Electric vehicles have taken the roads by storm in recent years. Efficient, with longer ranges, and luxurious, the EV is the car of the future and offers a greater value than traditional gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. The Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro are two robust electric vehicles that come at a lower price point than most other EVs. But which is better? Read on for the side-by-side comparison and how the Niro stacks up to the Leaf.

Nissan Leaf vs. Kia Niro: Electric Engine And Battery Side-by-Side

While the Nissan Leaf is exclusively an electric vehicle, the Niro has a traditional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid trims available. For a fair comparison, we will explore only the EV models of the Niro, as the hybrid models have similar interior options with vastly different engines. The Leaf and Niro have almost the same battery, and each can charge from 10%-80% on quick (440v) chargers in around 40 minutes. Lower voltage (220v) chargers, like those available in homes, take roughly 11 hours for a 0-100% charge on both vehicles.

The Niro has a slight edge over the Leaf in terms of range. The more expensive Niro has a range of around 250 miles on a single charge, while the Leaf can reach 212 miles. The difference is minimal if charging stations are available on long trips or for everyday use. Additionally, the baseline Leaf has a smaller battery and range of 140 miles and is roughly $10,000 less than the only new EV trim of the Niro.

Nissan Leaf vs. Kia Niro: Quick Price Comparison

The Nissan Leaf is considerably less expensive than the Kia Niro. Both vehicles are eligible for federal tax credits, which helps mitigate the higher price of all EVs. Currently, all model year Leaf models are at least 10% less than the Niro, with the lowest-priced Nissan leaf being considerably less. This lower price makes the Leaf the perfect introductory or daily use electric vehicle.

Nissan Leaf vs. Kia Niro: Interior And Cargo

The Leaf and Niro are both compact hatchback vehicles with similar sizes and profiles. The Nissan Leaf wins out in both interior and cargo. With more features standard than the Niro, the Leaf has a tremendous value per option. Regarding cargo space, the hatchback has roughly five cu ft of room in the trunk and slightly higher headroom than the Niro.

2022 Models Leaf Niro

Overall Length 176.4 inches 172.2 inches

Height 61.4 inches 61.8 inches

Headroom, Front 41.2 inches 40.1 inches

Headroom, Rear 37.3 inches 37.7 inches

Legroom, Front 42.1 inches 41.7 inches

Legroom, Rear 33.5 inches 36.0 inches

Nissan Leaf vs. Kia Niro: Which Is Better?

Both the Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro are great electric vehicles. While the Niro has a slightly longer battery range, it is beaten out by the Leaf in almost all other comparisons. Thanks to Nissan's value and comparable options, it is the better vehicle. Still not convinced? Call or come on down to Charlie Clark Nissan and have a test drive today!

For over ten years now, Nissan’s LEAF EV has been at the forefront of Nissan’s green revolution. A decade ago, the company made a commitment to bring the best in all-electric vehicles to the people of the US looking to move away from gasoline-powered transport. The company has recently announced that the 2023 iteration of the Nissan LEAF EV vehicle will be the most exciting version of the LEAF yet.

Nissan has Listened to Their Customers, and Are Providing Exactly What Their Customers Want

The 2023 version of the Nissan LEAF EV will be available in two main trims – the standard LEAF S and the slightly more advanced LEAF SV PLUS. A whole host of customer-requested additions have been added to each, including advanced tech. Despite all these additions and positive changes, both new trims of the LEAF EV will be available at affordable prices. For information, the MRSP of the 2022 LEAF was $27,400, and for the 2022 LEAF SV the MSRP was $35,400.

The main updates for the 2023 version of the LEAF are as follows:

• Enhanced front end appearance
• Refreshed front grille
• New bumper molding
• New black inner finisher for headlights
• Illuminated Nissan badge (updated to reflect new brand identity)
• Modified tire deflectors
• Modified rear under diffuser
• Modified real spoiler
• Five-spoke, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (SV PLUS only)

The standard, 2023 LEAF S comes equipped with a 40kWh lithium-ion battery and 110kW motor. The motor will deliver 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The advanced LEAF SV PLUS comes with a 60kWh lithium-ion battery and a 160kW motor. This combination will successfully deliver 214 hp and 250 lb-ft which, for any electric vehicle, is stunningly powerful. The EPA range estimates for both models of the 2023 LEAF will be released close to the date that this iteration of the Nissan LEAF is launched, but they are thought to be very similar to the estimates for the 2022 iteration of the LEAF. These estimates are 149 miles for the S trim, and 215 miles for the SV PLUS trim.

Both models will come equipped with an impressive range of additional technologies and driver assist features. For the SV PLUS, this means that the ProPILOT Assist is standard. ProPILOT Assist is a hands-on driver assist system that works to combine Nissan’s steering assist technologies and Intelligent Cruise Control. This is capable of automatically bringing your Nissan to a full stop in traffic (not only in emergencies), holding in position and then moving off again automatically when the traffic starts to move again without any intervention from the driver. It has not been revealed if this technology will be available as an optional upgrade for the LEAF S.

The 2023 Iteration of the Nissan LEAF Comes with a Number of Reassuring Warranties

Both the Nissan LEAF S and the LEAF SV PLUS come complete with a limited lithium-ion battery warranty. This will cover defects in workmanship or materials for the battery pack for 100,000 miles or for eight years, whichever comes first. A limited warranty against battery capacity will also be available, covering capacity loss below nine bars (out of ten) as displayed on the LEAF’s capacity level gauge. This warranty is also in place for 100,000 miles or for eight years, whichever comes first.

An availability date for the 2023 LEAF S and the LEAF SV PLUS has not yet been released. The new versions of both vehicles made their debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show in April 2022 and will be available for purchase at some time during summer 2022.

For the 2023 Nissan LEAF, when available, contact Charlie Clark Nissan El Paso at (915) 226-0702, or online here.