2024 Nissan Leaf

Overview

Proof that an electric vehicle can be affordable, the Nissan Leaf is gasoline-free for under $30,000. That makes the transition from fuel pump to charging station easier to justify, but despite the Leaf's inexpensiveness, its drawbacks include a slower 50 kW DC fast-charging maximum capacity and a short 180 miles of range on a single charge according to our 75-mph highway test. A shorter range with slower charging is a recipe for frustration, but if your travel needs are close and local, the Leaf hatchback makes sense. For more driving range for roughly the same price, we'd suggest reading about the Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV. Nissan announced its plans to discontinue the Leaf, moving its focus and efforts to its more expensive and larger EV, the new Ariya.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#7 in Best Electric Cars

1

Hyundai Ioniq 6

STARTING AT: $38,650

2

BMW i4

STARTING AT: $54,000

3

Polestar Polestar 2

STARTING AT: $51,300

4

Tesla Model 3

STARTING AT: $40,630

5

Volkswagen ID.7

STARTING AT: $50,000

7

Nissan Leaf

STARTING AT: $29,280

What's New for 2024?

Nissan makes no significant changes to the Leaf for 2024, but has announced the model's end of production.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The best deal here is the SV Plus because it carries a reasonable price, the longest driving range, the more powerful electric motor, and offers a decent package of standard equipment. It has an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, and automatic headlamps.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

Leafs are front-wheel drive cars. The standard Leaf S comes with a 147-horsepower electric motor and a 40.0-kWh battery pack—both dinky by today’s standards. Leaf SV Plus gets a gutsier, 214-hp electric motor and a larger 62.0-kWh battery. An S managed a 7.4-second zero-to-60-mph time at our test track, but it feels perkier than this number suggests thanks to the instantaneous power delivery of the electric motor. This result makes it slower than the Bolt EV and the Model 3, though. Upgrading to the more powerful Plus model will no doubt result in quicker acceleration, but we won't be able to confirm that until we are able to test one. The Leaf's e-Pedal feature allows the driver to toggle back and forth between regenerative braking modes, one of which allows the car to coast when the driver lifts off the throttle and another that slows the car when you take your foot off the gas and uses that energy to recharge the battery.

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Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The Leaf can be plugged into a regular 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt outlet, but the charging times vary dramatically between the two. On a 240-volt connection, Nissan says both the standard Leaf's battery and the larger one in the Leaf Plus can be replenished in seven hours. A DC fast-charging connection is standard on all trims. The Leaf S comes with a 40.0-kWh battery that provides a relatively limited range of 149 miles. This might be enough range for some drivers with short commutes but it's less than half of what the Model 3's Long Range model provides. The SV Plus provides 215 miles of EPA-rated driving range thanks to its larger battery pack.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

Our SV Plus test vehicle exceeded its EPA highway rating of 94 MPGe by delivering 98 MPGe over our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route. However, we saw 180 miles of range during this test; EVs generally get less than their EPA rated number on the highway. For more information about the Leaf's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Although the cabin of the Leaf has a lot of black plastic, the well-assembled and uniform textures help it avoid looking cheap. The gauge cluster features a large analog speedometer next to a 7.0-inch digital readout that can be reconfigured to show a variety of displays. The Leaf's seats are La-Z-Boy comfortable; the spacious rear seat offers plenty of room for adults, too. Despite the fact that the Leaf's back seat doesn't create a flat load floor when folded, we found the cargo capacity to be among the best in its class. We fit seven carry-on suitcases behind the back seat and a whopping 19 with the back seat folded. For comparison, the Bolt EV held five in its cargo area and maxed out at 16 with its back seats stowed. The Niro EV—which sports a more SUV-like bodystyle—held slightly more cargo in our testing, but the Leaf still is tops among electric cars.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

All Leaf models come with the same 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; navigation is optional. The latest Nissan Connect software interface, while not particularly pleasing to the eye, is intuitive and quick to respond to inputs. Audiophiles may be disappointed with the Leaf's standard six-speaker audio system; a seven-speaker Bose system is optional but it didn't impress us during our test drive either.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assistance features are standard across the lineup and the brand's novel ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode is optional. For more information about the Leaf's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Nissan offers a basic warranty package that covers the same amount of time as the rest of the Nissan lineup; however, the Leaf's battery is covered for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Battery warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2019 Nissan Leaf SV Plus

VEHICLE TYPE
front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$42,580 (base price: $37,445)

MOTOR TYPE
permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 215 hp, 251 lb-ft; 62.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack 

TRANSMISSION
1-speed direct-drive

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 176.4 in
Width: 70.5 in
Height: 61.4 in
Passenger volume: 93 cu ft
Cargo volume: 24 cu ft
Curb weight: 3831 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 6.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 19.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.4 sec @ 92 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 106 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 190 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.76 g

C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 90 MPGe
75-mph highway driving: 98 MPGe
Highway range: 180 miles 

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 104/114/94 MPGe
EV range: 215

Download Test Sheet

More Features and Specs