Nissan Ariya Wins Best Pre-Owned EV Award!

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Well, this would not be my first guess, or even my 5th, but the 2023 Nissan Ariya has just won the best pre-owned EV in 2025 award from Recurrent Auto. This was from a comparison of 30 EV models.

“The award recognizes Ariya’s strong value retention, advanced technology and standout performance in the pre-owned EV market,” Nissan writes. “Recurrent’s team of market analysts and battery scientists analyzed vehicles based on affordability, charging speed, range reliability, connectivity and overall ownership experience. Ariya’s top-ranked position was earned thanks to its competitive pricing, advanced driver assistance features, strong battery limited warranty¹ and exceptional winter performance—maintaining 83% of its maximum range in freezing temperatures.”

Nissan has come a long way from the unmanaged batteries of early Nissan LEAFs that would degrade quickly and drive down the resale value of the cars!

“Nissan’s Ariya hit the market in 2023, and although it didn’t make the splash it could have, part of that was due to its price. Now, with prices under $30K for many configurations, The Ariya is an attractive option. It features a comfortable, tech-forward interior with ProPILOT Assist 2.0, delivering an enhanced semi-autonomous driving experience,” Recurrent writes. “What we love: 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% of its max range at freezing temps.”

There were several runners-up. They were the following:

• 2020 Tesla Model 3
• 2021 Hyundai Kona
• 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
• 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
• 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

You can read summaries of each of those models and what they love about them here. There’s also a table showing the grading of all of those models.

Winners in the previous two years were the 2018 Tesla Model 3 (2024) and the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt (2023). Who will win the 2026 award?

As far as methodology, Recurrent uses the following 10 criteria for comparing models and trying to pick a winner:

1. Cost — this category is based on a Recurrent statistic called “cost per range mile,” that compares the ratio of the used price to the real-world range. It measures how much you’re paying for range vs. everything else (design, nice features, a killer sound system, etc). If you’re looking for a budget EV, you’ll want to keep this number low.
2. Availability — how available are these cars? This affects your ability to get your hands on a used one, and the ultimate sale price you may negotiate.
3. Affordability — we look at how many vehicles, as a percent, are priced below $25,000. We chose this price threshold because it is the cutoff for eligibility in the used EV tax credit program
4. Charging speed — this score factors in both AC (level 2) and DC (level 3; fast charging) speeds
5. Charging network — as determined by owner satisfaction and surveys
6. Range Reliability — we use the Recurrent range score to compare the average observed range today versus the average observed range when new. This helps you understand how well the range holds up with time.
7. Accuracy — how well does the range on the dash reflect the actual range you can expect? Ideally, the dashboard prediction should be as close to reality as possible — both to reduce range anxiety and to prevent unexpected charging sessions.
8. Variability — how does the car’s tech prepare it for winter or hot weather driving?
9. Eligibility — is this make and model supported by Recurrent to track range health and battery condition? Are there any limitations on our coverage?
10. Connectivity — how do drivers rate the car’s app, ease of use, and usefulness of features. This is a blended score based on app store reviews and community feedback

It looks like a good system. Though, I would be inclined to put some weighting on certain key factors, and in the end it’s going to come down to a lot of subjective opinions. But I think most people can agree on the analysis Recurrent provides, and that might be the most useful thing. Go read the summaries of each car for more.