Compare the2025 Nissan AriyaVS 2025 Toyota bZ4X

The Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The bZ4X doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Ariya and the bZ4X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Ariya is safer than the Toyota bZ4X:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Ariya is safer than the Toyota bZ4X:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Nissan Ariya achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The bZ4X is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ariya for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the bZ4X (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ariya’s reliability 15 points higher than the bZ4X.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

The Ariya has more powerful engines than the bZ4X:

As tested in Car and Driver the Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X electric motors:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X (base engine):

The Ariya can travel longer on a full charge than the bZ4X on a full charge:

The Ariya has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The bZ4X doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the Ariya + e-4ORCE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the bZ4X:

The Ariya stops much shorter than the bZ4X:

For better traction, the Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the bZ4X (245/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Ariya’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the bZ4X XLE’s standard 60 series tires. The Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the bZ4X Limited/Nightshade’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ariya has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the bZ4X XLE.

The Ariya has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The bZ4X doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the track on the bZ4X.

The Ariya Platinum+ handles at .86 G’s, while the bZ4X Limited AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ariya Platinum+ executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the bZ4X Limited (26.3 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ariya’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the bZ4X’s (35.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The bZ4X doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the bZ4X (101.2 vs. 94.4).

The Ariya has 1 inch more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 7.7 inches more rear hip room than the bZ4X.

The Ariya has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the bZ4X with its rear seat folded (59.7 vs. 56.9 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota bZ4X is limited to 0 pounds. The Ariya e-4ORCE offers up to a 1500 lbs. towing capacity.

When two different drivers share the Ariya, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Ariya has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Ariya’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the bZ4X doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Ariya’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The bZ4X’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Ariya has a standard rear wiper. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

When the Ariya Platinum+ is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The bZ4X’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Ariya features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the bZ4X’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Ariya has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the bZ4X.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2023 issue and the Nissan Ariya Platinum+ won out over the Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD.

The Nissan Ariya outsold the Toyota bZ4X by 44% during 2023.