While the Tesla Model Y has been explosively popular, it isn’t the only EV option in the game.

As part of the EV shopping process, or any new car for that matter, we’re often fixated on which model is the out-and-out best of any given segment. That’s an entirely understandable thought process, especially in the EV world where you’re expected to drop upward of $50,000 at the top end on a compact SUV like a Tesla Model Y.

For hundreds of thousands of people, Tesla’s offering has been (and in several metrics, still is) the best option in terms of range, performance or general lack of charging anxiety thanks to the Supercharger network. Nevertheless, there are plenty of others out there who don’t want a Model Y for whatever reason. That’s where cars like these two come in: the 2024 Toyota bZ4X Limited and the Nissan Ariya Platinum+. Both offer dual motor, all-wheel drive alternatives to the Tesla, and both command high price tags in their top-end trims. The Toyota, for its part, costs $53,883, while the Nissan comes in at $56,490. In the video below, Tommy takes a closer look at these two EVs to decide which of the two is the best alternative.

Taking a closer look at the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X

The 2024 Nissan Ariya comes in five general trims (Engage, Venture+, Evolve+, Empower+ and Platinum+), with two different battery pack options. Base Engage models get a smaller 63-kWh unit, while all other “plus” trims get a larger 87-kWh pack. Prices across the board actually dropped by up to $6,000 for the new model year, with the new base price now coming in at $40,980 including Nissan’s $1,390 destination charge.

Even at the lower end of the trim walk, the Ariya comes fairly well equipped. You get heated front and rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, two 12.3-inch displays and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, plus a host of standard driver assistance technology including automatic front and rear emergency braking, lane-keep assist, bling-spot monitoring and lane change collision mitigation, rear cross-traffic alert and a driver attention monitor. ProPilot 2.0 doesn’t come standard on the lower trims, but you do get it on the Empower+ and Platinum+, the latter of which we’re testing here.

With the 87-kWh pack, the 2024 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ e4ORCE AWD gets an EPA-rated 267 miles on a charge. That said, it’s also fairly slow when you do have to charge it, topping out at 130 kW (fairly weak by today’s standards). Power ranges between 214 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque at the low end, and 389 horsepower with 442 lb-ft of torque at the top of the range (with a 0-60 time between 7.2 seconds and 4.8 seconds, depending on the model).

As for the Toyota bZ4X, you only have two trim options: XLE and Limited. That does mean even your “base” version comes well equipped, while either can be had with either a single motor front-wheel drive configuration or dual motor all-wheel drive. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, Safe Exit Assist and rear cross-traffic alert. You have to upgrade to the Limited to get “Softex” leatherette upholstery, as well as heated seats and heated steering wheel. So, on balance, the Ariya may be a more appealing package for some, to say nothing of the styling differences between the two.

On the performance front, the front-wheel drive version gets 201 horsepower and 196 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD is only slightly more power. Opt for the dual motor, and you get 214 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. That makes it far less potent than either the 389-hp Ariya or the Tesla Model Y in either Long Range or Performance flavors. Range is also a limiting factor, as Toyota’s offering gets just 222 miles on a charge of its 72.8-kWh battery pack (the FWD unit is slightly smaller, at 71.4-kWh). The bZ4X’s DC fast-charging capability also tops out on the lower side, at 150 kW.

What does Tommy think of both EVs?

Against Tesla’s folkloric reputation as the electric car to buy, any automaker wading into the fight is going to have a tough time conquesting Tesla buyers. For those who are looking around the entire field, though, both the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X can be compelling alternatives depending on your budget and use case.

Both cars offer practical alternatives, and neither the range nor the DC fast-charging capability (or lack thereof) may affect everyday buyers who generally charge their cars overnight at home. Depending on where you’re shopping in the market, too, each car offers pretty good value in terms of features and usability, even if neither is currently eligible for the federal $7,500 EV tax credit, as Tesla is.

Check out the video below to get a better look and impression of both the 2024 Nissan Ariya Platinum+ and Toyota bZ4X Limited: