Nissan Leaf (2011 – 2018) Review

The Nissan Leaf is the world’s most popular electric car. Launched in 2011, the Leaf helped to kickstart the EV revolution, putting electric cars on the path from niche to mainstream. It had few direct rivals, but was followed a little while later by the Renault Zoe, the Leaf’s closest competitor on the used car market. Its biggest problem is the rate at which the electric car industry is developing, which means early versions of the Leaf are looking rather outmoded. Later models make more sense as an affordable entry point into the world of electric motoring.

The Nissan Leaf has secured a chapter in the big book of motoring history. It popularised the concept of electric motoring, taking the EV into the mainstream. Before the Leaf, an electric car meant a small driving range, limited practicality and high prices.

There was also the problem of a small charging network, which created a classic ‘chicken and egg’ situation.

A decade on, things are very different. Potential electric car customers have a wide range of new EVs to choose from, from relatively affordable city cars to luxury SUVs. It will take a while for these to become affordable used cars, which is why the Nissan Leaf is such a compelling prospect. Prices start from around £6,000, so it’s ideal if you’re taking your first steps in the world of electric motoring.

Launched in 2011, the Nissan Leaf grew in popularity as the years went by. If the Tesla Model S was the pin-up star of the electric car world, the Nissan Leaf was the mainstream hero. Relatively affordable, a decent range and conventional (if slightly oddball) styling meant it encouraged more people to take the electric plunge. Not that mixing electricity with water is a good idea… 

Before the Leaf, electric cars were crude, expensive and unsophisticated machines. We couldn’t rely on cars like the Reva G-Wiz and Mitsubishi i-MiEV to catapult the electric car into the mainstream. That job was left to the Nissan Leaf and, soon after, the Renault Zoe.

Today, these are the most affordable electric cars you can buy used. Don’t expect to achieve anything like the electric driving range of the current crop of EVs. While the all-new Nissan Leaf can travel up to 239 miles on a single charge, the earliest Leaf can only muster 109 miles. Things improved in 2013, when the range increased to 124 miles, before a larger 30kWh battery arrived in 2015 to deliver a range of 155 miles.

This might be enough to handle your daily commute, but it would be worth seeking out a model with a 6.6kWh onboard charger. This allows you to use fast chargers, making the Nissan Leaf a viable prospect for longer journeys.

It’s reasonably practical, with a boot that’s a match for a family hatchback. You have to accept a few sacrifices due to the structure of the car, but thanks to five seats and five doors, the Leaf is a car you could live with on a daily basis. Just add electricity.

Excitement is one thing the Nissan Leaf is lacking. Sombre styling, a cabin that lacks sparkle and a so-so driving experience combine to make it a largely forgettable car. That said, anyone new to electric cars will relish the whippet-like acceleration, which is great fun in the city. Just don’t experience it too often – think of the electric range.

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Nissan Leaf review. 

The Leaf is supremely comfortable at low speeds, soaking up potholes and generally feeling very refined. Spend some time in an electric car and you’ll grow to love the near-silence and relaxed nature of the driver. You might find it hard to return to a conventional car.

Early cars suffer from a rather ‘floaty’ feel at high speeds, but this was rectified in 2013 when Nissan made tweaks to the suspension and steering. As a result, the car is less comfortable in town, but that’s a small complaint.

It’s not a car that likes to be hurried – and not just because you want to maximise the electric range. There’s a general feeling of detachment from the road, with a numbness when cornering. It doesn’t matter, because you’ll soon learn to adopt a smooth and relaxed driving style.

There are no gears to run through, no revs to build. Just instant torque and thrust, which can become highly addictive. Get too carried away and you’ll put a dent in the driving range.

Officially, the Leaf will hit 62mph in a leisurely 11.5 seconds, but it feels much, much quicker than that. You can even turn the electric motor into a generator, creating electricity as you brake and slow down. With a little practice, it’s even possible to drive a Leaf without using the brakes.

The Leaf was awarded a five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2012. All models feature front, side and curtain airbags. There are Isofix child car seat mounting points for the rear seats, although there is no cut-off switch for the front passenger airbag

Every Leaf also comes with a speed assistance device, to stop motorists exceeding a predetermined limit. It’s a useful feature in an electric car, as the silence and instant response from the electric motor mean you could exceed the speed limit without noticing.

