Compare the2023 Toyota bZ4XVS 2022 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The bZ4X has standard post collision braking, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Leaf doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The bZ4X has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The bZ4X has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Leaf doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the bZ4X and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the bZ4X for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Leaf.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the bZ4X’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 13th.

Engine

The bZ4X’s standard electric motor produces 54 more horsepower (201 vs. 147) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota bZ4X electric motors is faster than the Leaf PLUS:

	bZ4X	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	91 MPH
Top Speed	104 MPH	101 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the bZ4X gets better mileage than the Leaf:

			MPGe
bZ4X
	FWD	XLE Electric Motor	131 city/107 hwy
Leaf
	FWD	Electric Motor	123 city/99 hwy
		PLUS S Electric Motor	118 city/97 hwy
		PLUS SV/SL Electric Motor	114 city/94 hwy

The bZ4X can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
bZ4X
	FWD	XLE Electric Motor	252 miles
		Limited Electric Motor	242 miles
	AWD	XLE Electric Motors	228 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	222 miles
Leaf
	FWD	PLUS S Electric Motor	226 miles
		PLUS SV/SL Electric Motor	215 miles
		Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the bZ4X’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	bZ4X	Leaf
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.5 inches

The bZ4X stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	bZ4X	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the bZ4X has larger tires than the Leaf (235/50R20 vs. 205/55R16). The bZ4X Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (235/50R20 vs. 215/50R17).

The bZ4X’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf S’ standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the bZ4X XLE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The bZ4X Limited’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV/SL.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota bZ4X has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the bZ4X’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Leaf (112.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the bZ4X is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The bZ4X Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Leaf SL PLUS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The bZ4X has 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the bZ4X’s rear seats recline. The Leaf’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the bZ4X Limited’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Ergonomics

The bZ4X’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the bZ4X and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the bZ4X is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The bZ4X’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the bZ4X the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (Your Toyota service department must activate this window function.) The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The bZ4X’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The bZ4X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV/SL.

Both the bZ4X and the Leaf offer available heated front seats. The bZ4X Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the bZ4X Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The bZ4X has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The bZ4X’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota bZ4X has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.