December 20, 2021

The 2022 Nissan Leaf is now the cheapest new electric vehicle you can buy, with a base price of just over $28,000 before state and federal tax rebates. All trims are now between $4245 and $6545 cheaper than they were last year. The Leaf’s standard battery pack is good for 149 miles of estimated driving range; upgrading to a Plus model increases that driving range to 226 miles. The Leaf’s cabin is spacious and comfortable, and a host of high-tech driver-assistance features are available. Nissan has made the CHAdeMO quick charging port standard across the Leaf lineup this year; it’s also including the ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode on the SV Plus trim.

Check out this 2022 Nissan Leaf review by Nik Miles:

Highs

• Low price
• Roomy interior
• Optional semi-autonomous driving mode
• Standard driver assist features
• Fast and easy charging
• Quick acceleration from Plus models

The 2022 Leaf comes in five trims and offers two battery sizes. The key difference between normal and Plus models is that the latter come with the bigger battery pack, which translates to more power and longer range.

Pricing

• S: Starting at $28,375
• SV: Starting at $29,775
• S Plus: Starting at $33,375
• SV Plus: Starting at $36,375
• SL Plus: Starting at $38,375

The best deal here is the S Plus because it carries a reasonable price, the longest driving range, the more powerful electric motor, and still offers a decent set of standard equipment. It has an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, and automatic headlamps.

Performance

There’s nothing quite like 100% electric driving. You’ll enjoy straight power for a rush of instant acceleration every time you hit the pedal. And all this performance comes without so much as a drop of gas, absolutely zero tailpipe emissions, no engine noise, and amazingly smooth operation.

The standard Leaf models come with a 147-horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels; a 40.0-kWh battery pack provides the juice. Leaf Plus models come with a more powerful, 214-horsepower electric motor and a larger 62.0-kWh battery. The floor-mounted battery pack creates a low center of gravity for a great ride and smooth handling, helping the Nissan Leaf corner with reduced body roll.

The Leaf’s e-Pedal feature allows the driver to toggle back and forth between regenerative braking modes, one of which allows the car to coast when the driver lifts off the throttle and another that slows the car when you take your foot off the gas and uses that energy to recharge the battery.

The Leaf can be plugged in to a regular 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt outlet, but the charging times vary dramatically between the two. On a 240-volt connection, Nissan says both the standard Leaf’s battery and the larger one in the Leaf Plus can be replenished in seven hours.

Benefits

• No Gas
• No tailpipe emissions
• No oil changes
• No tune-ups
• HOV lane access
• Preferred parking
• Quiet cabin

Interior & Tech

The cabin of the Leaf S and SVs has a lot of black plastic and is well-assembled and has uniform textures. The SL model offers an optional light-gray leather interior with a matching dash pad with a nice look and feel. The gauge cluster features a large analog speedometer next to a 7.0-inch digital readout that can be configured to show a variety of displays. The Leaf’s seats are very comfortable and the spacious rear seat offers plenty of room for adults. The rear center console has air conditioning vents, as well as USB charging ports. The spacious trunk and its 23.6 cu ft. of cargo space has plenty of room for gear without sacrificing seating.

All Leaf models come with the same 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; navigation is optional. The software interface is intuitive and quick to respond to inputs. Standard is a six-speaker audio system while a seven-speaker Bose Energy Efficient Series Premium Audio System is exclusive to the SL and SL Plus models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance

Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assistance features are standard across the lineup and the brands novel ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode is available on SV, SV Plus, and SL trims as part of the technology package. It is standard on the SL Plus.

Key Safety Features Include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Standard High beam assist
• Standard Lane departure warning
• Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty

Nissan offers a basic warranty package that covers the same amount of time as the rest of the Nissan Lineup. However, the Leaf’s battery is covered for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.

• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Battery warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Conclusion

For those looking to buy their first EV, the Nissan Leaf is a great feature-rich vehicle worthy of consideration. Its starting price is attractive and the Leaf’s impressive driving range makes it a good choice for grocery runs or traveling around town. For the average driver looking for a daily commuter it’s hard to go wrong with the 2022 Nissan Leaf. The time to go electric is now.

Check out the new 2022 Nissan Leaf here or call us to set up your test drive.

 

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