Nissan Leaf 2023 - the most modest update

The popular electric car Nissan Leaf recently received a logical continuation in the form of a 2023 model. It's not as cool as Tesla, it doesn't offer innovative EV solutions, but it's one of the longest-lived EVs on the global market. According to the manufacturer, it is the world's first mass-produced and affordable electric car. We will not question this statement, but rather consider how the 2023 Leaf can surprise us.

What did the update bring?

The exterior of the new Nissan Leaf received a number of additions. These included a modified V-shaped "grille" of the radiator, covered with black gloss, but in its predecessor it was treated with chrome. The 16" and 17" wheels have been completely redesigned. The Nissan emblem on the solid front fascia, replacing the standard grille, is in line with the brand's latest standards. Designers have added two new body colors: Universal Blue and Magnetic Blue. They could be seen earlier in Nissan Qashqai and Ariya cars. Finally, the tailgate has been redesigned with a full-width decorative stripe for the finishing touch.


Too poor design update, you say? Okay exterior, but in the interior almost nothing has changed at all. The only thing that catches the eye is the updated Nissan logo on the steering wheel. By the way, the updated icon on the front panel of the radiator is now backlit.

Nissan engineers not only added something, but also removed something. For example, several previously available kits. Now there are only two left. The developers have been thinking for a long time which functions are really important for drivers, and which ones are just for show, and only increase the price of the car. As a result, two versions remained - "S" and "SV PLUS" with a price difference of exactly 8000 US dollars.

The technical component

What has not undergone any changes is the technical part of the car. In the “S” configuration, a 40 kWh battery and a 150 hp electric motor are installed on board the electric car. With. A more advanced version is equipped with a 62 kWh battery and a more powerful 218 hp motor. With. The power reserve in the first case is about 270 kilometers, in the second - about 385 kilometers. A very significant difference, for which many will pay the mentioned 8000 USD.


The electric car shows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in an interval of 6,9 to 7,9 seconds, depending on the configuration. The maximum speed of the "S" is artificially limited at around 144 km / h, while the more expensive version has a limit of 157 km / h. Pretty good for city and highway.

Interior and comfort in the car

In the center of the front panel is a touchscreen infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services. The dashboard is combined - on the right is a mechanical speedometer, on the left is a display where you can display the current speed and other indicators. The steering wheel is multifunctional, there is a full set of keys for multimedia control. Otherwise, everything is quite simple, but there is nothing superfluous.

Above the front and rear seats in the cabin of the Nissan Leaf there is enough space so that during the trip you do not bang your head against the ceiling, even if you are a fairly tall person. The width is not directly large, but quite sufficient to accommodate up to five people inside the electric car. An important point: the driver's seat, for unknown reasons, was initially set high and there is no way to adjust it for a person with a really large height.


A low hood and a large windshield guarantee good visibility from the passenger compartment. At the same time, the engineers managed to make a mistake in another place and made the rear pillar too wide, due to which a rather large blind zone is formed. However, you can even get used to it.

What really can be attributed to the pluses is the large luggage compartment. Its volume will be enough for a "loner" and for a family person. What is bad is that the second-row seats practically do not fold - expanding the luggage compartment will not be easy. Engineers also stinted on storage for various little things in the cabin, the glove compartment is also not very large.

How much does a novelty cost?

The official cost of the new model of the Japanese electric car is $28895 in the “poor” “S” configuration and $36895 in the richer “SV PLUS” version. In terms of rubles, the price of the car is 1,733 million and 2,213 million, respectively. Probably, if the car were officially sold in Russia at about the same price tags, there would be no end to it, given what offers are now available in a similar price range.

Can I buy in Russia?

Despite the fact that Nissan has been very active in the Russian market until recently, Leaf electric cars have never been officially imported to us. The situation will not change with the novelty. But despite this fact, the model is the most popular electric car in the Russian Federation. All existing generations together account for up to 83% of the number of EVs on Russian roads. How so?


Not so long ago, official Nissan dealers met especially persistent customers and imported Leaf electric cars to order. Now, the only way to acquire a model is through “gray” imports from Europe and Japan – with left-hand and right-hand drive, respectively. If you really want to upgrade to the latest version, with a good margin, it is still possible.

The closest competitors

The most serious competition for the new electric car is the following three cars:

✅Chevrolet Bolt. The electric hatchback is available at the same price as the Leaf in the "S" trim, but beats the Japanese EV in terms of power and range. The “SV PLUS” version is already closer to the competitor, but it costs more with a shorter travel range on a full battery charge. Both cars are comparable in size, but the Bolt's interior is richer.
✅ Kia Niro. The South Korean crossover surpasses the “Japanese” in both interior and exterior design and has a large power reserve, even if it costs a little more. Another difference from the Leaf is that Niro can use the battery power to power another electric car, as well as to charge various electronic gadgets.
✅ Hyundai Ioniq 5. In almost all respects, it surpasses the hero of today's review. Favorably differs in the increased power reserve, greater power and spaciousness of the cabin with the luggage compartment. Charges faster when using a special station. Where Leaf beats the South Korean opponent is at a lower cost.

The starting prices of the listed competitors in the basic configuration are 31000, 39000 and 33245 US dollars, respectively. Therefore, the simple version of the Leaf S is much cheaper than them.

Conclusion

Nissan Leaf is not the most modern (despite the update) and functional electric car, but definitely one of the most affordable, popular and widespread. It is quite comfortable, the power reserve is enough for both city trips and long-distance races. If Leaf, due to its simplicity, cannot give what you need, pay attention to competitors. Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq 5 or something else in a similar price range, but with much more functionality.