The Nissan Leaf is growing strong. Long gone is the futuristic styling with the bulging bug eyes at the front. Unless you looked carefully at the badging, you might think this is simply another run-of-the-mill hatchback cruising down the road. After being on the market for over a decade, rumors are swirling that Nissan will be cutting the Leaf’s life short, making way for more electric SUVs. If you want a Leaf, you should go ahead and get one because they may not be around for much longer.
Comparing the Nissan Leaf Trims
More conventional styling, a small footprint, and a great price point have made the Leaf a very capable city car. It has also made it the world’s best-selling electric vehicle of all time. This year, the Leaf has received some minor styling upgrades, and the trim lineup has been simplified to two trim options. So, let’s break down these different trims and what’s included at their individual price points.
Previous versions of the Leaf focused specifically on city driving. Its smaller size meant that it had a smaller battery and, therefore, a smaller total range. But all that changed in 2019 when it was given a larger 62 kWh-sized battery. That puts the Nissan Leaf’s range into the same ballpark as competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3.
Nissan Leaf S
The 2024 Nissan Leaf S is the cheapest trim you can purchase, with a starting MSRP of $28,140. That’s actually a cheaper starting price than previous years. The base version of the Leaf comes with a 40 kWh battery pack. According to EPA testing, it’s capable of traveling about 150 miles on a single charge. While that’s more than enough for daily commutes and errands, it falls much shorter than other competitors’ standard ranges.
Some EVs with longer range include the Hyundai Kona Electric (258 miles), the Chevrolet Bolt (238 miles), and the Tesla Model 3 (220 miles). While these competitors have non-luxury pricing like the Nissan Leaf, they all land around a starting MSRP of $40,000. The standard Leaf, on the other hand, is over $10K less than that.
With the Leaf S, you’ll also get a 6.6 kW onboard charger and a portable trickle-charge cable in addition to the usual charge port. The Leaf S trim has 16-inch steel wheels and comes with a tire repair kit, just in case something happens while you’re out-and-about. Its standard features include a NissanConnect infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen display, four speakers, a USB port, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. You’ll also get cloth seating, proximity keyless entry and automatic climate control.
The Nissan leaf also offers several key safety features. There’s, of course, a review camera, as well as rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. You’ll also find pedestrian detection to be quite useful given that running over pedestrians is probably the number one rule of the road. Automatic emergency braking, rear door alert and automatic high-beam headlights help eliminate human error.
Nissan Leaf SV Plus
For EV drivers with range anxiety, the 2024 Nissan Leaf SV Plus offers a larger battery pack and longer range. With a starting MSRP of $36,190, the Leaf S Plus has a 62 kWh battery pack that lasts for an EPA-estimated 212 miles before needing a recharge. This is much closer to the competitors mentioned above while also remaining the least expensive option of the bunch.
The Leaf S Plus also comes with DC quick charging capability. New Level 3 DC quick charging stations can regenerate 80% of battery life in as little as 45 min. The Leaf S Plus also Otherwise, the Leaf S and the Leaf S Plus are dimensionally and aesthetically similar. However, the S Plus generates 214 horsepower, which is a significant power upgrade.
It also includes the ProPilot Assist, a surround-view parking camera system, and a driver attention alert. The higher price tag provides additional features like LED headlights, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and leather upholstery. Enjoy the ultimate audio immersion with a seven-speaker Bose premium audio system.
For a comparison of the Nissan Leaf versus the Prius, see here.
