Electric cars are on a roll lately as many automakers have launched new EVs in the past few years. Nissan was an early adopter of EVs with its LEAF, which debuted in 2011. Now in its second generation, the Nissan LEAF remains one of the more affordable EVs on the market, but this affordability comes with some trade-offs.
Below, we outline everything you need to know about the Nissan LEAF and how you can save thousands by opting for a quality used Nissan LEAF from a trusted retailer.
Nissan LEAF: Exterior
Like so many EVs of its era, the Nissan LEAF began its life as a wildly styled electric car. But the second-generation LEAF, which arrived in 2018, has a more restrained design that blends in with the crowd without looking too drab.
It features a more traditional hatchback look with the sharp angles and creases Nissan has become known for recently. It also boasts touches of black to contrast its base colour. You’ll find these contrasts on the front grille, the hatch, and the D-pillar, which creates a floating-roof look.
In its base model SV trim, the most recent LEAF comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, LED headlights and daytime running lights, heated mirrors, and more. The only exterior upgrades are the mirror-integrated LED turn signals on the range-topping SL Plus trim.
The LEAF is a compact vehicle and measures 4,480 mm long, 1,790 mm tall, and 1,565 mm wide. It rides atop a 2,700-mm wheelbase. It weighs 1,620 to 1,782 kg, depending on the trim level.
Nissan LEAF: Interior
Inside, the Nissan LEAF is relatively basic, but it gets a little spice from its flat-bottom steering wheel. Other eye-catching features in the LEAF include the digital instrument cluster and unique gear shifter interface. Otherwise, the rest of the LEAF’s cabin is like any other economy vehicle today.
This electric vehicle does, however, come relatively well equipped, even in its base SV trim. It includes an eight-way power driver’s seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, four USB ports, heated front seats and steering wheel, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker audio system, and more.
One of the LEAF’s weakest points is its surprisingly tight passenger room inside the cabin. The front seats are OK with 1,045 mm of headroom, 1,071 mm of legroom, 1,313 mm of hip room, and 1,378 mm of shoulder room. However, the rear seats are tighter than expected in this vehicle class, with 946 mm of headroom, 851 mm of legroom, 1,271 mm of hip room, and 1,334 mm of shoulder room. The LEAF also has just 849.5 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded.
Nissan LEAF: Driver Assist Features and Safety
Like most other Nissan models, the Nissan LEAF has a wide range of safety features and driver assist features to help keep you safe and alert on the road. These standard safety and driver assist features include:
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Forward collision warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- High-beam assist
- Rear automatic braking
- Rear parking sensors
- Blind-spot warning
- Blind-spot intervention
- 360-degree camera
- ProPILOT Assist
Nissan LEAF: Powertrain
The latest Nissan LEAF has two drivetrain options: the base 40-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack and the 110-kW electric motor. These pair up to deliver 147 horsepower (hp) and 236 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque in the base LEAF SV.
In the LEAF SV Plus and SL Plus, this EV gets a 60-kWh battery pack and 160-kW motor that delivers 214 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque.
All Nissan LEAF models are front-wheel drive only.
Nissan LEAF: Charging and Driving Range
As mentioned above, the Nissan LEAF comes standard with a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This base battery delivers a 240-kilometre driving range on a full charge. With the LEAF’s battery upgraded to the 60-kWh battery pack, it delivers a 349-km driving range.
Getting an 80% charge on DC fast charging takes 40 minutes with the base battery pack and 60 minutes with the larger battery, though you’ll want to limit how often you use a DC fast charger. Nissan has not released official charging times on home chargers.
Fuel economy checks in at 1.9 Le/100 km city, 2.4 Le/100 km highway, and 2.1 Le/100 km combined.
