2022 Nissan Leaf Review

The Nissan Leaf is the first mass-produced electric vehicle and has helped pave the way for other EVs. The Nissan Leaf is popular in the New Zealand market thanks to its reliability, long range, advanced safety features, user-friendly infotainment system and spacious interior. It competes with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona Electric and Tesla Model 3.

Introduction

The Nissan Leaf is a battery-electric compact hatchback that was introduced in 2010 and has been in production for two generations. The first generation, known as the ZE0/AZE0, was produced from 2010 to 2016 and the second generation, known as the ZE1, has been in production from 2017 to the present.
Mechanically, the second generation Leaf is comparable to the first generation, although it has better range and performance. In terms of style, it is a significant departure from the previous model.
The second-generation Leaf has a range of up to 240 kilometers, more than most other electric cars at the time. The Leaf can be charged from a standard household socket, but also from a CHAdeMO fast charger.
For the 2022 Leaf, the CHAdeMO fast-charging port is standard on all trims. And Technology Pack as standard on some trims.

Powertrain

The 2022 Nissan Leaf is powered by two battery packs; the 40.0 kWh battery pack and the 62.0 kWh battery pack. Both powertrains are mated to a single-speed automatic transmission.

2022 Nissan Leaf Grades

2022 Nissan Leaf X– This is the base grade that comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, reversing camera, cloth seats, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, 6-speaker sound system and heated door mirrors.
2022 Nissan Leaf G– This level comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights and taillights, black grille, black door mirrors and black rear spoiler, cloth seats, manually adjustable front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, four-speaker sound system, Nissan Connect Services and intelligent cruise control.
2022 Nissan Leaf XV Selection – This level comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, body-coloured rear spoiler, electrically heated mirrors, ProPILOT Assist semi-autonomous driving system, privacy glass, heated cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, adaptive cruise control, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, reversing camera.

2022 Nissan Leaf Interior

The 2022 Leaf has a well-designed and spacious interior with room for up to five passengers.  The front seats are supportive and comfortable, even on long journeys. They can also be adjusted in a variety of ways to find the perfect driving position. The Leaf’s rear seats are also spacious, with enough room for two adults to sit comfortably. The headroom may be a little tight for taller passengers. The middle rear seat has limited legroom due to the battery pack protruding under the floor.
There are two full sets of LATCH connectors for the Leaf’s rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear center seat to secure child seats.

 

2022 Nissan Leaf Cargo space

The 2022 Leaf has a generous amount of cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 30.0 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. You can comfortably fit a couple of suitcases, groceries, or a golf bag. The cargo area is also well-designed for easy loading and unloading.
2022 Nissan Leaf cargo space

2022 Nissan Leaf cargo space

2022 Nissan Leaf Exterior

The exterior design of the 2022 Nissan Leaf is a modest evolution of the second-generation model introduced in 2018. The redesigned V-motion grille dominates the front end of the 2022 Leaf. The grille is complemented by revised headlamps with aggressive shapes and LED technology. The rear of the 2022 Leaf has also been redesigned, with the tail lights now featuring a more three-dimensional design.
Blue stripes at the bottom of the front and rear are a car designer code indicating an electric vehicle, while “zero emissions” labels decorate the sides and rear.
Colour options in the 2022 Nissan Leaf include; Brilliant Silver, Glacier White, Gun Metallic, Deep Blue, Pearl White, Scarlet Ember, Sunset Drift, and Super Black.
2022 Nissan Leaf exterior

2022 Nissan Leaf Exterior

Safety features; Rearview camera, Rear parking sensors, Forward collision warning, Forward emergency braking, Pedestrian detection, Blind spot monitoring, Rear cross traffic alert, Lane departure warning, Lane keep assist, Automatic high beams, Rear door alert, Adaptive cruise control, ProPilot Assist, Surround-view parking camera system and Driver attention alert.

Performance

The 2022 Nissan Leaf is no sports car, but it does offer the quiet driving experience you would expect from an EV. There is no engine noise from the front, no gears to interfere with the flow of power, and no soundtrack from the exhaust, as there is none.
The 40 kWh lithium-ion battery produces 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, while the 62 kWh lithium-ion battery produces 214 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque.
The 2022 Leaf offers a pleasant driving experience thanks to its light steering and smooth e-pedal regenerative braking system. You can also change the settings to enable one-pedal driving by braking when you take your foot off the accelerator.
The Leaf can be charged by plugging it into a standard 120-volt socket or a 240-volt socket, although charging times vary greatly between the two. According to Nissan, the 240-volt connection can charge the Leaf’s battery in seven hours.

 

Reliability

The 2022 Nissan Leaf is considered to be a reliable EV. The Leaf is one of the most popular EVs on the market and is powered by a simple electric motor, which has fewer moving parts than a traditional petrol or diesel engine. This makes the Leaf less prone to mechanical problems. However, there have been reports of the battery degrading as it is constantly being charged and discharged, which can eventually reduce its capacity. Other owners have complained of battery management system malfunctions, inconsistent braking, and forward collision avoidance system (FCAS) malfunctions. If you are considering buying or currently own a Nissan Leaf, it is important that you read the Owner’s Manual and Buyer’s Guide for detailed information.

Pros

Smooth acceleration
Long range
Advanced safety features

Cons

No four-wheel drive option
The rear seats don’t fold flat

Verdict

The 2022 Nissan Leaf is one of the widest available EVs on the market, making it an ideal choice for drivers who value space and cabin comfort. It also offers a long range and faster charging speeds than most EVs.
2022 Nissan Leaf rear and side profile.

2022 Nissan Leaf rear and side profile.