For over ten years now, the Nissan Leaf has been making waves in the electric car market. In fact, it was the first modern electric car to be both mass-produced and well received. Upon its debut, this model made it up to 124 miles on a full charge. While that doesn’t sound like much now, it was an impressive feat back then, especially for city commuters. That said, this model line has come a long way over the years, which is why we’re excited to present you with the 2022 Nissan LEAF.
While the LEAF in its base form is still just as affordable as ever, it also comes with options to upgrade it. You can choose a larger battery to get as high as a 226-mile driving range, up over 100 miles from the LEAF’s debut stats. In addition to its heightened mileage, the new LEAF includes more interior space and better battery monitoring options.
If you need help justifying your all-electric purchase, we’ve got some helpful benefits to “going green” with a Nissan LEAF. All electric cars offer similar perks, so let’s start by looking at why going electric is a good idea in the first place.
Why Go Electric?
Don’t let those emasculating comments lead you astray. You don’t need a V8 with a 480 horsepower rating to get you up and down the road. When you go electric, you’ll save way more money than that gas-guzzling V8 your neighbor has. That’s more money to invest in your home, your family, and even your extracurricular hobbies. College debt alone is enough to make anyone want to save some automotive bucks, so there’s no doubt you want to save. But what makes the all-electric life so much more affordable?
The first and most obvious answer lies in gas prices. On average, the typical EV driver saves at least $1,000 annually in fuel costs. And that’s just when you’re comparing similar models. Think of how much more money you’ll save driving an EV if you’re used to driving a large truck or a big SUV.
The second way you’ll save some cash is through taxes. Since the government is keen on reducing emissions and making sure we don’t all die in the next 30 years or so, they’ll give you up to $7,500 in tax breaks just for buying a new EV model. State and local tax credits and incentives can further raise that amount.
Oh, and what about maintenance? Yeah, so not only are you getting by without using any motor oil (which benefits the planet overall), you’re also getting cheaper maintenance visits. While purchasing an EV doesn’t make your life maintenance-free, it does lead to fewer, cheaper shop trips.
While you’ll want to check typical assets such as brake fluid, tires, power steering, and the likes, you won’t have to worry about pricey oil changes anymore. As a result, you won’t have to stop in to see a mechanic as often, and when you do, your bill will be much smaller. Spark plugs and belt changes are also history when you drive an EV. Unless you need to haul loaded livestock trailers or large fishing boats, there’s no reason for average commuters to avoid the shift to EV models.
Where Does This Leave the 2022 Nissan LEAF?
Now that you’ve made the switch, you need to know exactly why the 2022 Nissan LEAF is the all-electric model for you. First off, you can essentially choose between low-range and high-range models based on your commute and your budget. If you’re just driving from your house to work in the city, you can save extra money by purchasing the standard 40 kWh battery option. This will get you up to 149 miles of range, which is more than enough to get you to and from work when you’re charging overnight.
However, if that’s not enough for you, it’s possible to amp it up by getting the LEAF’s 62 kWh battery. This one will land you as much as 226 miles of range per charge. Either way, finding a charging station is easy, thanks to Nissan’s diverse charging options. You can either use a 240-volt charger, a DC fast charger, or even a standard 120-volt power outlet. So, even when you’re on the road, you can plug up and take a nap while your vehicle regenerizes. Public quick charging stations can get you back on the road in a little over an hour, and even less if you’ve still got some charge left when you first plug up.
If you forgot what charge level you’re at, no worries. The Nissan Intelligent Mobility App will keep you informed. From here, you can check your car’s charge level, calculate how many more miles you have to go, and even see how much longer your LEAF needs to stay charging. The 2022 Nissan LEAF makes it really hard to just run out of charge, which is part of why it’s your ideal EV option.
More Cargo Space Than You’d Think!
Cargo space is hard to come by with many electric cars, and that’s because most EVs are cramped due to their small design. This makes sense, given that the goal is to keep these models as lightweight as possible, which often results in a less-than-spacious final product. However, the good news is that despite the LEAF’s compact size, you’ll still gain access to up to 30 cubic feet of cargo space when the seats are down. For reference, this is enough to fit a full-size bicycle!
Thanks to the 60/40 seating, you can add in a third passenger and still flip down the left and middle rear seats to gain more cargo room. Or, vice versa, you can keep four passengers and flip down the right rear single seat. When you need all five seats, you can still depend on over 23 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. No matter how you swing it, the 2022 Nissan LEAF is plenty spacious despite its small size.
Why Choose the 2022 Nissan LEAF Over Other EVs?
If you’re passionate about “going green,” whether it be to save money, the planet, or both, it’s difficult to do better than the new Nissan LEAF. For four years in a row, the Nissan LEAF has won Kelley Blue Book’s “5-Year Cost to Own” award, proving to be the cheapest model in its class. This isn’t just including upfront costs, either. Long-term savings are factored into this award as well.
And Nissan isn’t just throwing specs and stats at you without facts to back them up. The brand even allows you to calculate your own specific fuel savings on their website. In addition to fuel savings, you can calculate how much you’ll save with the new LEAF overall, whether it be through tax credits, fuel savings, maintenance savings, or all of the above. Every situation is unique, and Nissan makes sure to value that.
In summary, there’s no guessing when it comes to the new Nissan LEAF. The data is accurate, so you don’t have to play trial and error (otherwise known as “purchase” and “trade-in”) to know that you’re on the right track. When it’s time to invest in a new EV, whether you’re a long-time green goer or you’re new to the electric world, choose the 2022 Nissan LEAF. It won’t let you down.
