Interestingly, Nissan has just one electric vehicle for sale, currently in its portfolio. And it is the 12-year-old Nissan Leaf. This is the world's first mass-market electric vehicle. But sadly, with the current and upcoming wave of EVs, this humble Nissan has tripped down to the bottom of the chart. With Nissan's all-new Ariya BEV on the horizon, pulling the plug on the Leaf seems to be the viable option, right?
Nissan doesn't think so. And that is why the Leaf has been notably updated for 2023. The changes are not huge but enough to get your attention. The trim table has been simplified, and the exterior tweaked with subtle aerodynamic updates as well. There are no changes to the battery and motor technology, and on the flip side, Nissan is still using an aged connector tech for charging.
This February, Nissan updated the 2022 Leaf for Europe, and those changes are coming to the US in the 2023 MY. Nissan is on an ambitious plan to become 100% electric by early 2030. But the current iteration of the Leaf doesn't stand a chance in terms of technology to be a part of that club. But we have a strong gut feeling that the silent electric revolution maker will be coming in an all-new cooler avatar. Till then, the OG Nissan Leaf will still stay relevant.
The revolutionary Nissan Leaf goes the simpler route with lesser trims and subtle aesthetic upgrades for 2023.
2023 Nissan Leaf Gets A Simplified Two-Trim Table
Nissan has cut directly to the chase with two simplified trims for the 2023 Leaf. It now consists of the base S and the top-spec SV Plus trim levels. This is a drastic shave from the five trims that the 2022 Leaf had. Also, the differences between both these trims are notable with two different powertrain options and a steep difference in pricing as well. The positive aspect of this simplification is that a lot of features have been trickled down to the base trim. Also, the top-spec SV Plus gets cool new optional stuff as well.
Refreshed Exterior Styling With Improved Aerodynamics
The 2023 Nissan Leaf gets subtle exterior updates. The front fascia gets most of it. There's a new grille design along with a tweaked front bumper. The headlight also gets tweaked with black layered internals. In line with Nissan's upcoming EV, the Leaf gets the new Nissan logo that is illuminated as well. But the coolest addition would be a new five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheel that looks rad in black with silver trimmings.
But the wheel along with the blacked-out exterior accents is reserved for the SV Plus trim only. The base trim loses out on the wheels and gets gray accents. Also, Nissan has tweaked the rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and the tire deflectors on all four wheels for improvement in aerodynamic appeal. While the changes might not be drastic, it is a shift for the better.
Subtle Interior Updates With New Logo And Start-Up Video
The interior remains mostly unchanged with a few cosmetic tweaks. The steering wheel flaunts Nissan's new sleeker logo, but it isn't backlit here! The instrument panel also gets a new startup animation video. Both the trims get black cloth upholstery as standard. But the base trim gets contrasting gray inserts whereas SV Plus flaunts gloss-black trimmings, just like the exterior layout.
The top-spec trim gets more safety features as it comes standard with the ProPILOT Assist feature. This is a hands-on driver assistance system that fuses Cruise Control and steering assist technology. This also includes a stop-and-hold function that can autonomously stop and accelerate the vehicle in slow-moving traffic.
Unchanged Powertrain With Aging Charging Technology
The base S trim packs a 110 kW electric motor that churns out 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The SV Plus packs a more-powerful 160 kW motor pumping out 214 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. The difference in acceleration and top speed is notable between these two, and so is the driving range. The base S trim, which is equipped with a 40 kWh battery pack, is good for a combined EPA rating of 149 miles. And the top-spec SV Plus, equipped with a bigger 62 kWh battery pack, returns a combined EPA rating of 226 miles.
While these numbers are doable, the charging tech used in the 2023 Leaf isn't reassuring. It uses an old-school charging connection with the CHAdeMO plug and the J1772 Level 2 AC charger. What this means is that you will have to charge the 2023 Leaf overnight or pray to find a CHAdeMO charger that will juice it up to 80% in 45 minutes (not considered "fast" by 2023 standards!).
And all this depends on the fact that Nissan continues to retain its 100 kW charging rate. Nissan should have swapped this aging and hard-to-find charging tech for the more accessible CCS Fast Charging System. But they didn't, and that's something 2023 Leaf owners will have to live with.
2023 Nissan Leaf: Refreshed Pricing And Availability
While Nissan has not disclosed the 2023 Leaf's pricing, the base trim being cheaper than its predecessor has been confirmed. For reference, the 2022 Nissan Leaf S has an MSRP of $27,400. The 2022 Leaf SV Plus has an MSRP of $35,400. The refreshed Leaf will be at US dealerships this summer. Also, it will continue to come with an eight-year/ 100,00-mile Li-Ion battery warranty.
Sources: Usa.nissannews.com, Electrek.co, Motortrend.com, Insideevs.com, Cleantechnica.com