By: Jeff Perez Published by: Brandon Turkus – Motor1
The Nissan Leaf still has what it takes to compete in this now-tougher segment.
Even with a mere 73 miles of range, the original Nissan Leaf was a pioneer. It was one of the first mass-market electric vehicles you could buy here in the US and helped ease buyers into electrification. But with more companies debuting better alternatives to the Leaf – like Chevrolet, Ford, Tesla, Polestar, and others – Nissan’s all-electric hatchback struggles to capture the same attention and share it once did.
Nevertheless, the Leaf is a better vehicle following its 2017 facelift, which included improvements to both the range and looks. The base version now drives up to 149 miles with its standard 40-kilowatt-hour battery pack, while a 62-kWh battery gives the Leaf Plus a range of up to 226 miles if you order the light, frill-free S trim. Three of us recently spent time in a Leaf Plus (though the SV model with a 215-mile range), and while it may no longer be our first choice, it’s still a solid option in a booming segment.
