The redesigned 2023 Nissan Leaf makes its debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show before it goes on sale in the summer, later this year. The updated Leaf will be now available in two trims as opposed to the outgoing model's five. They are:

- Leaf S

- Leaf SV Plus

Overview

The Nissan Leaf, if you remember, was one of the earliest EVs to hit the road back in 2011, and since then, the Japanese automaker’s humble hatchback has come a long way. Remember, that the Leaf was around when most of us were still chugging along in our gas guzzlers and 1000-horsepower EVs weren’t a thing yet.

Despite the onslaught of new electric vehicles, including from Nissan’s own stable, the Ariya, the Leaf should continue to stay relevant.

Exterior

Now, a vehicle at this end of the spectrum isn’t the most exciting, but Nissan has tried to infuse some interesting elements into the aging Leaf. The 2023 Leaf now includes an improved front end with a new front grille, bumper molding along with headlights that now feature a black finish on the inside.

Just so that people know exactly what you’re driving, the Nissan badge is now illuminated, featuring the brand’s latest logo design. In a bid to improve aero, very important for an EV, Nissan has paid attention to stuff like the tire deflector, rear diffuser, and spoiler that have been worked on extensively.

But, perhaps the most stand-out design element has to be those new funky and 80s-inspired retro wheels. These five-spoke, 17-inch aluminum rims, standard on the SV Plus, feature silver inserts that appear to form a pentagon when the car is in motion.

I’m a big fan because it definitely livens things up considerably on what is arguably an inoffensive design. It's nowhere near as funky as the IONIQ 5, but let's keep it real here.

Interior

Changes to the inside for the 2023 model year saw the addition of the new Nissan badge on the steering wheel, as well as a new startup video.

Both, the S and the SV Plus trims, come with black cloth upholstery with the S featuring grey finishers and you get snazzier gloss black trim on the SV Plus.

On the safety front, the Pro Pilot is standard on the Leaf SV Plus. A hands-on driver assistance system incorporates Nissan's clever steering assistance and cruise control tech.

ProPilot Assist also includes a stop and hold feature that can bring the car to a complete stop, hold it in position and restore the vehicle's speed when traffic begins to move again. Pretty neat.

Powertrain

The 2023 Leaf S comes standard with a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 110 kW electric motor that provides 147 horsepower and 236 pounds of torque. The SV Plus meanwhile features a 62 kWh battery pack and a more potent 160 kW good for 214 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque.

Estimated EPA ranges for both models of 149 miles for the Leaf S and 226 miles for the Leaf SV Plus are comparable to those of the outgoing model. One thing to note is that the Leaf continues to use a CHAdeMO charging connection as opposed to Ariya’s CSS connection which is now becoming more common across the board.

Conclusion

The Leaf will continue to stay competitive with the S starting at $28,425 while the SV Plus comes in at $36,425. Also, note that the Leaf is still eligible for the $7500 federal EV tax credit and this makes it one of the most affordable EVs currently on the market.

The new features set and tech do help to add a new lease of life to the aging Leaf and the tax credit adds to its value proposition. With the Ariya round the corner, the days of the Leaf could be numbered, and now is your chance to grab one if you still dig the Leaf.