Nissan LEAF: Pricing and Availability
The most recent Nissan LEAF EV to hit showrooms is the 2023 model, but inventory is still tight due to computer chip shortages. However, you can find them on dealership lots, and their MSRP before provincial and national tax credits and incentives are as follows:
- Nissan LEAF SV: $40,248
- Standard equipment includes: 110-kW motor, 40-kWh battery, 6.6-kW onboard charger, hill-start assist, electronic parking brake, heated mirrors, fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and running lights, eight-way power driver’s seat, four USB ports, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power windows, auto headlights, digital gauge cluster, adaptive cruise control, E-pedal, regenerative braking, automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, and more.
- Nissan LEAF SV Plus: $45,998
- Standard equipment includes: All SV features, plus 160-kW motor, 60-kW battery pack, and quick-charge connector (100-kW charging stations)
- Nissan LEAF SL Plus: $48,848
- Standard equipment includes: All SV Plus features, plus mirror-integrated LED turn signals, leather seating, Homelink universal transceiver, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system.
Nissan LEAF: Competitors
The electric vehicle segment continues to grow quickly, giving the Nissan LEAF plenty of competitors to fend off. Some of its closest competitors are below.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
The Chevy Bolt EV is likely the biggest competitor to the LEAF. It features an all-electric drivetrain that delivers 6.5-second 0-to-95-km/h acceleration and up to 417 km of range. Plus, you get all this at a starting price of just $41,147.
On top of zippy acceleration and great range, the Bolt EV also exceeds the Nissan LEAF’s standard equipment with its 10.2-inch touchscreen added to its Nissan-matching standard features.
The Bolt EV is also roomier than the LEAF with 915 mm of rear legroom and 1,614 litres of maximum cargo space.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is one of the newest EVs on the market, and it shows with all its advanced features. It starts with up to 350-kWh fast charging for lightning-fast recharges on the road, reaching 80% capacity in as little as 18 minutes. On top of that, the IONIQ has up to a 488-km range with its optional 77.4-kWh battery pack and optional all-wheel drive.
Inside, the IONIQ 5 has all the latest safety equipment and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a matching infotainment touchscreen. Plus, it boasts an augmented reality head-up display for easier navigation commands.
The one downside to the IONIQ 5 is its starting price of $51,650.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 is the cousin of the IONIQ 5, so it shares many of its features, including powertrains and the two battery pack options. The EV6 starts with a 167-hp powertrain that pairs with a 58-kWh battery pack and rear-wheel drive to deliver average acceleration and up to a 373-km driving range.
For those looking to max out driving range, opt for the RWD Long Range trim, which adds the 77.4-kWh battery pack for a 499-km range. Or if you prefer performance, you can upgrade to the GT trim, which bumps the power to 576 hp and adds standard all-wheel drive (AWD) for a 3.4-second 0-to-96 km/h sprint time.
Plus, there are various other powertrain and battery combinations between these two levels.
Like the IONIQ 5, the EV6 has all the latest bells and whistles, including a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and touchscreen and all the latest safety gear. The EV6 is also quite roomy with 1,006 mm of rear legroom and up to 1,360 litres of cargo room.
The EV6’s pricing is more in line with the LEAF, as it starts at $45,995.
Get a Quality Used Nissan LEAF at Clutch
Is an electric vehicle right for you? Are you ready to make the Nissan LEAF your next car? Then why not save time, cash, and the stress of finding a new one by picking up a quality used Nissan LEAF from Clutch, Canada’s premier online used car retailer. And if the LEAF isn’t for you, we have many other used electric vehicles in stock.
At Clutch, quality always comes first, which is why every car we sell undergoes a 210-point inspection and reconditioning process. We also add in our 90-Day Protection Plan and nationwide roadside assistance for additional peace of mind. Do you need more coverage? We also offer a range of Extended Warranties.
If you’re uncomfortable purchasing a vehicle 100% online, Clutch helps put your mind at ease with a 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee on every car we sell. If you don’t love your new electric vehicle during those first 10 days, you can exchange it for a new one or return it for a no-questions-asked refund.
Check out our inventory of quality used electric vehicles today and choose a model suitable for you. You can also set up financing and even get your trade-in vehicle appraised online. There’s no need to set foot in a dealership.
