The Nissan LEAF has stood for the company’s dedication to making all-electric transportation accessible to the general public for over a decade. With the car’s redesigned features, Nissan maintains this focus on providing the best possible value for EV buyers. Prior to going for sale, the redesigned LEAF had made its debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. Here is why it is one of the best options in the market right now.

The Nissan LEAF – An overview

The brand offers two grade levels of the Nissan LEAF, the LEAF S and LEAF SV PLUS. With a fantastic new appearance, a record established (over two billion EV miles have been driven in the U.S. alone), and some of the most cutting-edge driver assistance and safety features, now is the time to go completely electric. Pricing for the Nissan Leaf has been revealed, and it is $470 more expensive than the prior version. Starting prices for the S are $28,895, and the SV Plus is $36,895.

EV motor, power, and performance

By today’s standards, the 147-horsepower electric motor and the 40.0-kWh battery pack in the base LEAF S are both not the best. A more powerful 214-hp electric motor and a bigger 62.0-kWh battery are added to the LEAF SV Plus. Both trims offer an FWD transmission. The S managed a 7.4-second 0–60 mph time at test tracks, but it feels more nimble than this figure suggests because of the electric motor’s immediate power delivery. With the help of the LEAF’s e-Pedal feature, the driver can alternate between two regenerative braking modes: one that slows the car down when you let off the gas and utilizes that energy to replenish the battery and the other that slows it down when you let off the accelerator.

Fuel economy and Real-world MPGe

The SV Plus test vehicle achieved 98 MPGe over a 75 mph highway fuel-economy test route, outpacing its EPA highway rating of 94 MPGe. In contrast to the 215 miles of range that the EPA claims, the range observed during this test was 180 miles.

Interiors

The LEAF S and SVs cabins contain a lot of black plastic finishes, but the homogeneous texturing and well-assembled pieces keep them from seeming cheap. The Leaf’s seats are La-Z-Boy comfortable, and the roomy back has enough space for adults as well, easily fitting five grown-ups. The car’s cargo capacity is among the finest in its class, despite the fact that folding the back seat does not produce a level load floor. The rear seats fold 60/40, and one can fit seven carry-on bags and a staggering 19 when the back seat is folded behind the back seat of the car. The brand offers a rear-door system alert, Nissan Intelligent Key, which enables no-contact door unlocking and powering on, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats and mirrors, a heated steering wheel, and automatic temperature control.

Safety features

All Nissan models come standard with the Standard Safety Shield® 360 array of driver-assistance systems, and the brand’s innovative ProPILOT Assist semi-autonomous driving mode is available on the SV and SV Plus trims as part of the Technology package. Important safety elements include the standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control with the option of semi-autonomous driving mode.

The available Intelligent Around View® Monitor gives the driver a 360-degree view of their surroundings to ensure proper and safe parking, even in the tightest of spots.

To sum up, the Nissan LEAF furthers the long and successful legacy of the LEAF series, and it does so successfully. It may not be the most powerful electric car on the market, but it holds its own just fine.