While Tesla kicked electric vehicle sales into overdrive with its Model S and Model 3 sedans, the trailblazing Nissan Leaf proved that an appetite for EVs existed in the first place. When it launched in 2011, the Leaf was a strangely shaped hatchback with a maximum range of well under 100 miles. But it sold well enough that Nissan was able to improve upon the formula for the second-generation Leaf that came out for 2018.
For 2022, Nissan is making the Leaf’s price lower across the board compared to the 2021 models. Even better, Nissan has expanded the amount of content on the lower two trim levels. The base Leaf now comes standard with last year’s portable charging cable, while the Leaf SV Plus is now equipped with the previously optional SV Technology package.
We suspect that some shoppers will find the Leaf to be a bit unfashionable compared to the Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Hyundai Ioniq 5. Its maximum range isn’t up to par compared to those models either. But the Leaf still makes a lot of sense for an affordable city runabout. Read Edmunds’ Expert Rating below to get our full evaluation of the 2022 Leaf.
What’s it like to live with?
Edmunds owned a 2018 Nissan Leaf for one year and drove it almost 10,000 miles. To learn more about our experiences, visit the long-term page for our Nissan Leaf SL. We covered everything from seat comfort to real-world electric range. Note that while there have been some changes since that inaugural year, most of our observations still apply.
Our verdict |
7.9 / 10 |
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The Nissan Leaf gets a lot right. Its range of 150 or 226 miles, depending on the model, is sufficient for most EV shoppers. It’s also quiet and has some useful technology features that can make driving in heavy traffic easier and less tiring. |
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How does the LEAF drive? |
8.0 |
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The Nissan Leaf has acceptable performance for jockeying for position in traffic. The standard Leaf posted a reasonably quick 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, while the Leaf Plus did it in 7 seconds flat, which is just a hair slower than the top players including the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro EVs. The brakes feel smooth, and most routine braking can be handled by easing off the accelerator if you engage the e-Pedal mode, which adds control and a bit of fun to the daily drive. As with most EVs, smooth, instant power and a total absence of shifting make the Nissan Leaf ridiculously easy to drive. The low-slung battery also helps the Leaf hug the road, and it has the balance and coordination necessary to inspire confidence when you’re going around turns. |
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How comfortable is the LEAF? |
8.0 |
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It’s hard to find fault with the Leaf’s basic comfort. We like the Leaf’s well-shaped and supportive seats — they still have a nice level of give and aren’t overly confining. The Leaf’s ride is smooth and nicely controlled. It’s in the Goldilocks zone — neither too rigid nor too buoyant. It’s good at swallowing large and small bumps alike, but a little road-texture feel and intermittent jiggliness do come through. The Leaf’s electric drive components don’t make any noise and lack the commotion that a non-EV makes when it changes gears. Wind and road noise is the remaining potential noise source, but it isn’t overly prominent. |
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How’s the interior? |
7.0 |
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There’s plenty of legroom and headroom in any seat. The Leaf’s cabin isn’t terribly wide, but it feels appropriate for its size. Some drivers might find it hard to settle into their ideal position. The driver’s seat is mounted somewhat high and may not adjust down far enough to suit the tallest pilots. Generously sized windows and a fairly low cowl contribute to good visibility, but the rear roof pillar is slightly broader than before and produces a bigger blind spot. Our main gripe pertains to the shifter, which is so odd that it includes its own user diagram. |
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How’s the tech? |
8.5 |
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We like the Leaf’s touchscreen system and its support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. It’s worth upgrading to the SV trim level to get ProPilot Assist. It adds a more advanced adaptive cruise control system and lane-keeping assist functionality that work together to create a driver assistance system that eases freeway commuting. |
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How’s the storage? |
7.5 |
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The Leaf offers an impressive amount of cargo space when the seats are in use. But maximum capacity isn’t that easy to use because the seats don’t fold anywhere near flat. Small-item storage up front could be better too. The center console box is small and the glove compartment is average in size. For family duty, the Leaf has wide-opening doors and a near-horizontal roofline that makes it easy to access strapped-in children. The fairly generous amount of backseat room also helps for installing rear-facing seats. The three top tether anchors are easy to use, but the lower car seat anchors are somewhat buried in a gap in the seat cushions. |
