The 2023 Nissan Leaf gets a lot right. Its range of 149 miles or 215 miles, depending on the model, is sufficient for most EV shoppers. It's also quiet and has some useful technology features that can make driving in heavy traffic easier and less tiring.
Revised front-end styling with illuminated Nissan badge
Streamlined lineup reduces trim count from five to two
Part of the second Leaf generation introduced for 2018
What is the 2023 Nissan Leaf?
The Nissan Leaf started rolling the electric vehicle (EV) boulder up the hill before the words "Model 3" were a whisper in the wind. The accessibility of this compact electric hatchback remains its strength as it enters the midway point of its second generation with a streamlined lineup and a freshened-up exterior for 2023.
For 2023, the Leaf's front end sports a refreshed front grille, bumper molding and headlights that feature a darker look thanks to a black finish in the housing. The Nissan badge is illuminated for a bit of splash. Nissan also opted to trim the lineup to two models: the standard Leaf in S trim and the Leaf Plus in SV trim. The S trim gets you the smaller battery (40 kWh), while upgrading to SV Plus configuration nabs you the 60-kWh battery and the more powerful 160-kW electric motor, good for 214 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. The battery packs haven't changed so the EPA range estimates should be similar to the 2022 figures, which are 149 miles for the smaller-battery Leaf and at least 215 miles for the larger-battery Leaf Plus. Notably, we took a 2020 Leaf Plus 237 miles on our EV range loop.
Even with its exterior updates, the Leaf will struggle to compete on looks alone with the Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai Ioniq 5. Those models also offer more range, though the Leaf holds appeal as an affordable city runabout. And with its wallet-friendly starting price, the Leaf is also eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
Edmunds says
The 2023 Leaf remains a sensible EV with enough range for many people. Its accessibility and affordability make it a welcome staple in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.
Estimated battery warranty remaining is 6 years or 72,000 miles for this car.
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
$4,500
Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.
Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.
For the vehicle to qualify:
Price cannot exceed $25,000.
Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
By combining Nissan incentives and state rebates, I was able to lease this car for peanut money. A total no brainer. It has much greater range than it is rated for. At 85% charge my range is 165 miles. I see no reason to get the “plus” model given the extra cost. The base model has so much tech where it counts (car play and safety stuff) and low tech where you don’t care (manual … parking brake and seats). The ride is excellent for a small car. Seats are much more comfortable compared to chevy bolt. Just know the tires wear out uniformly at 13,000 miles.
Awesome EV...
5 out of 5 stars
Todd Z, 05/02/2022
2022 Nissan LEAF SV PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
We purchased a SL Plus a few months ago. Its a great car. We charge it about once a week - the 225 range is perfect for our use pattern. The level 2 charger (included) was easy to install at our garage after we upgraded the outlets. Inside its very comfortable with great visibility. The Media and dash are simple to use and more like a traditional auto. The EV related menus are … simple as well. Back seat is a back seat - good enough for ad hoc travelers and our pups - not limo space though. Back seats DO FOLD DOWN - so some of the reviews are incorrect here. Rear storage is as expected for a Compact Car+. Overall we'd buy it again - Nissan is inexpensive and truly proven.
Great little EV.
5 out of 5 stars
Taylor, 07/18/2021
2021 Nissan LEAF S PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
I’ve only had it for a month but so far it’s been great. With the Nissan Rebates, State and Federal rebates I ended up paying only $21k plus tax.
UPDATE: 20,000 miles and still feels like new. No creeks or rattles. Just plug it in and go.
2022 Leaf - almost great
4 out of 5 stars
Curtis, 06/27/2022
2022 Nissan LEAF SV PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
We were on a 3-month waiting list when an SV Plus came in for someone in the wrong color; silver. Since silver was our preference, we jumped on it. To have the "privilege" of purchasing it, I had to immediately put $500 down to hold it for the next day. The dealer told me they were charging $2000 over MSRP, but our Honda Odyssey had been totaled by a tree falling on our driveway and we … needed a car...and really wanted to get an EV. We still have a Subaru Outback 2.5i for a gas car. So we are comparing the Leaf not to an expensive sports car, but rather to a 4WD station wagon, and the Honda Odyssey we owned before it got crushed. We no longer need a minivan. One note about the dealer: very nice and clear about things, and it feels like I have a new friend. They were always upfront about the charges. So while I didn't like paying over MSRP, I understand supply & demand. Not naming them here, but they got a top review from me. Qualifies for fed. $7500 tax credit.
What we've found is that we really like to drive the Leaf as much as possible. The Outback does many things better than the Leaf, has better interior design, ground clearance, traction, and can handle long trips, but for daily driving my wife, my 16-year-old son, and I all prefer the Leaf. We sort of fight over who gets to use it each day. Here's why:
It's more fun to drive and we like the economy of it. The dog* fits easily in the back. That's all.
* (65 lb. Standard Poodle - similar in size to a Golden or Lab. The rear door has a sill 9" higher than the interior floor, so your dog needs to jump over that. It's actually 1" TALLER than the 28" high Outback rear opening. The poodle has no problem with that, but some dogs might need a lift up.)
