The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Competitive price
- Peppy powertrain
- Intuitive infotainment
- Clean design
Dislikes
- Limited range
- Basic base model
- Struggles at highway speeds
- No all-wheel drive
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2023 Nissan Leaf is a refreshingly straightforward, affordable electric car that offers a competitive value.
What kind of car is the 2023 Nissan Leaf? What does it compare to?
The 2023 Nissan Leaf is a five-seat electric hatchback that competes with the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona EV.
Is the 2023 Nissan Leaf a good car?
It’s a fine commuter car. Good standard features and a perfect green score add up to a TCC Rating of 7.3 out of 10, which is average for an electric car. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What’s new for the 2023 Nissan Leaf?
The small news: minor styling updates. Bigger news: the lineup’s been pruned down to just two trims, the Leaf S and the Leaf SV Plus.
The Leaf features a conventional hatchback design with an updated front fascia and trim, with styling elements that help it blend right into the rest of the Nissan lineup instead of calling attention to its EV-ness. Cabin materials elevate the Leaf above other economy cars.
The base Leaf S has a 40-kwh battery pack with a 149-mile range, while the Leaf SV Plus uses a 60-kwh pack this year for 212 miles of range. The Leaf includes CHAdeMO DC fast-charging capability that can charge the Leaf to 80% capacity in about 45 minutes. It’s more enjoyable to drive than it looks, too, particularly the Leaf Plus SV, which gets strong acceleration from its 214-hp powertrain. Light steering makes it a fun city car, but it quickly loses its charm on the highway.
Technically, the Leaf offers seating for five, but as is typical with compact cars, your passengers will be much happier if you limit capacity to four. Seat comfort is acceptable on longer trips. However, cargo space shines, with a 23.6-cubic-foot hatch that opens up to a maximum of 30.0 cubic feet with the rear seats down.
The Leaf earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS hasn’t completed its full battery of tests. Automatic emergency braking comes standard, and the SV model gets Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driver-assist system.
How much does the 2023 Nissan Leaf cost?
The base 2023 Leaf S costs $29,135, including a $1,095 destination fee. It has an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and DC fast-charging capability. The $37,135 Leaf SV Plus features longer range and adds navigation, heated mirrors, and a heated steering wheel, among other convenience features, but it strains the Leaf’s advantage over newer, better, electric cars starting above $40,000.
Where is the Nissan Leaf made?
In Japan.
2023 Nissan Leaf Styling
What electric car? The Leaf is a sharp-looking hatchback that fits right in with Nissan’s crossovers and sedans.
Is the Nissan Leaf a good-looking car?
In general, yes, though we have some reservations. The Leaf’s traditional hatchback profile is clean and simple, and even a little sporty in some details, with a user-friendly cabin layout. It earns a 6, with a point for the exterior styling.
You might not even realize at first that the Leaf is an EV; it shed its original big headlights, bulbous surfaces, and more prominent charging port. The shape isn’t entirely gone, but the updated details make a world of difference. With Nissan’s blacked-out rear pillar and roof trim, the Leaf fits right in with other Nissan utility vehicles. For 2023, the Leaf gets dark headlight reflectors, updated grille shape, revised front bumper molding, and revised deflectors and diffusers. Updated badging completes the look, and SV Plus models get a new 17-inch 5-spoke wheel design.
Inside, dark and simple materials give off a minimalist vibe, with the mushroom-like shifter as the only noteworthy styling element.
2023 Nissan Leaf Performance
The Leaf isn’t nimble, but it’s quick in a way that’s uncharacteristic of affordable gas cars.
The two versions, Leaf and Leaf Plus, are distinguished by performance, with the Plus offering both better acceleration and better range. In either case, though, the Leaf feels peppy unlike most other affordable compact cars, which earns an extra point here for a 6.
Is the Nissan Leaf 4WD?
No. Every Leaf is front-wheel drive.
How fast is the Nissan Leaf?