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How are the range and efficiency? |
7.0 |
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The Leaf Plus SL we tested has an EPA-rated range of 215 miles, which is about average for the mainstream EV segment. It consumes electricity at the rate of 32 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles, making it the least efficient EV in its class by a small margin. In Edmunds’ real-world testing, the Leaf Plus’ range slightly outperformed its estimate at 237 miles, and it consumed slightly less energy, at a rate of 27.1 kWh per 100 miles. This observed efficiency, while better than the EPA rating, is nonetheless unremarkable for a non-luxury EV. |
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Is the LEAF a good value? |
8.5 |
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If you look solely at range versus cost, the Nissan Leaf is a good deal. The interior materials look appropriate for the price point, and the leather seats in the SL are downright handsome. The base Leaf offers 149 miles of range. The Leaf Plus costs thousands more, but you do get up to 226 miles of range in return. |
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Wildcard |
7.5 |
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The second-generation Leaf looks far less cartoonish (you can say less weird, if you like) than the original model. It also has decent power and can be mildly entertaining to drive. Other EVs, however, offer a bit more personality. |
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Which LEAF does Edmunds recommend?
Right off the bat, we think it’s worth upgrading to the Leaf Plus. The standard Leaf’s 149 miles of range isn’t competitive with other EVs, and the limited maximum distance on a full battery will make longer road trips challenging. Once you’re comfortable with spending extra for the larger battery, it’s a short price jump to the Leaf SV Plus. It comes with a lot more features, including Nissan’s excellent ProPilot Assist suite of driving aids. The SL’s short list of upgrades makes it only necessary if you want leather upholstery or the Bose audio system.
Nissan LEAF models
The 2022 Nissan Leaf is a compact electric hatchback available in two versions: the regular Leaf and the Leaf Plus. The two differ in battery capacity and power output. The regular Leaf has a 40-kWh battery that’s good for about 149 miles of range. Nissan upgrades the Leaf Plus with a 62-kWh battery that provides 226 miles of range in its base trim, and 215 miles in more well-equipped models. The Plus also has a more powerful 214-horsepower electric motor compared to the regular model’s 147-hp motor.
Three trim levels are available for the Leaf: S, SV and SL. The S and SV trim levels can be had with either the Leaf or Leaf Plus battery pack. The SL is only available in the Leaf Plus configuration. The highlight standard features include:
Starts you off with:
· 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers (Leaf)
· 16-inch alloy wheels (Leaf Plus)
· Automatic headlights
· Rear spoiler
· Illuminated and locking charge port
· CHAdeMO fast-charging port
· Automatic climate control
· Height-adjustable driver’s seat
· 60/40-split folding rear seats
· Four USB ports (two front, two rear)
· Keyless entry and push-button start
· Remote cabin preheating/precooling
· 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
· Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
· Four-speaker audio system
All Nissan Leafs come with these standard advanced driver aids:
· Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don’t respond in time)
· Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
· Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
· Lane keeping assist (steers the Leaf back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
· Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
· Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle’s blind spot)
SV
Adds to the S with:
· 17-inch alloy wheels
· Foglights
· Heated mirrors
· Leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel
· Navigation system
· NissanConnect Services (vehicle locator, remote battery status and charge control)
· Six-speaker audio system
· Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Nissan and the car in front)
· Heated front seats
· Heat pump (heats the cabin more efficiently than normal heater)
The SV Technology package is optional for the Leaf SV but comes standard on the Leaf SV Plus version. It includes:
· ProPilot Assist (uses adaptive cruise control and lane centering for semi-automated driving)
· Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
· Auto-dimming inside mirror
· LED headlights and daytime running lights
· Electronic parking brake
· Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Leaf and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
· Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
SL
The Leaf Plus-only SL trim builds off the SV with:
· Cargo cover
· Seven-speaker Bose audio system
· Leather upholstery
Originally posted 2022-07-26 20:19:00.
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