The 2023 Nissan Leaf remains an affordable and straightforward EV that people can buy if they want to go green without buying an expensive and expensive high-tech EV. That said, Nissan does offer trim options on the Leaf for customers who want some variety in their lives, which is why there’s only one trim worth buying as a daily driver. Here’s a look at which 2023 Nissan Leaf trim is best for everyday driving.
An overview of the standard 2023 Nissan Leaf
With a starting price of less than $29,000, the Nissan Leaf remains an attractive option for those looking for an affordable EV. However, according to Car and driver, that price hides some bad news. The standard Leaf comes with a single electric motor with 147 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. It’s a weak engine, but it allows the Nissan EV to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.4 seconds.
The standard Leaf also comes with a 40 kWh battery, and this gives the Nissan just 241 miles of range. All Leafs can be charged from a 120-volt or 240-volt outlet and can also be quickly charged via DC power. While the materials in the car are cheap, they don’t look cheap. In addition, since the Leaf is a hatchback, it has more space than a regular sedan.
As far as technology goes, the Leaf has a 7-inch digital meter cluster display and an 8-inch touchscreen. The Nissan EV also comes with Nissan’s range of smart safety features called Nissan Safety Shield 360. This suite offers things like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a rear intersection warning system and more.
The best version is the 2023 Nissan Leaf SV Plus
Nissan offers a trim above the standard trim, and it is the best trim for the Leaf. That upholstery is called the SV Plus and improves the Leaf in several ways. The Nissan Leaf’s electric motor on the SV Plus trim instead makes 215 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. This version also gets a 62 kWh battery, giving the Nissan a maximum range of 226 miles.
In addition, according to car dealer, the SV Plus trim also gets a 100 kWh fast charging port, LED headlights, a hybrid heating system, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Tech features also got upgrades, as Nissan’s ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous self-driving system comes standard with the trim, as well as a 360-degree camera. The Leaf’s infotainment system also gets a navigation system.
Those features won’t come cheap, though, as the SV Plus trim starts at around $37,000. That said, according to multiple car critics, the upgrades offered by the SV Plus trim are well worth the price.
Multiple car critics agree that the SV Plus trim is the best overall
Daily drivers need a good range, and that is exactly what the Nissan Leaf SV Plus offers. That’s exactly why Car and Driver and Autotrader say the SV Plus trim is the best gear to buy. The interior and technical upgrades also increase the car’s convenience and the heated features are great for winter.
Another autocritic, The ride, also agrees that the SV Plus trim is the best Leaf trim. Like Car and Driver and Autotrader, the extra range of the SV Plus is the main reason why it is considered the best equipment. The other features Nissan has given to the trim are generally good too and help make the extra cost worth it.
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