The base Leaf gets an electric motor and 40-kwh battery pack, good for 147 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of less than eight seconds. The Leaf Plus is about a second quicker, thanks to a 60-kwh battery pack and a combined 214 hp and 250 lb-ft. Both feel quick at city speeds, with fast starts and a one-pedal drive mode that feels more consistent than some peers. However, at highway speeds, both Leaf models feel simply adequate.
The Leaf is balanced and stable through corners, though its weight keeps it from feeling truly agile. The Leaf Plus has a slightly higher ride height and can be less comfortable over rough pavement.
2023 Nissan Leaf Comfort & Quality
The Leaf is quiet inside, with enough space for four adults.
The Nissan Leaf is more spacious inside than the exterior might lead you to believe, with enough space to accommodate a pair of 6-foot-tall passengers in the second row. The cargo space is generous enough to earn an extra point for a 6 here.
No one will mistake the Leaf for a luxury car, but it’s well-insulated from traffic and road noise at both city and highway speeds. The Leaf also uses better quality materials than comparably-sized Nissans, though some shoppers might prefer lighter colors.
The Leaf’s front seats offer decent padding and bolstering through the base and back, but shoulders might lack support. The steering wheel doesn’t offer telescoping adjustment, which might create uncomfortable ergonomics for taller drivers.
In back, rear legroom is about average at 33.5 inches, but the generous headroom makes up for it. With two adults in back, that third seat more or less disappears.
The cargo hold is versatile, large and flat, with 23.6 cubic feet of capacity. The second row folds forward to open up a total of 30 cubes.
2023 Nissan Leaf Safety
Crash tests aren’t complete, but the Nissan Leaf’s already a safety winner.
How safe is the Nissan Leaf?
The 2023 Leaf’s safety story is incomplete, due to the IIHS. However, the NHTSA awards a five-star overall rating despite a four-star frontal crash rating. With automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors as standard equipment, along with a comprehensive list of safety options, we award an 8.
The SV model adds adaptive cruise control and the ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system that helps start, stop, and steer on highways and in stop-and-go traffic. It works well, except for its incessant beeping.
The IIHS hasn’t published full crash evaluation data since the Leaf’s 2018 refresh, and hasn’t tested the automatic emergency braking system. However, the IIHS cites Nissan’s own tests to report “Good” scores for frontal and side crashes, and also notes that the Leaf has one of the lowest fatality rates for small cars, after adjusting for age and gender.
2023 Nissan Leaf Features
Want an EV on a budget? The base Leaf is a great value.
The Leaf covers all the bases in terms of sharp displays, connectivity, and active safety tech; it’s competitive for any car that costs less than $30,000, but particularly for an EV. With those positives in mind and an extra point for its value, we give it an 8 here, with the caveat that the Leaf’s warranty is just average.
Which Nissan Leaf should I buy?
It’s a question of range. Are 63 more miles of range worth about $7,000?
The base $29,135 Leaf S includes 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth seating, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Nissan offers smartphone-based navigation that syncs to charging stops, and DC fast-charging is now included. Nissan backs the Leaf with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
How much is a fully loaded Nissan Leaf?
That would be the $36,375 Leaf SV Plus. This model gets adaptive cruise control, navigation, a heated steering wheel and heated mirrors, fog lamps, and the Nissan ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system. Options include a cargo cover and premium paint.
2023 Nissan Leaf Fuel Economy
The Leaf is a model for simplicity—and energy efficiency.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the greenest cars you can buy in 2023, and we give it a 10 because the popular Plus model exceeds 200 miles of range and gets 3.2 miles per kwh.
The base Leaf is estimated for 149 miles on a charge, and the Plus trim is rated at 212 miles.
Competitors such as the Tesla Model 3, Kia Niro EV, and Ford Mustang Mach-E all offer more range, but at much higher prices.
Bear in mind, too, that very cold winter weather can sap range by 10% or more, so it’s important to plan for those potential changes during your winter driving.
With a Level 2 240-volt home charger, the Leaf Plus charges to full in less than 12 hours and the base Leaf is even faster. The Leaf’s air-cooled battery isn’t ideal for frequent fast-charging, but can charge to 80% in about 45 minutes with a CHAdeMO fast charger.
