Nissan’s Leaf SL Plus touts 215-mile battery range; price starts at $37,500
For 2022, the all-electric Nissan Leaf SL Plus model comes with an EPA estimated maximum range of 215 miles on a full battery charge, and with a slight redesign for 2023, that range is now stated as 212 miles.
Although the 2023 model is now on its way to dealers, our test vehicle for this report was the 2022 Leaf SL Plus, with a base price of $37,500 (plus $1,025 freight).
For 2023, the standard S model with a 147-horsepower electric motor and maximum range of 149 miles begins at $27,800 (plus $1,095 freight), up $400 from 2022; while the new SV Plus model with a 214-horsepower electric motor and 212-mile range starts at $35,800.
Making the difference on the range is the battery size. The standard model comes with a 40-kwh lithium-ion battery, while the Plus model has a 60-kwh battery.
On our 2022 tester, according to the EPA fuel-economy windowsticker statement, the full charge takes about 11 hours with a 240volt charger. But Nissan’s specs said all 2022 models could be charged to at least 80 percent of full capacity in 40-45 minutes using a quick charger.
Now, Nissan says the 2023 S model with the smaller battery can be charged to 80 percent of full power in 40 minutes, using the “Quick Charge” port, while the SV Plus can get to 80 percent charge in an hour.
After a 2018 redesign that increased its range to 149 miles
from the original 107, the Leaf hatchback was introduced in the new extended-range version known as the Plus for 2020.
For the 2022 model year, there are five Leaf trim levels offered – two standard models with the shorter range, and three Plus versions with the extended range. The standard models come with a 40 kwh battery, while the longer-range models have a 62 kwh battery.
The two standard 2022 models are the Leaf S ($27,400) and the SV ($28,800).
Extended-range models are the S Plus ($32,400), SV Plus ($35,400) and SL Plus ($37,400), the one we tested for this report.
Changes for 2020 included giving all trim levels the Nissan Safety Shield 360 package as standard equipment. It includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Rear Cross-traffic Alert, Blind-spot Warning, Lane-departure Warning,
and High-beam Assist
All versions also come with Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Blind-spot Intervention.
Standard models for 2022 get an eight-inch color touch-screen display, and both Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard across the board.
Also added to all Leaf versions for 2020 were driver and front passenger knee air bags, and rear seat-mounted outboard side-impact air bags. The Intelligent Around View Monitor and Intelligent Driver Alertness features – standard on SL models – is available on SV models through the SV Technology Package ($1,490).
Our tester came with the Sunset Drift Chromaflair premium paint ($395 extra). A premium two-tone paint combination is $695 extra.
One feature that took a little time to get used to was the new sound to signify forward movement so the
car can be heard by blind people at crosswalks. Nissan says the sound is “known as ‘Canto’ (derived from the Latin verb for ‘I sing’).” It plays when the car is moving forward under 18.6 mph.
There is also a new “pulsing chime” that sounds when the car is backing up. Both sounds are louder than before, to comply with “updated U.S. electric vehicle regulations that go into effect Sept. 1, 2020,” Nissan says. An additional speaker was placed inside the engine compartment.
As for the range, some electric vehicle proponents believe that a minimum of 200 miles is what consumers want so they can avoid having anxiety about whether they will run out of power prematurely. I believe the range needs to be higher than that, perhaps no less than 300 miles, but I do a lot of impromptu over-the-road driving that would require even a longer range.
My Leaf SL Plus was delivered to my home with the power meter