2022 Nissan Leaf Gets Price Cut, More Features

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

The Nissan Leaf was one of the first all-electric vehicles on sale when it arrived in 2011. The original Leaf had a range of just 100 miles and came with a 107-horsepower electric motor. While Nissan has improved the Leaf over the years, the model has struggled to stay relevant against newer EVs that have better performance and range. All you really need to know is that despite entering the EV market in 2011 with the Leaf, the Japanese automaker still hasn't sold the necessary number of units to begin the decline in federal tax credits for the EV. The 2022 Nissan Leaf should make the electric car more attractive.

More Affordable Pricing

The first major change for the 2022 Leaf is its starting price tag. The electric vehicle costs $27,400. That makes it the most affordable mass-market EV on sale in the U.S. Compared to 2021, pricing for the 2022 model year goes down by $4,270. While automakers tend to increase pricing for new model years, Nissan went in the opposite direction with the 2022 Leaf. Since the EV is still eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, some buyers will be able to snag a model for as little as $19,900.

Beyond the Leaf's lower price tag, the electric vehicle arrives with more standard features. Every 2022 Leaf now comes with a CHAdeMO quick-charging port that can handle up to 100-kW charging when connected to a DC fast charger. A Level 2 charging cable is also included. Higher up the lineup, the SV Plus trim now comes with ProPilot Assist as standard.

Helping The Leaf Stand Out

Compared to other EVs on sale, the 2022 Leaf struggles to stand out. It doesn't have the range, technology, or performance to match competitors, so the bargain-basement pricing is its biggest strength. Nissan will continue to offer the Leaf in two different models. The standard Leaf has an estimated range of 149 miles from its 40-kWh battery pack or up to 226 miles in the Plus models that come with a 62-kWh pack.

Seeing pricing for a vehicle go down by this much is surprising. We have a few theories that could explain why Nissan made the decision. Chevrolet just introduced the updated 2022 Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV. Those vehicles have more range than the Leaf and more tech features. So, Nissan could be preparing to lose sales to those two options and sees more affordable pricing as the sole way to keep customers.

Then, there's the introduction of the Ariya, which is expected to go on sale later this year. Being a crossover and having a range of up to 300 miles, we expect that vehicle to be far more popular than the Leaf. This could be Nissan's way of trying to sell as many Leafs as possible before the Ariya comes out. 

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods