Update: ‘Nissan Leaf Sales’ section added.
The 4-year-old second-gen Leaf gets small changes.
Launched over a decade ago, the Nissan Leaf spotlighted the carmaker for its early introduction of a mass-market EV. While most other carmakers are only rolling out their first-generation EVs, here’s the Leaf already in its second generation, with 500,000+ sales under its belt.
The second-gen Leaf has just welcomed a mid-cycle refresh with minor cosmetic updates. The interior, powertrain, and range (385 km, WLTP) remain the same. The updated electric hatchback will land in Europe in in the coming weeks, and we’re hopeful that a similar change would be introduced in the 2023 Nissan Leaf here in the United States later this year.
Here’s everything you need to know about the refreshed Leaf that has launched in Europe.
2022 Nissan Leaf Exterior
The 2022 Nissan Leaf for Europe features minor cosmetic revisions like the new Nissan logo, which is present on the front, wheels, and rear. The V-motion grille is retained, but the chrome surround is gone, and it gets a cleaner gloss black look. What’s more, there are new 16- and 17-inch alloy wheel designs which an elegant black fascia. Two new color options will be available in the 2022 Nissan Leaf; Universal Blue and Magnetic Blue.
The 2022 Nissan Leaf for the European market gets no major upgrades except the new logo, new alloys, and two new exterior paint options. Image: Nissan
Interior
Inside, the 2022 Nissan Leaf gets no update except the new logo on the steering wheel. It continues to feature ProPilot technology that brings adaptive cruise control. The Leaf can stop, start and maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front on its own. The NissanConnect system is carried over with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a suite of connected car features. We hope Nissan has more changes in store in the MY2023 Leaf.
Nissan Leaf and Ariya to run in parallel in the U.S.
Nissan is deploying resources into getting its Ariya electric SUV to customers as soon as possible despite the global chip shortage. Deliveries of the Ariya in the U.S. are slated for fall 2022, and the Ariya will co-exist with the Leaf in 2022 and 2023 at least. According to a report on Green Car Reports, which spoke with Aditya Jairaj, Director for Marketing and Sales for Nissan EVs in the USA, it will be essential for the carmaker to have the Leaf (which is currently the cheapest electric car model in the United States) with the Ariya positioned above it as customers need options depending on their budget.
Ariya’s CMF-EV platform will generate the future Nissan EV range for the U.S. market. Electrification of SUVs and sedans is “very important,” Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta told Bloomberg in March 2021. Image – Nissan
Nissan cut prices of the Leaf in the U.S. by USD 4,000 to further the gap between the Ariya, and as a result, an entry-level Nissan Leaf with tax credits starts at USD 20,875 while an entry-level Ariya is nearly double, starting at USD 39,625 (with tax credits).
And speaking of the tax credit, Nissan is nearing the 200,000 EV sales mark (the federal tax credit applies only to the first 200,000 EV units from a manufacturer), having sold 165,710 EVs (in other words, the Leaf!) cumulatively since its launch. Hence, from around 2023, when the 35,000 EV sales have been accounted for, Nissan will no longer be eligible for the USD 7,500 credit.
The key to retaining the Leaf on the shelves through next year would be minor model year updates. The 2022 Nissan Leaf (facelift for Europe) is a good starting point.
Future of the Nissan Leaf nameplate
Nissan is looking to replace the Leaf, their first-ever electric vehicle, with a crossover body style in 2025. With the rise of electric cars, it seems like the popularity of the pioneering Leaf has declined. Image: Nissan
Nissan sold 14,239 units of the Leaf in the U.S. in 2021, making it one of the slowest sellers in its lineup. The consolation is that it greatly improved its YoY performance following the pandemic year, but the competing Chevy Bolt family sold 24,828 units last year despite the recalls and the faulty battery.
In July 2021, Nissan announced plans to build a new EV crossover at its UK plant in Sunderland starting 2025. Nissan Europe CEO, Guillaume Cartier, suggested to Autocar that the crossover EV will replace the Leaf.
Nissan Leaf Sales
Nissan Group has announced its Q1 2022 sales results for the U.S. market. The brand’s total sales figure stood at 189,835, which is a significant drop of 28.8% over Q1 of 2021. The Nissan Leaf however was among the top performers—4,371 units of the Leaf were sold in the first quarter, which is a nearly 50% growth over the same period in 2021. The Leaf is faring much better than the Chevrolet Bolt EV, of which only 358 units have been sold so far in the U.S. in 2022—a 96% nosedive compared to Q1 2021. Now that the Bolt is back in production, it would be interesting to see how sales in Q2 and Q3 compare.
Featured Image Source: Nissan
Keyword: 2023 Nissan Leaf should run alongside the Ariya in the U.S.