2022 Nissan LEAF

　　

2022 Nissan Leaf Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Nissan LEAF EV Insights

Trim:LEAF S

　　S 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $27,400 MSRPSV 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $28,800 MSRPS PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $32,400 MSRPSV PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $35,400 MSRPSL PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $37,400 MSRP

　　

Range

　　149 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 127 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　8 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　CHAdeMOThe CHAdeMO standard has been phased out for most new models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$64/mo

　　LEAF

　　vs

　　$162/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　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 zzdcar' Expert Rating below to get our full evaluation of the 2022 Leaf.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar 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 Recurrent. 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.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the LEAF drive? 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.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the LEAF? 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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