The Nissan Leaf isn’t suitable for towing.

The boot offers an impressive 370 litres of luggage capacity, making it a match for a conventional family hatchback. Unfortunately, there’s only a maximum of 720 litres available with the rear seats folded, as the seat-backs don’t have the space to fold fully flat.

There’s also a strengthening bar behind the rear seats, which limits overall practicality.

The shallow rear floor means back-seat passengers will have to sit with their knees in the air, which will be uncomfortable on long journeys.

Up front, the raised driving position is a bit odd – a symptom of the batteries being mounted beneath the floor. On the plus side, this provides a commanding view of the road ahead, feeling not too dissimilar to a crossover.

The Nissan Leaf looks so normal, which could be a strength or a weakness, depending on your point of view. The level of quality is very high, with small panel gaps, good paint quality and a general feeling of robustness. Because it’s so quiet on the move, you’d feel every squeak and rattle, so it’s good to know there are none.

Inside, it’s all a bit plasticky. There’s nothing wrong with the workmanship, it’s just lacking the finish and materials that could have raised the perceived quality. On the plus side, the cabin is hard-wearing and able to withstand years of use, as demonstrated by the condition of the used cars.

The infotainment system is tailored to the requirements of electric car drivers, so you’ll find details of nearby charging stations and a representation of how far you can travel on a single charge. You can even select an eco route, to maximise the available range.

By using the Nissan Connect EV smartphone app, you can set the air conditioning remotely, or control the charging to take advantage of off-peak energy discounts. You can also pre-condition the cabin, which is handy on hot days or cold mornings.

Nissan Leaf prices start from around £6000, making it one of the most affordable electric cars you can buy. A cheap Leaf is likely to be an early car with the 24kWh battery, so the range will be limited, but it could be ideal if you’re after a city runaround.

The 30kWh model is more expensive, but the increased range and likely lower mileage make it a wise choice. Bank on spending at least £10,000 to secure a 2016 or 2017 Leaf with a 30kWh battery. The very latest models cost up to £15,000, but these cars benefit from the remainder of Nissan’s three-year warranty.

It’s worth noting that Nissan offered a five-year/60,000-mile battery warranty on earlier cars, but the 30kWh version benefits from an eight-year/100,000-mile guarantee. The car’s instrument panel will show you the current battery condition.

You’ll notice a small number of cars in Visia trim, but these are best avoided, not least because they lack the infotainment system of the other models. The Visia trim is easy to spot as the car came with steel rather than alloy wheels.

It’s almost impossible to buy a cheaper electric car. A sub-£5k EV is likely to be a Renault Twizy or Reva G-Wiz, which are far from ideal. You’re also looking at the Citroen C-Zero, Peugeot Ion and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, three near-identical cars with limited electric range.

The Nissan Leaf comes with a 3.3kW onboard charger as standard. On cars with the 24kWh battery, this means it can charge to 80 percent via a 50kW charger in 30 minutes. A 7kW home charger takes 4.5 hours to go from zero to 100 percent, while a 3kW wallbox takes 10 hours.

Models with the 6.6kW onboard charger are faster, but they have 6kW larger batteries, so they won’t quite fully charge in half the time.

The post-2013 UK-built versions feature tech updates to the battery software, so these cars make more sense.

The range increases to 124 miles, while the optional 6.6kW onboard charger option allows for fast-charging to 100 percent capacity in less than four hours. The longest-range Leaf has a 155-mile range, as the battery was updated from 24kWh to 30kWh in autumn 2015.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is free and will be for the foreseeable future. This benefit is offset by the relatively high cost of insurance, with the Leaf getting group ratings of 22 to 24 (out of 50). However, it’s worth remembering that the Nissan Leaf is exempt from many congestion charge schemes and will be eligible for free parking in some cities.

If you’re taking your first steps in the world of electric motoring, the Nissan Leaf is an appealing and affordable prospect. Although it lacks the range of the modern breed of electric cars, a used example could cost less than a Dacia Sandero, so it’s an ideal starter EV. Only the Renault Zoe is a credible alternative to the Leaf.