Nissan has announced the 2022 Leaf and the big news is that it’s now more attainable. You’ll still get the standard and Plus variants but for less money. The base Leaf S starts at $27,375, making it one of the least expensive battery-electric vehicles on the market. Versus the 2021 model, it’s $4,245 cheaper, which is a significant drop. With the discontinuation of the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, the 2022 Nissan Leaf is one of the few battery-electric vehicles that still offer a sub-200-mile variant. The others being the Mini Cooper SE, which is rated at 110 miles per charge, 39 miles lower than the base Leaf. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric was EPA-rated at 170 miles, which is 21 miles more than the standard Leaf.
If you’d like more range, the 2022 Nissan Leaf Plus starts at $33,375 and can travel up to 226 miles per charge according to the EPA. That’s slightly more than its closest competitor, the refreshed Chevrolet Bolt EV, which starts at $31,995 and can travel up to 259 miles per charge. The SV and SL grades of the Leaf are rated lower at 215 miles. At $38,375, the most range-topping Leaf SL is $4,620 less than last year’s model. A comparable equipped Bolt EV will cost roughly $36,000 to $37,000 depending on how you equip it. Other competitors like the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric offer 239 miles and 258 miles per charge respectively. However, they’re more expensive than the Leaf Plus when similarly equipped.
For 2022, the Nissan Leaf also gets additional standard features including CHAdeMO level 3 DC charging capability on all models. The SV Plus trim also gets the surround-view camera system and Nissan’s ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driver assistance technology standard. Charging the Leaf to 80 percent takes 40 minutes using a level 3 DC charger. The Plus model takes 5 minutes longer to DC charge to 80 percent. A full charge using a level 2 AC charger or 240-volt outlet takes 7.5 to 11.5 hours depending on the variant you get.
As before, the 2022 Nissan Leaf is available in two battery sizes. The standard model uses a 40-kWh lithium-ion unit and an electric motor with 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. If you’re looking for more power and range, the Leaf Plus uses a larger 62-kWh battery and a stronger electric motor with 214 hp and 250 lb-ft. The smaller battery option is limited only to the S and SV grades while the SL grade is only available with the larger pack.
The current Leaf is the second generation of the venerable electric compact hatchback. Its styling is more conventional yet Nissan kept some futuristic cues like the squared-off projectors for the available LED headlights. You also get cool boomerang-like LED taillights.
This price drop for the 2022 Nissan Leaf makes this EV more attainable to a broader range of consumers. Additionally, it also signals that Nissan’s upcoming battery-electric crossover, the Ariya, will slot above the Leaf in terms of price, range, and size. The Ariya should also offer more power in the long-range models, which are expected to have over 300 hp in the dual-motor variants.
