There was a time when the Leaf and I didn’t get along, especially that time in 2008 when I ran out of electricity due to a faulty gauge and a normally 30-minute trip from my mother’s house to mine took 5 hours.

That was then, this is now, of course, and today’s Leaf - and our charging infrastructure - are vastly improved, and only bound to get better in coming years. Let’s check it out.

Overview

There are two aspects of the 2023 Leaf that should give one pause. One is the measly mileage you get on a full charge – it’s a little over 200 miles. That’ll get you to work and back, of course, but unless you have a 240-volt outlet, Level 2 charger, it means you’re out there in the world like everyone else, hoping the chargers near your abode are operational, and trying to arrange your life to include sitting around and waiting. Its closest rival, the Chevy Bolt, gets somewhere in the 250-mile range.

The tech of the charger itself, too, needs to come up to its rivals. The Leaf’s charging system is called CHAdeMO, and not all stations are compatible. Thankfully, Chargepoint did a great charging job during the test.

The Leaf’s big selling point in the pricey world of electrics is its under 30K starting price. It’s also on the smaller side, so it’s easier to parallel park or to navigate a crowded city. It’s also never been more handsome – it’s sleek, stylish and a pleasure to look at and get into. The multispoke wheels are way mod, especially for this company, and the illuminated badge makes the front stand out.

For 2023 the changes are minimal – a revised front bumper, revised grille and exterior lighting components are the few offered tweaks. You also only have two trim choices – the base model S and our tester, the SV Plus, which has a longer range.

Inside

There is plastic aplenty but the layout and surface textures appear clean and well laid-out. There is plenty of room – the headliner in my tester seemed miles from the top of my head, so welcome, big and tall. Your gauge cluster has an analogue speedometer, a neat nod to the past. A 7-inch digital display allows you to scroll and see different screens; it’s fun if you’re sitting in the car waiting for someone. The cloth seats are comfy over long journeys, and there is way more cargo room than you might think in a car this size. You can fit much band equipment, bricks, golf clubs or what-have-you in the trunk and back seat, despite the back seat’s inability to fold down.

Under the hood

A standard Leaf gets a lawnmower-sized 147 horsepower electric motor and a 40.0 kWh battery pack. Go for the SV Plus, my tester, and you’ll get a more powerful 214-hp electric motor and a larger 62.0-kWh battery. An “e-Pedal” feature lets the driver toggle back and forth between regenerative braking modes.

Tech

The 2023 Leaf comes standard with an 8-inch infotainment display and Apple CarPlay and Android auto hookup capability, but you’ll have to pay extra for a nav system. The system is reasonably quick and easy to figure out. The seven-speaker BOSE sound system features a three-band EQ, something not usually found in cars of this price. You won’t think you’re in a recording studio, but you’ll get your groove.

The Drive

It is all electric-car-golf-cart-whoopee in parking lots. On the road, at speed, it’s smooth sailing, a pleasurable drive. You’re not going to race anyone, you’re not going to go blast through the mountains on a Sunday morning, but the vehicle is basically fine all around – reasonable acceleration, handling and stopping.

Charging, and Battery Life

You can plug in via a 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt, with charging times naturally varying in one or the other. I charged nightly at a mostly-deserted public station, and that worked fine. This was the first electric vehicle I’ve tested, come to think of it, where there wasn’t a single broken meter or other issue preventing me from seeing to business. Things are looking up, it seems. You get about 97 miles per “gallon.” A DC fast-charging connection is standard on all trims.

The the longer I spent with the Leaf, the better I liked it despite various beefs. It’s a good, economical, “get you there” ride, good for a new or teen driver or any ecology-minded human not in a particular hurry.