2022 Nissan Leaf review: A great EV value
Our Verdict
The 2022 Nissan Leaf is not the sleekest car just Nissan has pulled off what no other EV manufacturer has done to date: an EV that tin can be bought for less than $20,000. This is a great offset EV for new buyers.
For
- Low price
- Competitive range
- Smart driving features standard
Against
- Slower charging standard
- Noticeable road and wind racket
- Boring blueprint
Tom's Guide Verdict
The 2022 Nissan Foliage is not the sleekest car simply Nissan has pulled off what no other EV manufacturer has done to date: an EV that can be bought for less than $twenty,000. This is a smashing first EV for new buyers.
Pros
- +
Depression toll
- +
Competitive range
- +
Smart driving features standard
Cons
- -
Slower charging standard
- -
Noticeable road and wind noise
- -
Boring pattern
2022 Nissan Leaf: Specs
Release date: Out now
Cost: Starting at $27,400 (MSRP); every bit tested $37,400
Power: Single motor front-bicycle drive
Horsepower: 147hp
Battery range: 149 to 226
Top speed: 90 mph
Smarts: ProPilot Assist. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The 2022 Nissan Leaf is oftentimes disregarded in EV discussions. The Leaf, first introduced in 2010, ordinarily gets snubbed past the likes of Tesla, which has captured imaginations with its futuristic tech and a bombastic CEO. Merely, the 2022 Nissan Leafage is worthy of some attention, as it'southward now the cheapest EV on the market — and one with over 100 miles of range to kick.
We spent a little over two weeks inside the Leaf, on loan from Nissan. We were impressed by how piece of cake information technology was to start upwards and become. For those looking to purchase their first EV, the 2022 Nissan Leaf is a great feature-rich entry bespeak. With a maximum range of 226 miles, it's cracking for grocery runs or traveling around town, though the lower 149-mile range pick might non be enough for some.
Nissan has been quick to promote the fact the 2022 Foliage can be bought for under $20,000. Some might contend that information technology'south not really a truthful sub-$20K vehicle as information technology requires the buyer to redeem a potential government tax credit of upwards to $7,500. And to an extent, I agree.
Even if the motorcar is prepare to be replaced by 2025, with an all-electric Micra and a crossover SUV, that doesn't change the fact that the 2022 Leaf is currently the cheapest electric car on sale in the United states of america.
Just pricing discussions aside, the Nissan Leaf is not a perfect EV. The lane aid and infotainment system, while practiced compared to other automobile manufacturers, lags far backside what the likes of Tesla is throwing nether the hood.
The interior quality is nigh on par with the segment, although some plastics tin feel a footling hollow to the touch. And the exterior design still looks like a squat gerbil. Fifty-fifty then, for the average commuter looking for a daily commuter, it'south hard to go wrong with the 2022 Nissan Leafage.
Nissan Leaf review: Release date, pricing and trim levels
The 2022 Nissan Leaf is available now and comes in five different models. The lower end Foliage Due south has a paltry 40 kWh battery with an estimated range of 149 miles. This model starts at $27,400, and it's this unit, which after taking the full $vii,500 taxation credit into business relationship, that can hit a sub-$20K toll point.
The acme end of the Leafage range is the Leaf SL Plus. This doesn't have the highest range in the lineup, with 215 miles in the tank, merely its $37,400 price tag does include Bose speakers and partial leather seats.
Potential buyers will probable want to opt for either the Southward Plus, which includes the 62 kWh battery and 226 miles of range for $32,400, or the SV Plus. That has a slightly lower range of 215 miles, merely the increased $35,400 cost tag includes 17" aluminum-alloy wheels, an accommodating camera organization, LED headlights, ProPilot assist and the optional Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic. Unfortunately nosotros were not able to exam this last feature.
It should exist noted, Nissan'southward ProPilot Assist, Nissan's commuter help arrangement, is simply bachelor on the SV, SV Plus and SL Plus models.
Nissan Leaf review: Range, battery and charging
The 2022 Nissan Leafage has middling range. While the 215 mile range Nissan claims sounds similar a lot, your existent world driving range will all depend on how you drive. I was faced with a bout of hot weather that forced me to creepo on the ac, and lowered how much range I could squeeze out of the battery. Wind resistance or other ecology factors tin also play a part.
Plus, Houston, being a widespread city connected by ever-widening toll roads, makes even a trip to the grocery store a multi-mile romp. Really, the Leaf is less ideal in widespread cities. It'south not impossible to use, but daily commuters should make certain to recharge it overnight.
In our review of the Volkswagen ID.4, tested in the Bay Surface area of California, nosotros plant that daily apply exceeded VW's range estimates in some instances. That was not the case with the Leaf.
Often, at least in the boiling Texas heat, range seemed to slip more than quickly than what Nissan estimated. Granted, because Houston has miles of highways, speed limits here are higher, and even then, drivers oftentimes drive far past posted speeds. One highway in Texas, SH 130, has a speed limit of 85mph. Driving at high speed with the A/C cranked upwards volition invariably use more energy.
