Overshadowed by the new wave of electric SUVs, the little Nissan LEAF continues to roll its bump and gets a few changes for the 2023 model year.
Presented this week at the New York Auto Show, it will go on sale this summer.
First, we notice a sleek front with a smooth grille panel and black trim instead of chrome. A black finish is also applied to the headlight housings. The new Nissan logo is of course affixed and it lights up for a more distinguished effect.
Photo: Nissan
The designers have also remodeled the rear diffuser and the spoiler at the top of the tailgate, supposedly to improve aerodynamics but the difference will be negligible. What does catch the eye, however, is the mandolin styling of the new 17-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the modernized Nissan logo appears on the steering wheel and a new animation on the dashboard follows the start of the car. There are no other changes, however.
Important detail: the company has decided to keep only three versions, namely SV, SV Plus and SL Plus. The first still operates a 110 kilowatt (147 horsepower) motor and 40 kWh lithium-ion battery, while the other two have a 160 kilowatt (214 horsepower) motor and 62 kWh battery.
Photo: Nissan
Curiously, the S Plus version is discontinued. Yet it is the one that offered the maximum range of 363 kilometers. With the others, you have to settle for 240 and 349 kilometers, respectively.
Finally, will there be a price increase? We will find out in the coming months. Recall that the Nissan LEAF had undergone a significant reduction of $6,800 for the 2022 model year, bringing its MSRP to $37,498 or almost $40,000 including freight and preparation costs.
The end is near, let’s not forget. Sometime around 2025, the automaker plans to replace the LEAF with a crossover that will sit just below the Ariya.