Long before the Tesla Model S was available to consumers, when the Model 3 was just a figment of Elon Musk’s imagination, the Nissan LEAF was the electric vehicle for mainstream drivers. In fact, at that time, the LEAF was the world’s number one selling EV, only being surpassed in 2019 by the Model 3.
The first-generation LEAF, which initially began deliveries in 2010, broadened its appeal to buyers by maintaining an accessible price point and maximizing functionality. It utilized a five-door hatchback body and smart battery placement incorporated into its chassis design, which was kept out of the trunk and relocated to under the rear seats, retaining trunk space and keeping a low center of gravity. Despite its laughable range of 117 kilometers on a full charge, the LEAF’s positive sales were a strong indicator that the market was indeed still hungry for a people’s EV.
The second-generation LEAF is now facing fierce competition, mostly from Tesla and also from other mainstream brands. While the hatch is now capable of tripling the paltry range of its predecessor, the majority of that increase comes from bolstered battery capacity. For 2020, Nissan has continued to add further refinements aimed at bringing back its mainstream EV appeal.
To start, four models are now available. In order of hierarchy, they are the 40 kWh S, 62 kWh S Plus, SV Plus, and SL Plus. Nissan adopts a practice that is standard across many gas-powered vehicles, offering different powertrains to suit the needs of consumers. The 40 kWh S comes with a 110 kW motor, giving the compact up to 240 km of range. Moving up into any of the Plus trims (S, SV, or SL) swaps the 110 kW power plant for an uprated 160 kW motor and 62 kWh battery, the latter supplying an additional 123 km of range, for a total of 363 km.
The LEAF has been the number one selling EV for nearly a decade, and the second-generation model brings onboard a much-needed increase in range that will alleviate even the most anxious range-anxious buyers. Had it been released in 2015, it would’ve further extended the LEAF’s position, but the arena is now hotter than ever. It’s truly difficult to ignore Tesla’s overwhelming EV presence, one perfunctory glance at their respective MSRPs and you would see why. At an as-tested price of $53,198, that’s $512 less than an equally spec’d Model 3, which from the factory comes with an additional 39 km of range, a perkier 0-100 km/h time, and the brand cache that Tesla has developed over the last decade. There’s still a lot to like about the LEAF, and we still see much potential for the lower and more affordable trims but hike up the price ladder and it dangerously begins to encroach into a weight class way above its paygrade.