Anyone looking to purchase the lower-end Due south or SV models with 149-miles of range, should simply do and so if y'all are certain your daily driving volition not exceed that. And give yourself some buffer, equally hot days will require more electricity to go on the internal motel cool, while particularly common cold days will decrease the overall range the battery can store.
In one case, range feet came to head with the poor EV charging infrastructure that continues to plague America. One nighttime every bit I was driving the Leaf, I came to detect that my range was getting uncomfortably depression. So low that getting domicile might be an upshot. I then loaded up Google Maps to try and detect a nearby CHAdeMO charger.
I could but detect ane nearby, which was located in the parking lot of a Whole Foods, because, of course. When I got there, another vehicle was using the lonely CHAdeMO plug, significant I had to wait. It was a frustrating inconvenience, none of which is Nissan's fault, but something to consider for buyers not living on the coasts.
Either way, the Nissan Leaf has two charge ports. One is the faster CHAdeMO accuse port which can charge at speeds betwixt 50kW and 100 kW — depending on what model yous get. This tin can give drivers an 80% accuse around 40 minutes. The Leaf also has a Blazon 1 Ac charge port which can plug into any old electric socket (with an adapter) or a fast home charger.
Using a standard 120 volt electric socket means it can accept over two days to fully charge the Leaf. Simply most probable, dwelling house owners will opt to have a defended charge point installed in their garage, giving a full charge in around xi.5 hours.
Unfortunately, the 2022 Foliage sticks with the CHAdeMO charging port, and while popular in Asia this plug has been supplanted by the CCS charging standard in Eu and the U.S. To the point where even the upcoming Nissan Ariya has ditched CHAdeMO for the faster, and more widely-used CCS.
Nissan Leaf review: Interior and cargo space
Some auto reviewers similar to wax about plushness of leather or the light fuzz of an Alcantara steering wheel. Unfortunately, flowery linguistic communication will not be necessary for the interior of the 2022 Nissan Leafage.
If there's one word to sum up the interior of the Nissan Leafage, it would be "fine." The interior itself doesn't stand out equally being overly futuristic or having sweeping lines that decrescendo into front he dash to the doors. The styling is very typical for the Foliage's cost bespeak, and is very Nissan.
What that means is that things are laid out cleanly. There's a touchscreen in the center with a few buttons and knobs to the side. While traditional automakers are trying to re-create Tesla'southward all-screen approach, I find this trend a little annoying and retrieve information technology'southward good Nissan bucked information technology.
Fiddling with a touchscreen while screaming down the highway at 75mph is not safety. Tactile buttons that can be pressed with muscle memory are far safer for the average driver.
Still it would have been dainty to take a higher resolution screen on par with a modern tablet. I couldn't help but observe the pixelation effectually the Spotify icon when plugging in my phone. The screen was also laggy at times, and seems to be running at a lower frame rate.
Regardless, underneath the display are what look like spread wings with more buttons for various other climate related functions.
Underneath the instrument cluster is the Leaf's defining trinket, it's swooping bluish and silverish shift lever. The blue shift lever has been with the Foliage since its offset-generation design. In function, drivers tin can slide information technology up to reverse or down to park.
Information technology's odd at first coming from a traditional lever, simply information technology's easy to learn and far more elegant. The swooping wave-like blue pattern looks striking, and is unremarkably the first thing people notice when entering the Foliage. While yes, information technology'due south nothing more than a polished slice of plastic, it does show how calculation fiddling design cues can make a auto feel more special for drivers.
On our Leafage review unit, seats were decently comfortable, though far from the sinking soft seats you might find in a luxury German sedan. The seats and steering wheel tin can likewise be heated with the touch of a button, although cooled seats would accept been a nice addition on mucilaginous Houston September days.
Going towards the back, at that place'due south a decent amount of rear passenger space. And those of moderate height can sit pretty comfortably. The rear center console does accept air-conditioning vents, likewise as USB charging ports.
The cargo space in the Nissan Leaf is unexpectedly squat. While the car might look big from photos, information technology's really a relatively small car compared to something like a Toyota Camry. It can handle a solid grocery run, merely a heavy trip to a warehouse store like Costco or Sam's Club might be tough. Luckily, the seats exercise fold down giving 23.6x30 cubic feet of torso space.
Nissan Leaf review: Tech and safety features
The 2022 Nissan Leaf isn't adorned in cutting edge high tech like the Mustang Mach-East or the Tesla Model 3. Starting at the elevation, the most impressive feature is the ProPilot Assistance, a lane help feature that keeps the Leafage in between highway lanes and behind the car ahead.
In our experience, this hands-on driving assist feature worked okay, but required more focus than we would prefer. If the highway is straight, so the Leaf tin can manage well. Only if the Leaf approaches a winding corner, it can outset to weave in an attempt to stay centered.
