2022 Nissan Leaf electric Interiors

Although Tesla’s name is synonymous with EVs today, one has to realize that Nissan with its Leaf pretty much paved the way for mass EV adoption that Tesla has capitalized over. Yes, back in 2011 when the original Nissan Leaf was launched, it was essentially a dressed-up working prototype that could barely crack the 100-mile mark on a single charge, but its approachable price tag and inexpensive ownership is what enabled most to make the switch.

Now in its 2022 avatar, the Nissan Leaf continues to build on its original ethos of a low-cost city runabout that is more practical than ever before, but does it still feel like a half-baked prototype on the inside as it did in its early days?

Let’s jump in find out!

2022 Nissan Leaf Interior Design, Dimensions, and Comfort

Instead of going full Age of Ultron on us and forcing us to be content with minimal buttons, huge screens, and unergonomic designs in the name of being futuristic, Nissan has smartly tried to style the cabin of the Leaf in a way that feels familiar.

With most of the cabin design being borrowed from other ICE Nissan’s, mostly the Nissan Versa, the cabin has the typical Nissan styling elements that can prevent a huge learning curve for first-time EV buyers. Yes, we do agree that sometimes the quirky designs that are offered by most other EV manufacturers do help give the whole car a certain zing, but we whole-heartedly believe that traditional interiors deserve their fair share of the pie as well.

The 2022 Leaf offers a cab-forward design that frees up significant amounts of space on the inside that have been well utilized by Nissan engineers to provide ample headroom and legroom regardless of which seat you are seated in. We have also always been vocal about the fact that ever since Nissan started working on their “Zero-Gravity” seats they have dished out one of the most comfortable seating experiences in the automotive landscape and the Leaf is no exception even though it misses out on the “Zero Gravity” seat tech.

Models	2022 Nissan Leaf	2022 Hyundai Kona Electric	202 Chevrolet Bolt EV	2022 Kia Niro EV
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Interior Passenger Volume (ft³)	92.4	92.4	93.9	96.6
First Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	41.2/54.3/42.1	39.6/55.5/41.5	40.1/54.6/44.3	40.1/56/41.7
Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.3/52.5/33.5	37.7/54.5/33.4	37.8/52.7/36	37.7/55.1/36

Although we have no complaints with regards to space in the 2022 Nissan Leaf, we have to acknowledge that the Kia Niro EV does offer a smidgen more passenger volume while the Chevy Bolt offers more legroom in the front. The second row is quite evenly matched amongst all competitors and we would happily sit in either one of them

2022 Nissan Leaf Infotainment

The 2022 Nissan Leaf offers an 8-inch touchscreen as standard on all models which is quite a welcome addition. Although the overall aesthetic design and the UI both could use some spit and polish, we would be lying if we say that we expected any different from Nissan. Although at first glance the UI can appear to be a little tacky, it is rather intuitive to use, and with the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard one doesn’t need to fumble around with the unpolished software as much.

The 7-inch screen that is tagged along the analog speedo does lend a futuristic touch to the overall non-intrusive interior design, and also serves to be rather rich in the amount of information that it can provide on tap for the driver.

The standard 6 Speaker system does leave significant room for improvement and doesn’t excite at all whereas the optional 7 Speaker Bose system disappoints further as the system seems to be the victim of hype marketing as the “Bose’ name does little to redeem its underwhelming performance.

Key infotainment features

• 8 Inch Touch Screen
• Optional 7 Speaker BOSE Audio System
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Sirium XM and HD Radio
• On-Board Navigation (SV Trim and Up)
• Nissan Connect
• 4 USB Ports including Type C

2022 Nissan Leaf Cargo Capacity

It seems as if Nissan engineers have used some sort of voodoo while designing the trunk of the Nissan Leaf. They have managed to make one of the most practical trunk spaces of its segment which can also give various ICE’s a run for their money. Yes, on paper, certain rivals do offer more cargo space technically, but when you zoom in on the fine print, it relates to the maximum cargo space and not the standard cargo space that is available with all seats up.

With its near-perfect loading bay design and 23.6 cubic feet of standard cargo space, the 2022 Nissan Leaf will make short work of eating up any amount of weekday luggage you throw at it.

Models	2022 Nissan Leaf	2022 Hyundai Kona Electric	202 Chevrolet Bolt EV	2022 Kia Niro EV
Standard Cargo Capacity (ft³)	23.6	19.2	16.6	18.5
Maximum Cargo Capacity (ft³)	30	45.8	57	53

Looking at the above-mentioned data, it is clear that the Leaf takes a significant lead when it comes to standard cargo space with its 23.6 cubic feet of space that comes in handy for day to day luggage duties but the competition does eke out a win if you need to lug about larger items as each rival offers significantly more room with the rear seats folded flat.

Additional Interior Storage Spaces

Although the Nissan Leaf is a very practical entity, there aren’t any highlight storage spaces on the inside that deserve too much attention. The usual glovebox, center cubby, and door cards have just about adequate storage with the central cupholders coming to the rescue of your morning coffee. The lack of a rear armrest can be a tad disappointing, but for the most part around town, we believe it won’t be a matter of concern.

2022 Nissan Leaf Creature Comforts

Since the Leaf has been designed to cater to a market that wants an economical entry into the EV space, the creature comforts on offer aren’t anything to rave home about but do certainly justify the price tag. The Leaf comes with Automatic Climate Control, Proximity Key and Push Button Start, Remote Cabin Pre-Heating and Pre-Cooling, Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat, Auto-dimming IRVM, and Leather Upholstery to name the most notable ones.

Verdict

In its 2022 guise, Nissan has undoubtedly created the best rendition of their entry-level EV in the form of the Leaf and we agree that it promptly delivers. Yes, the interiors could be too generic for some but on the flip side, it could be a pro for an even larger chunk of the audience that appreciates familiarity. The Leaf manages to provide umpteen amounts of room on the inside while also offering great cargo room which makes it our EV pick for around-the-town jobs.