The Outback is no sports car, and compared to the Leaf it sounds like it's suffering under anything more than gentle acceleration. The Leaf feels effortless in its stronger acceleration and is smoother over the road and quieter inside. Much quieter under acceleration, but at all other times as well. We like the steering. The e-pedal has become fun to use and after a brief resistance by my wife, we all use it now. It's free to charge (level 2) at the YMCA while we're working out. Charging at home is easy and far cheaper than gas. It's been so easy to keep charged that after 3 months we still haven't put in the level 2 plug! Yeah, we don't have long commutes and we only bother topping it up every 3-5 days or so. It's never been below 45% charge. I usually stop charging between 80% and 90%. We went to the gym, did some errands, and came back home with more charge than when we left.
That being said, it could have been so much better, but for some disappointing design decisions by Nissan. The SV Plus is the middle 2022 trim level, and in 2023 I think it's the highest because they simplified the lineup. Remember, despite all the things in the list of dislikes below, we all still want to use it. That might not be true compared to any other EV though.
#1 worst idea is continuing to use the soon-to-be-abandoned CHAdeMO high speed charging port when you KNOW the CCS type is taking over. This is going to end up as a class-action lawsuit if they don't make an adapter soon. They know it's happening because their next-gen Ariya EV uses CCS... Nissan abandoned the standard they were the champion of, and now it will be like Betamax vs VCR, so all Leaf owners (even 2023) are going to be really upset because nobody is going to continue to install those chargers for highway trips.
The "Nissan Canto" is the sound it makes via external speakers at low speeds to warn pedestrians. I know Nissan spent a ton of $$ to develop it as a "branding sound" but it sounds weird like the car is a sick other-worldly whale and will break down soon. PLEASE send an update with more sound options! Copy Porsche instead of the electric Rivian Amazon delivery van. Maybe Audi...but, not really. Porsche does it best at this point.
It has a very awkward HUMP in the floor in the center of the back seats. All the other EVs tout their flat floors....oh, Nissan how could you have this car on the market for so long and still have a hump that makes the center rear seat a hellish place to sit?
The Leaf has zero front storage space. No frunk space at all. Come on, this isn't the first generation of the car!
It has front-wheel drive when EV's should all have rear wheel or all wheel drive. All that torque and the weight shifts to the rear wheels. Bad engineering choice.
Rear windows don’t go all the way down. A few inches of glass stick up. Sad.
Anyone over 6' tall has to bow down to sit in the back seats or hit their head. My 6'4" son can't ride back there comfortably at all. It's actually kind of dangerous if you hit a bump.
Rear seats don't fold flat so the expanded cargo area is very disappointing.
No spare tire or jack.
Passenger front window doesn’t have one touch up / down like the driver's window. Just a bit annoying to save a tiny bit of money.
Glossy black plastic in places you touch always looks bad. Matte faux carbon fiber on dash where you never touch looks better even if you do touch it. Why use the glossy plastic instead of the carbon fiber stuff? (if you must put hard plastic in the touch zones)
The center armrest is designed to be an insult to both driver and passenger, and the storage under it is way too small. Wost center console design I've ever seen, except the phone slot is OK...should be wider but it's decent.
Glove compartment is small, but takes up a lot of dash space because the door and edges are so thick. Why use this cheap-feeling door that is overly thick...but hollow. There's tons of space for a decent glove compartment, but they wasted it.
If the car is plugged in, you can remotely START charging (but never do, because you always want to start the moment you plug in) but you cannot remotely STOP charging, which you may want to do at 90% for example. Nor can you set a % charge stop limit in the car menu. You can set a stop timer. You have to guess, hmm, in 6 hours it should be around 85% so stop then.
The fog lights are warm white, but the other lights are cooler white. They should just match, or fog lights could be yellow, the right color for their function.
External cameras are low quality. Or maybe it's the display. The rear one is grainy in low light and has a poor image. The rear camera on my Outback looks better and brighter in dim light than what I can see with my own eyes. The Leaf needs a decent rear camera
Nissan has factory all-weather floor mats but NOT for the rear cargo area. Even the dealer didn't know this because I paid them for all 5 mats and they were shocked the cargo mat that arrived was carpet. The poodle likes to swim and carpet back there wasn't going to work. They had to get a rubber one from Weathertech.
The navigation system is so unresponsive (too much delay on the touchscreen when dragging or zooming the map) we never use it. It has only WIRED Android auto/ Apple carplay. Not using wireless in 2022 is lame. I'd rather just prop my phone up and use that, so the whole built-in system just doesn't ever get used. If it's going to be that bad, maybe they should provide a nice place to clamp a phone. I am happy that it has many of the main functions on physical buttons.
All that being said, it fulfills its main function as a fun, quiet, useful, & economical daily car.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Nissan LEAF, so we've included reviews for other years of the LEAF since its last redesign.
These Are the Electric Cars with the Worst Range | The Lowest-Range EVs We've Tested
Here at Edmunds, we're constantly testing new cars, and we've got a special process for electric ones. Every electric car we test is taken on the Edmunds EV Range Test, a real-world driving route, and driven until the battery is just about empty. Based on that test, the electric vehicles in this video are the ones we've found to have the lowest ranges. Edmunds' Lauren… McCay will tell you more about which EVs have the worst range in the video above!
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