2023 Nissan Leaf Performance

Current EV owners will already know about the addictive performance characteristics of an electric vehicle. An EV delivers all of its power instantaneously, which makes for spirited acceleration. Independent testing has shown that it is possible to get a Leaf SV Plus from 0 to 60 mph in around 7.4 seconds. That's not that brisk, but the way the power is delivered messes with your mind and tricks you into believing that it's faster. The great thing about the immediate acceleration is that you never have to wonder whether you have enough power to exploit a gap in the traffic. No need to wait for a turbo to spool, or to gear down. Just press on the throttle and presto - gap exploited. An impressive top speed is definitely not the aim here, but at least when the Leaf is hustling along on the highway, there's still enough power in reserve to pass slower-moving traffic. Keep in mind that regular exploitation of all the power will drain the batteries faster. Commendable as all these figures are, the cheaper Chevy Bolt beats the Leaf SV Plus hands down - by a second from 0-60 and by nearly 60 miles on range.

The base S trim is powered by a 110-kW AC synchronous electric motor developing 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery. The Leaf is front-wheel-drive only, and the power is sent to the front axle via a single-speed transmission. Another brilliant feature is the e-Pedal, which has two regenerative braking modes. The first allows for coasting without any interference, while the second uses the motor's resistance to slow the car down. Once you're familiar with the second, you can easily drive about without touching the brakes.

The SV Plus is equipped with a 160-kW motor that offers 214 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with a bigger 60-kWh battery. Both range and acceleration are improved. These models feel properly hot-hatch fast. Nissan includes a 120-/240-volt portable charger on all trims. This can be plugged into any 240-volt wall outlet with no need for a charging box. Cars with the 40-kWh battery get a 50-kW quick-charge port and Plus cars with the 60-kWh battery get a 100-kW charge port that charges faster.

Although some electric vehicles are managing to inch their way closer to the range offered by traditional internal combustion cars, the Leaf is not one of them. In standard guise, it has EPA-estimated mileage figures of 123/99/111 MPGe for city/highway/combined cycles. The SV Plus with the 60-kWh battery is slightly less efficient at 121/98/109 MPGe. The Plus model does have a longer range thanks to its larger battery, though, and the EPA estimates it will go up to 212 miles on a single charge. Models with the 40-kWh battery will do 149 miles. Real-world driving usually leads to a drop in these figures, and there are several things that you have no control over that can drop the range even further, such as cold weather.

While this range is useful and should suit most city-bound folk, it's disappointing when measured even against the base Tesla Model 3, which offers 272 miles between recharges, while the Bolt EV isn't far behind with 259 miles.

Charging at a Quick Charging station will see the larger 60-kWh battery back at 80% within 45 minutes at the 100-kW fast-charging rate - or an hour at 50 kW - but filling it back up at home with a standard charger on a 240-volt connection takes seven hours. It's worth keeping in mind that an electric automobile like the Leaf is not meant to be driven in the same way as fossil-fueled cars. You don't drive an EV until it's drained and then charge it back up. It's more like a smartphone. You use it for a day and plug it back in when you get home. In a perfect world, it means you always start the day with a fully charged car.