2023 Leaf Buyer’s Guide
Have you heard of the 2023 Nissan Leaf EV and did it catch your fancy? Did you know that it has a starting price of below $30,000 before any applicable tax credits and are you wondering if you should go for it?
If you have asked yourself all these questions, we hope that by the time you are done reading this write up, they will be answered. So welcome!
Maybe you have read about the car in the papers but you should also know how effective it is out in the real world before making your decision on whether or not you should go for the car.
Now, when you compare the Leaf’s driving range with other competitors, you will find that its driving range is not that wonderful. It is also fitted with a not so modern charging technology and this might be a turn off for some persons.
While the leaf’s longest-range battery pack allows for just about 200 miles of driving range, that of the Chevy Bolt EV is better. The Kia EV6 and Tesla Model 3 are also ahead of it with regards to driving range, although they are more expensive than the leaf.
You should also be aware of the fact that not all the public charging stations are compatible with the Nissan’s CHAdeMO charging connector.
A way to work around this will be to set up for charging in your house, but that limits you to driving only around your town or within reasonable distance that can allow you go back home to charge when the need arises.
With the Nissan leaf, it is much easier to navigate through traffic and find street parking spots. For a car as compact as it is, it has quite a spacious cabin and is also comfortable. It also comes with nice tech features that make for a pleasant driving experience.
However, all these nice features and even more such as access to more charging stations, more day to day usability, as well as longer range are offered by its rivals. The Leaf does not seem to have an edge here.
What is in store for 2023?
For 2023, Nissan’s electric car will be getting some upgrades with regards to style. These style upgrades include front bumper, exterior lighting elements, as well as a revised grille.
There will also be present an illuminated Nissan badge as well as a set of cool multi-spoke wheels. The lineup comprises of only a base S model and the longer-range SV Plus.
Pricing
The S goes for about $28,425 while the SV Plus goes for about $36,425.
If you can afford the SV Plus it is better that you go for it considering all that you will be getting for that price. The SV plus has the longest driving range, comes with a more powerful electric motor, and is fitted with an adequate package of standard equipment.
Other features of the SV plus that you will love include its keyless entry with push-button start, automatic headlamps, 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, as well as Android Auto capability.
EV Motor, Power & Performance
One thing you should know is that the Nissan Leaf is a front-wheel drive vehicle.
While the Leaf S is equipped with a 147-horsepower electric motor and a 40.0-kWh battery pack the Leaf SV Plus comes with a 214-hp electric motor as well as a bigger 62.0-kWh battery.
During testing, the S got a 7.4-second zero-to-60-mph time but it boasts of great instantaneous power delivery of the electric motor.
Regardless of the power delivery, the result places it below the Bolt EV and the Model 3. If you decide to go for the premium Plus model, you will most likely get faster speed.
The car has an e-Pedal feature which makes it possible for the driver to move between the braking modes.
While one of braking modes means the vehicle can coast if the driver releases the throttle, the other means that vehicle will slow down when you lift your foot from the gas and that energy goes to recharging your battery.
Range, Charging & Battery Life of The Leaf
To charge the Nissan Leaf, you can connect it to a regular 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt outlet. Take note however, that the charging duration is not the same between the two outlets.
According to Nissan, the duration for a charge with a 240-volt connection whether for the standard Leaf’s battery or the larger battery in the Leaf Plus is about seven hours.
A feature that is standard on all trims is a DC fast-charging connection. The standard Leaf is equipped with a 40.0-kWh battery and this offers a somewhat limited range of 149 miles.
Although this might be substantial for some drivers with short commutes, it is still less than half of what the Model 3’s Long Range model offers.
With the SV Plus you will be getting 215 miles of EPA-rated driving range as a result of its larger battery pack.
Nissan Leaf Interior, Comfort & Cargo
When you hear that the cabin of the Leaf comes with a substantial amount of black plastic, you may want to draw the conclusion that it will look cheap. This however, is taken care of by the well-assembled and uniform textures.
Its gauge cluster comes with a big analog speedometer followed by a 7.0-inch digital readout. This digital readout can be reconfigured to have various displays.
We already discussed a little about the leaf’s spacious and comfortable interior, but we will go into details now. The seats are really comfortable and provide a lot of room.
Even though the car’s back seat does not form a flat load floor when folded, the cargo capacity is still something to write home about and is ranked among the best in its category.
Behind the back seat, you can arrange seven carry-on suitcases and when you fold the back seat then you are looking at about 19.
Just so you really get the picture the Bolt EV can contain five in its cargo area and when the back seats are folded can take 16 with its back seats stowed. Even the Niro EV did not beat the Leaf when it comes to this.
