2023 Nissan LEAF Hatchback

　　

2023 Nissan LEAF Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuManager, 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).

　　The Nissan Leaf isn't as cool as a Tesla and doesn't offer the latest in EV tech, but it's one of the longest-running EVs on the road, offering an affordable and practical option for people wanting to drive a zero-emission vehicle. It was quietly strutting its kilowatts on the streets before any Tesla rolled out of the factory and showed there was an interest in EVs even though it sported a strange look and a short driving range. The current second-generation Leaf matured with more traditional styling and a longer driving range.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Nissan LEAF EV Insights

Trim:LEAF S

　　S 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $28,040 MSRPSV PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $36,040 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

　　$500

　　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

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　$100

　　Restrictions: Nissan Energy Perks by EVgo is a charging agreement between Nissan North America and EVgo. Customers who purchase or lease a new 2023 Nissan LEAF will receive a $100 complimentary charging credit for use at all EVgo public charging stations including EVgo roaming partners. Customers will have 12 months from the date of purchase or lease to use the credit. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

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.

　　Nissan updated the 2023 Leaf with a restyled front end and reduced the number of trims offered. You'll probably have to squint your eyes to see the revised grille, front bumper and headlights that have a darker housing. But the illuminated Nissan badge on the grille is easier to spot at night. The Leaf is now only offered in two models: the base Leaf S, which has a smaller battery pack and shorter driving range, and the Leaf SV Plus, which is offered with a larger battery pack and longer driving range. The larger battery pack provides a driving range of 215 miles, but the Recurrent.

　　The Nissan Leaf isn't the newest or most compelling choice for an EV, though it's one of the most affordable. It's also comfortable, offers that trademark EV torque at low speeds, and its larger battery pack provides enough range to suit most needs. And if you need to move a large item, its hatchback body style should come in handy. If the Leaf doesn't have what you're looking for, consider one of its rivals with longer driving range, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and the similarly priced Chevrolet Bolt EV. Check out the zzdcar Expert Rating below to get our test team's in-depth review of the Leaf's performance, efficiency and more.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Want to find out how the Nissan Leaf performed when we drove one for a year? Check out our Recurrent. We liked how reliable it was and how we didn't pay anything for maintenance, but there were a few things we didn't care for over the course of 9,365 miles. Note that there have been several updates since the 2018 model year (the first year of the second-generation Leaf), but 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below