the E-4orce version

“adds quicker, sportier-feeling steering, and sharper accelerator-pedal response, but it also adds an artificial “acceleration sound enhancement” the FWD Ariya doesn’t have.”

Some owners might find that added sound to be a bit unnerving; others could deem it to be part of the charm of this new electric SUV.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya E-4orce AWD has the grip of a baseball pitcher

When a pitcher throws the baseball, their grip helps create the rotations on the ball that make it move as it flies toward home plate. In the Nissan Ariya, the E-4orce AWD system is constantly checking for grip to optimize the front and rear torque and apply the brakes as required. This system ensures drivers can carve up corners and rip through turns in ways we typically only see in lightweight sports cars.

Is the E-4orce AWD system available on all Nissan Ariya SUVs?

The 2023 Nissan Ariya comes in five trims; Venture+, Engage, Evolve+, Empower+, and Platinum+. All models can include the E-4orce AWD system except the base Venture+ trim. The top, Platinum+ trim, includes this system as a standard feature.

What’s the driving range of the 2023 Nissan Ariya?

The single-motor FWD version of this Nissan electric SUV delivers 304 miles of driving range on a single charge. This is currently a respectable figure and should be adequate for most consumers.

Those looking at versions with the E-4orce AWD system will see a maximum driving range of 265 miles. For some, this might be enough, especially considering the added benefits of more power, agile cornering, an advanced AWD system, and more features at higher trims.

Is the 2023 Nissan Ariya E-4orce AWD the home run hitter you’ve been searching for?