What Is the 2023 Nissan Leaf?
The Nissan Leaf is a five-seat, four-door compact hatchback with a 147-horsepower electric motor and 40 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. With a starting price below $30,000, the front-wheel-drive Leaf is one of the cheapest electric vehicles available today. Moving up to a pricier Leaf SV Plus adds a larger 60-kWh battery and more powerful electric motor. The EPA-estimated driving range in the SV Plus improves to 212 miles, versus only 149 miles in the base Leaf. Competitors include Hyundai’s Kona Electric and Ioniq 5, the Kia Niro EV and the Tesla Model 3.
What’s New on the 2023 Nissan Leaf?
Nissan has given the Leaf a cosmetic freshening, including a redesigned front grille and bumper, black inner linings for the headlights and new alloy wheel designs. Available trims have been reduced from five to two: the base S model and the longer-range SV Plus.
What Features in the 2023 Nissan Leaf Are Most Important?
Standard features include:
- 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
- Satellite radio
- Cloth seats
- Four USB ports
- Automatic climate control
- Keyless entry
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear automatic braking
Available features include:
- Leather seats
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Bose premium stereo
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver drowsiness monitor
- 360-degree camera system
- ProPilot Assist driver-assist system
Should I Buy the 2023 Nissan Leaf?
If you’re interested in making the switch to an EV but balk at the high price tags many of them carry, the Leaf may be worth considering. It’s affordable, easy to drive (thanks to its small size) and offers reasonable range if you stick to mostly city driving. A growing field of competitors, however, can make the Leaf look and feel behind the times in terms of performance, range, efficiency and interior quality.
