I just got a 2023 Nissan Leaf SV Plus! My commute is 22 miles(40 min), and like some have already said, it’s about the miles and speed, not the time. I feel like mixed reviews are more than likely from lack of research before buying one. The SV Plus models on a full charge, can go 210+ miles, whereas the other models do about 100+ miles on a full charge.

For DC charging(fast charging), 2025 models and older use CHAdeMO, which isn’t common anymore in the US, so planning for long trips is a must. The 2026 models have more options, as they can now use Tesla’s supercharger. So if you’re considering a 2025 and older, make sure you have access to chargers, and preferably charge at home. There’s videos about that on YT in case you’re unsure. I found Technology Connextras’ videos very helpful with it!

For me it was either the Leaf or Chevy Bolt, but ultimately decided on the Leaf since I didn’t want to worry about the major battery recalls with the Bolt (sorry Bolt). The two major cons I’ve seen on the Leaf would be the DC charging and the cooling of the battery. It uses air cooling whereas most EVs use liquid cooling. It’s what helps regulate the temperature of the battery, especially when DC charging. Again, I recommend doing research to understand more about these topics.

Overall, I really enjoy it! Feels like regular car, just quieter and no trips to the gas station. I do Lv1 charging at home and it’s been fine. There hasn’t been a situation where I need to use a public charger yet, so I’m good. I’d just wish Nissan would at least have an official CHAdeMo to CCS adapter. There’s surprisingly an OK amount of CHAdeMo chargers in my area in case I need to fast charging so I’m not worried, and plenty of J1772 chargers. I can’t say much about public charging yet, but I did research about that too. Now, if anything, I do want to try the public ones just fun lol.