2023 Nissan LEAF EV
Things you realize when test-driving an electric vehicle are - #1 daily charging is necessary, and #2 range anxiety is real. Now do not get me wrong, plugging it in every day was not a chore, and I was never, at any point, close to ‘low batt’, but I noticed myself checking the gauge a lot more often than I do when test-driving an internal combustionpowered vehicle.
The exterior is not flashy in any sense of the word. The only reason it (kind of) stands out is because of the two-tone body (unique Magnetic Blue bottom and black roof). The sharp lines on the hood and body feel like it emphasizes cutting-edge electric propulsion, and the V-motion grille is different because, without an engine, it does not have slats for air to pass through. The upper part of the tailgate is glossy black, which lets the Leaf and Zero Emissions chrome badge pop out. Exterior equipment includes halogen headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED taillights, a rear spoiler with a high-mount stop lamp, and simple 16-inch wheels.
If not for its badges, the body will make anyone do a double-take. It is a sleek five-door compact hatchback that sits low to the ground — so beware of odd humps on the road — and it uses nondescript Bridgestone Ecopia tires because they have very low rolling resistance. Everything about the
Leaf screams efficiency, so if you want cool looks and bling-bling, this is not for you.
One gripe about the smart key is it only unlocks the driver’s door. I would have to open the other four from the inside (via the button on the door panel). It also does not have speed-sensing locks. These are a couple of technologies I expected to be standard in an electric vehicle (EV).
There are no luxurious trims or amenities in the cabin. It has fabric seats that are only manually adjustable. These are not labeled Zero-gravity Seats, but they feel really snug, and the headrest properly cradled my head. Only the shifter for the Single-speed Reduction Gear Transmission feels high-tech here.
Sure, it has an eight-inch touchscreen (just like the Kicks e-power) with Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, and a TFT instrument panel, but so do most modern vehicles, EV or not. The only leather is on the multi-function steering wheel and a few on the dashboard. It is also a bit disappointing that there is only one USB port.
What the Leaf lacks in other aspects, it makes up for with Intelligent Mobility and a pure electric powertrain. The former is a safety suite with Hill Start Assist, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Around View Monitor (with Moving Object Detection), Intelligent Cruise Control (with Vehicle-to-vehicle Distance Control), Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, High Beam Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Rearview Mirror, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Intelligent Trace Control. The latter is the AC synchronous motor and a 40kwh lithium-ion battery combo that makes 150-PS and 320-Nm of torque. It is managed by an e-pedal (with an off function) that increases its regenerative braking power to help charge the battery.
Quiet. That is the first word to describe the drive. The less-thanstellar noise, vibration, and harshness dampening allowed some external sounds inside, otherwise would have been a super silent ride. Acceleration is not as instantaneous as I hoped, but still much quicker than any conventional vehicle, and without any gears, the drive is ultra-smooth. It has an Econ mode, but its effect is only noticeable at low speeds.
At over 1.5 tons, do not expect race car-like reaction even if the motors that power the front wheel are right on the axle. But that weight comes from the floorboard-installed batteries, which lower the center of gravity, so cornering (with the help of the epedal) feels planted and with only a little hint of body roll.
The battery is at 100% after allnight charging (the Leaf only comes with a slow charger that plugs into any regular home outlet) but the onboard computer says the range is exactly 260 kilometers, contrary to the claim of 311 kilometers. The odometer shows 7,630 kilometers so I am wondering if the battery has already lost full capacity this early.
I drove twice to Los Baños over the weekend, which is more than 31 kilometers one way, and I came home each time with about 69% battery power. Will charging it every day make a dent in my electricity bill? I will find out next month.
The 2023 Nissan Leaf is not the best-selling EV in the world (in 2019) for nothing. It is quiet, clean, and highly efficient, and with Intelligent Mobility is one of the safest Nissans in the market. The best thing about it? It is now more affordable thanks to PBBM’S E.O. 12, which reduces its tariff to zero and slashes P800k off its price to bring it down to P1.998 million. If these are not compelling reasons to consider buying a Leaf, I do not know what is.