Today, it’s not unusual to pass several electric vehicles on your morning commute, but the growth of EVs is a relatively recent occurrence. Back in 2010, Nissan was on the cutting edge of electrification with the Leaf, the first-ever mass-market electric car. Since then, the car has sold over half a million copies, and until 2019, it was recognized as the world’s best-selling EV of all time. Updates for 2022 include a new standard SV Plus Technology Package that brings Nissan’s ProPilot Assist safety equipment, an eight-way power driver’s seat, LED exterior lighting, a portable charging cable, a surround-view camera system, and a driver alertness monitoring system. Also standard is the Leaf S Charge Package, which adds a quick charging port and cable. The Leaf entered its second generation in 2018 and is available with two electric powertrain options. The base setup includes a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 110-kW electric motor. The system produces 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and has a range of up to 149 miles of range. The Leaf Plus gets a 62-kWh battery and a 160-kW motor that deliver 214 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque with a range of up to 226 miles. Front-wheel drive is standard. Unlike gas engines, electric motors do not need time to build up to peak torque delivery. This means that, off the line, EVs deliver strong pulling power. Even somewhat pedestrian cars like the Leaf feel surprisingly quick, though the Nissan isn’t as energetic as the Tesla Model 3 or Chevrolet Bolt. All Leafs—Leaves, perhaps—get an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Nissan’s infotainment software is smooth and responsive and doesn’t take much thought to operate. A six-speaker setup is standard, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system is available, but even the upgraded stereo fails to impress. That said, Nissan makes up for it with a generous helping of standard tech features. The list includes SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, four USB ports, voice commands, automatic climate controls, and more. The 2022 Leaf hasn’t yet been crashed by either major ratings organization. The last Leaf tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was the 2021 model, which picked up Good scores in limited test categories. The 2021 Leaf also earned five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nissan Safety Shield technology is standard, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, high beam assist, lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, and rear automatic braking. The 2022 Nissan Leaf is available now, with pricing that starts at $28,375 for the base S trim. The Leaf S Plus starts at $33,375 and tops out at $38,375.