2023 Nissan Leaf Exterior and Dimensions

Two generations in and the Nissan Leaf is a car that has gone from one extreme to another. The frog-eyed first-generation car wasn't attractive at all. We thought it would look better in the flesh, but then we saw it for the first time. Perhaps it would eventually grow on you? Nope. The second-generation car is much better, but also a bit dull. With its sharp edges and aggressive front grille, it does look contemporary, but we wonder whether that's what people are looking for? The skateboard underpinnings allow you to do virtually anything you want, so why do something normal? All of its main rivals, like the Kia Niro, Kia Soul, Chevrolet Bolt, and Tesla Model 3, eclipse its exterior design. The design has been spruced up a little for 2023 with subtly restyled front and rear ends, a new roof spoiler, new alloys on the SV Plus, and a few other detail changes.

Only the base S model in the new Nissan Leaf lineup has automatic halogen lights, while the SV Plus has a full-LED setup with LED daytime running lights as standard, as well as fog lights. Power mirrors are standard across the range, while the SV Plus adds heating. All Leaf models boast a CHAdeMO fast-charge port (50 kW with the 40-kWh battery and 100 kW with the 60-kWh battery) with lights and a locking feature, and UV-reducing solar glass. 16-inch steel wheels with covers are standard on the base model and 17-inch alloys on SV Plus.

Compared to other EV models on sale, the Leaf sits somewhere in the middle in terms of its dimensions. Its total length of 176.4 inches means it has a 13-inch advantage over the Bolt, but the Tesla Model 3 is roughly eight inches longer. The Leaf has a width of 70.5 inches, and it sits 61.5 inches tall. The SV Plus is 0.2 inches taller. All of this is stretched over a 106.3-inch wheelbase. The S has a curb weight of 3,509 pounds, topping out at 3,901 lbs for the SV Plus.