Last Updated on November 10, 2023 by Rose Morah
Is Nissan Leaf worth buying?
There is precisely no yes or no answer because it depends on the following factors:
- Your expectations.
- The Nissan Leaf model/year.
But to help you decide, we have broken down the pros and cons of owning a Nissan Leaf.
Related:
What To Check Before Buying A Used Nissan Leaf (Nissan Leaf Inspection).
Best Nissan Leaf Model Year (And the Years To Avoid).
Nissan Leaf Pros and Cons
PROS
- It is an affordable EV.
- Nissan Leaf, especially the 1st generation, is a good city car, for short-distance trips. But the long-range Nissan Leafs can go on long road trips.
- Very low maintenance cost compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.
- Low charging cost.
Most Nissan Leaf owners have reported only a slight increase in electricity bills when charging their Nissan Leaf at home.
CONS
- It has limited fast charging ability compared to other popular EVs.
- It is not great for long-distance driving.
- Most of the early Nissan Leaf models are not comfortable when you drive at high speeds.
- Early Nissan Leafs, like the 2017 Nissan Leaf, do not have most driver-assist features like Self Park e.t.c.
- The Nissan Leaf battery tends to get so hot, especially if you live in locations with very hot climates. This makes it almost impossible to charge and increases battery degradation.
This is because the Leaf does not have battery cooling features.
However, most Nissan Leaf owners who have the newer models, such as the 2021 Leaf S Plus, and live in hot climate locations, such as Florida, have reported having no issues with the battery heating up due to the hot temperatures.
Related:
How To Check Nissan Leaf Battery Health (Battery Degradation Status).
How Do EVs and EV Batteries Work?
Types of EV Charging and EV Plugs.
What to know before buying a Nissan Leaf
- You choose either of the 3 versions of the Nissan Leaf
When buying a Nissan Leaf, you can choose either:
- Acenta
- N–Connecta
- Tekna
The following table shows the unique features found on each of these Nissan Leaf versions:
| Acenta | N-Connecta | Tekna |
| – Nissan Safety Shield. These include; i). Intelligent Braking (with pedestrian recognition). ii). Intelligent Cruise Control iii). Intelligent Lane Intervention iv). Lane Departure Warning. v). High-Beam Assist. – Rear View Camera. – 8” Touchscreen. – Smartphone App Integration. | – Part Synthetic Leather seats. – Heat Pack. (Heated steering wheel and heated front seats). – Front and Rear Parking Sensors. – Intelligent Around View Monitor. – Nissan Connected Services. – 17″ Alloy Wheels. N/B: All the features included in Acenta are also in the N-Connecta | – Leather/Ultrasuede seats. – Pro Pilot (Driver assistance system). – LED Headlights. – Electronic Parking Brake. – Bose Stereo. N/B: Some features included in N-Connecta are also in the Tekna. |
See also:
Types of Electric Vehicles and Which One You Should Buy.
Best EVs That Are Cheaper Than Tesla (Under $40,000).
What are their price differences?
Nissan Leaf Accenta is the cheapest version, followed by N-Connector. Tekna is the most expensive of the three Nissan Leaf versions.
- You have a choice between two battery capacity options
When buying a Nissan Leaf you have 2 battery options; a 40kWh or 62 KWh battery.
The 62kWh Nissan Leaf is what is also known as the Nissan Leaf E-Plus. This is the longest range Nissan Leaf that gives you range estimates of 239 miles.
On the other hand, the 40kWh Nissan Leaf gives you an estimated range of 168 miles.
| NOTE: These range estimates are usually slightly lower in the real world, which also applies to other EVs. |
You may also like Nissan Leaf Model Comparison.
See also Nissan Leaf Winter Performance & Range.
- E-Pedal
Nissan Leaf comes with an e-pedal button. When turned on, the driver can drive with one foot.
Well, it can take some time to get used to driving with one foot. But, here are a few reasons why driving on an e-pedal is great once you get used to it:
- It is very relaxing.
- It makes driving the car much easy.
- It is very efficient because you will constantly be using regen braking.
- You can remotely control your Nissan Leaf via its app
Nissan Leaf has an app that allows you to control and get more information about your car through your phone. Nissan Leaf uses the term NissanConnect Services, which refers to the smartphone app.
Read more about the app: How To Use Leaf Spy Lite and Pro on Nissan Leaf (Complete Guide).
Some of the things that you can check through the Nissan Leaf app include:
- The charging status.
This is a great feature, especially when you are charging at public chargers and when you are not in the car to see how it is charging.
Related: Nissan Leaf Charging Guide (Best Charging Tips and Tricks).
You may like these 5 Nissan Leaf Tips For New Owners.
- Driving history.
This includes consumption cost, energy consumption, energy regenerated, miles traveled, hours driven and etc.
- You can turn on the headlights through the app.
This comes in handy, especially when you don’t remember where you parked the car and it’s already dark. So, you only need to use your phone to turn on the headlights to help you find it.
- You can use the app to either lock or unlock your Nissan Leaf.
- You can turn on the heat in the car via the app.
When it is cold outside, you can turn on the heat even before you set foot in your car. This way, when you get inside the car, it will already be warm.
- Nissan Leaf can Self Park.
This basically means that you can set the Nissan Leaf to self parallel park and reverse park.
However, when buying a Nissan Leaf you will have to buy this feature as an extra package that comes with the car.
You may also like the Pros and Cons of Volkswagen ID.4 Pro.
See also: Ford Mustang Mach-E Pros and Cons.
- Nissan Leaf’s rearview mirror is different.
The Nissan Leaf’s rearview mirror has got two main functions:
- It works as a normal rearview mirror.
- It has a camera mirror when you flip the rearview mirror down.
The camera mirror gives you a clear picture/view of what’s going on behind your car as it is connected to the camera at the back of the car.
It is also great, especially when it’s dark because it gives you a clear view that is so much better than the mirror.
- It has two charging ports.
Unlike, most EVs, the Nissan Leaf comes with two charging ports. One port is for fast charging and the other is for normal charging.
See the Best Charging Apps For Nissan Leaf.
- You have to choose what color you would like on your Nissan Leaf.
Nissan Leaf comes in a wide range of colors. However, the only color that is free is red.
This means that, if you do not like red, it is going to cost you extra if you prefer other colors on your Nissan Leaf.
- You can use your Nissan Leaf battery to power your house.
If you live in a location with off-peak electricity hours, you can use your Nissan Leaf battery to power your house.
According to Nissan Leaf, you can charge your car during off-peak hours, which is normally during the night. Then during the day, you can use your Nissan Leaf’s charged battery to power your house.
However, this is not yet available in some countries. If interested, you can get more details on this article on eepower.com.
- Don’t expect the new Nissan Leaf to come with a spare tire.
Much like most electric cars, such as Tesla, the new Nissan Leaf does not come with a spare tire. Be prepared to buy a spare tire package in advance to use during emergencies.
