2018 Nissan Leaf

The 2018 Nissan Leaf is a utilitarian beast with 5-doors and improved, 150-mile range. Include the $7,500 federal tax subsidy and it can be had for well under $30,000.

From its floating roof to its mod wheels the 2018 Nissan Leaf EV doesn't look the nerdy green car of old.

New for 2018, the Nissan Leaf EV ditches the first-gen car's geeky, tadpole looks for the V-motion grille familiar to other Nissan cars. Of course, the grille is non-functional as there is no gas engine under the hood starving for air.

No split-rear window — a common design trait of EVs — is present on the 2018 Nissan Leaf. However, the "zero-emission" badge gives away its green credentials.

The 2018 Nissan Leaf EV brings hatchback utility and electric drive to Nissan's compact lineup. With a $30,000 starting price well north of the gas-fired Sentra and Versa compacts, however, the Leaf's chief selling point is its green promise.

The 2018 Nissan Leaf's interior retains the first-gen car's signature toggle shifter, but has otherwise been mainstreamed with integrated infotainment system and traditional, horizontal lines and cubby space. No nerdy Prius-like layouts here.

The 2018 Nissan Leaf seats four comfortably (and five if needed) — though rear headroom is compromised by the battery under the back seat.

The Nissan Leaf's hatchback cargo space is compromised by the 40 kWh battery stowed under the back seat. Happily, the rear seats fold down for more cargo room.

Detroit News auto critic Henry Payne charged his Nissan Leaf at home at every opportunity. However, the standard, 110-volt home wall plug returns just 4 miles of range for every hour plugged in (meaning it would take nearly 40 hours to recharge to 150-mile range capacity.) Better to install a 240-volt plug for faster home charging.

The 2018 Nissan Leaf comes equipped with twin plugs for charging. The left plug is for fast-charging, CHAdeMO ports — the right for more common 110 and 240 charge plugs.

The Nissan Leaf charges at a CHAdeMO fast charger in Ferndale, Michigan. Fast chargers can recharge the Leaf's 40 kWh battery to 80 percent in 45 minutes — but they are hard to find in Metro Detroit.

The Nissan Leaf does not keep a gas engine under its hood — but that doesn't mean it isn't occupied. Key drive elements include an inverter, electric motor and power delivery module.

In 35-degree March weather — and starting from 139 mile-indicated range — the 2018 Nissan Leaf went 52 miles on the odometer, while subtracting 73 miles in range. This when driven at 80 mph on interstates and with traffic flow on secondary roads.

An infortainment screen app in the Nissan Leaf tracks battery energy usage.

Electric infrastructure is a challenge for EVs like the Nissan Leaf. Many parking garages (like this one in downtown Detroit) don't have 240-volt chargers.

With ProPilot assist engaged, the Nissan Leaf shows a green steering wheel on the instrument panel — the universal symbol for autonomous driving mode.

At $37,000, a loaded Nissan Leaf comes with nice features like a 360-degree camera view.