And if coming on to an on-ramp or a part of the highway that connects to another, I couldn't aid but find myself gripping the bike and readying the brake pedal to deadening downward and so that I could ease into the winding corner.
The feature also required easily to be touching information technology every 30 seconds or and so, which is meant to go along the driver'due south focus on the road. Luckily, I could rest my easily towards the bottom of the steering wheel instead of being at nine and 3 at all times.
Apart from that, what I did like was what Nissan calls the Around View Monitor. This characteristic uses cameras around the vehicle to requite a birds eye view of when parking. That can be a tremendous help in preventing a dented fender, or from clipping any passersby. The fact that it's now a standard feature is a huge plus and Nissan should be commended for its inclusion.
The Leaf does include both Apple CarPlay and Android Machine, but unfortunately in that location's no wireless charging.
As for safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Leafage a 5 star safety rating, with frontal crash receiving 4 stars and side crash receiving 5.
While I personally didn't go into a crash in the Nissan Leaf, I did experience condom in the vehicle. And the Leaf, while small, does take a stout stature, making it expect larger than it really is. The added headroom as well helps those in obnoxiously large pickup trucks run into the Leaf better, which is helpful.
Nissan Leaf review: Driving at an instant
As someone who's grown up driving internal combustion engines, this is the first time I've spent a significant amount of fourth dimension with an all-electric car. And honestly, my feel was very positive.
The 1 thing I want to print upon readers, particularly those considering their get-go EV, using the Leafage is really very smartphone-similar. There's no ignition sound or the rumbling of an engine. Getting in the Leaf and turning information technology on is every bit seamless as pushing the power button.
It means that there's no need to wait for the engine to warm upwardly. The turning of rotors or 0blasting of pistons means there'due south absolutely no vibration. Pulling out of the driveway is weirdly smooth. And honestly, I'd rather commute in an EV over a traditional vehicle simply for these tiny comforts.
As for the drive itself, the Nissan Leaf is not the most luxurious. The pause picks up bumps, while the low rolling resistance Michelin Energy tires also bleat hands. The Leafage picks up a lot of road noise and at that place's little in the way of sound deadening material. Then you lot terminate upward hearing a lot of what'southward going on outside, specially when it's windy. But these are all compromises that need to exist made equally EV technology is virtually maximizing range to a higher place all else.
For me, I grew used to some of these mild annoyances. Oftentimes, I would have a podcast playing, and then much of the drone of the road was tuned out. As for the ride, for those who drive sub-$30K vehicles, it might be on the lower-end of ride quality, only is by no means as crude as driving a go-kart. While non as smooth as a Toyota Camry, it is closer to a Honda Borough or Mazda 3.
The Nissan Leaf has a few driving modes. Almost drivers volition keep information technology at Eco for the greatest range. In this mode, the regenerative braking is more aggressive and the automobile limits acceleration.
The standard drive fashion unleashes the instant acceleration of the electrical motor, allowing for peppier runs from stop signs. Honestly, if I weren't so worried about the Foliage'due south range, I would have kept it on the standard drive mode during most of my testing. It'due south a good bit of fun, and is a neat party flim-flam to surprise passengers with. Although, it's nowhere nearly the ludicrous speeds that Tesla drivers become to play with.
There'southward also a brake driving mode, which puts more onus on the regenerative braking, besides equally an e-pedal mode. This latter lets drivers employ one pedal for both accelerating and braking. Pressing the accelerator will increment speed, whereas letting go will apply braking ability. I personally constitute this mode nauseating, as the braking was too intense for neighborhood driving, and I was worried about hitting the car in front.
The actual steering feel was a fleck muted, simply that's to be expected of a commuter-focused EV.
Nissan Leafage review: Verdict
The Nissan Leafage is a good EV. Information technology's not the best nor will it brand Nissan CEO Makato Uchida the 2nd richest man in the world. But information technology has a very specific task and information technology accomplishes it respectfully.
Nissan did non leave to make an earth shattering EV. It instead did the responsible thing and made an everyday EV, a automobile used for going to soccer practice or commuting to work. Near chiefly, it put information technology at a competitive price, beating Tesla to the sub-$30K and sub-$20K (with incentives) price point. Non merely that, it's priced within striking range of the Toyota Prius.
I think the Foliage is the most important car in Nissan's lineup. It helped Nissan establish itself in the EV space and is allowing the company to step forward into the upcoming Nissan Ariya, which will have on the Tesla Model Y, the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Mustang Mach-E. If the Leaf hadn't existed for the last ten years, it's hard to tell if Nissan would take been able to put together what looks to be a compelling EV crossover.
The Nissan Foliage is non an ideal road tripper, is not the most comfy commuter, nor volition its acceleration skin off eyelids. Merely the Leaf withal does an adequate task given its price point and category. And for the right buyer, the Nissan Leaf is the perfect EV to bound into. At least it is until the launch of the Leafage's replacement, a yet-unnamed crossover SUV that Nissan has confirmed will be available from 2025.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/2022-nissan-leaf
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