Likes

  • Excellent driving experience around town
  • Great practicality
  • Good levels of safety and equipment
  • Excellent reliability and minimal running costs

Dislikes

  • Depending on year, can be expensive.
  • Some questions regarding long term battery life.
  • Expensive to replace batteries

Stuff you should know

The original Nissan Leaf was launched in 2011 however this Cheat Sheet is focussed on the Australian variants of the second generation Leaf which appeared globally from 2017 and which is currently still available as a new car.

However, while stylistically the second generation car marks quite the departure from the original and slightly bubbly looking first generation Leaf, under the angular design lies an incredibly similar 5-door hatch platform and mechanical package.

The only major upgrades, besides the slightly aggressive aesthetics and improvements to the levels of tech and equipment that is, was an increase in range, and more power via an update to both the batteries and electric motor.

Australia initially received just the single trim spec second generation Leaf however as of 2021, the Leaf e+ was introduced to the range, featuring more power, more torque, a more energy dense battery pack and most importantly, more range and a higher maximum charge speed.

In terms of updates, Australia is receiving the first 2023 updated Leaf models as we speak but don’t expect any major changes, the updates are purely skin deep.

What goes wrong

Exterior:

The visibility of the rear view camera can be either unclear or just non-existent. However this should’ve been sorted out by Nissan with a software update.

In some cases the tempered glass for the sunroof can crack, or in some cases even shatter entirely. This can usually be initially identified by a rattling sound. Again Nissan offers a replacement to address this issue.

Interior:

There’s are reports that the brakes randomly activate due to a faulty or overly sensitive AEB system, and this is most notable on 2018 models. What is more concerning is that it’s not a gradual input either, it’s said to be quite sudden and violent.

There was also a recall regarding a problem with selecting “park” so just make sure that recall has been seen to.

Mechanically:

By far the biggest concern with the Leaf are the batteries.

Nissan Leafs (or leaves) only have air cooling for the batteries. Other electric cars (like Teslas for example) have a liquid cooled battery. Lithium-ion batteries & heat are not friends. Therefore, in a hot climate like here in Australia that can result in a significant drop in battery performance and longevity.

It should be noted, if you’re looking to buy one you can actually check the battery condition.

On earlier models you count the bars on the main battery display (not the current charge state or percentage). It’s the narrow bars on the side that tell you the battery’s overall health. The later models will require you to scroll through the dash display pages and look for the battery lifetime capacity (again, not the battery’s charge percentage) This is very important to find out before you buy a Leaf.

Typically, 10 bars or more on the scale is what you’re looking for. If the battery is near the end of its life, they can be replaced but it’s not cheap. Nissan Australia are offering exchange batteries for early models for around $10,000.

With the Leaf not being incredibly common here in Australia, second-hand batteries are near impossible to source however in other regions where they are more popular, second hand replacement and even upgraded batteries can be a viable option.

Engines and drivelines (we should say motors) are generally maintenance free and they rarely if ever fail. Thanks to a lack of traditional transmission, there are no concerns with gearboxes or clutches and even the brakes last 3 or 4 times longer than non-electric cars thanks to the regenerative braking doing most of the work.

Recalls:

  • 23 May 2021 – The welded joint on the actuator plate may fail during use. It affected 152 Nissan Leafs built from 2019 to 2020.

Exterior:

The visibility of the rear view camera can be either unclear or just non-existent. However this should’ve been sorted out by Nissan with a software update.

In some cases the tempered glass for the sunroof can crack, or in some cases even shatter entirely. This can usually be initially identified by a rattling sound. Again Nissan offers a replacement to address this issue.

Interior:

There’s are reports that the brakes randomly activate due to a faulty or overly sensitive AEB system, and this is most notable on 2018 models. What is more concerning is that it’s not a gradual input either, it’s said to be quite sudden and violent.

There was also a recall regarding a problem with selecting “park” so just make sure that recall has been seen to.

Mechanically:

By far the biggest concern with the Leaf are the batteries.

Nissan Leafs (or leaves) only have air cooling for the batteries. Other electric cars (like Teslas for example) have a liquid cooled battery. Lithium-ion batteries & heat are not friends. Therefore, in a hot climate like here in Australia that can result in a significant drop in battery performance and longevity.

It should be noted, if you’re looking to buy one you can actually check the battery condition.

On earlier models you count the bars on the main battery display (not the current charge state or percentage). It’s the narrow bars on the side that tell you the battery’s overall health. The later models will require you to scroll through the dash display pages and look for the battery lifetime capacity (again, not the battery’s charge percentage) This is very important to find out before you buy a Leaf.

Typically, 10 bars or more on the scale is what you’re looking for. If the battery is near the end of its life, they can be replaced but it’s not cheap. Nissan Australia are offering exchange batteries for early models for around $10,000.

With the Leaf not being incredibly common here in Australia, second-hand batteries are near impossible to source however in other regions where they are more popular, second hand replacement and even upgraded batteries can be a viable option.

Engines and drivelines (we should say motors) are generally maintenance free and they rarely if ever fail. Thanks to a lack of traditional transmission, there are no concerns with gearboxes or clutches and even the brakes last 3 or 4 times longer than non-electric cars thanks to the regenerative braking doing most of the work.

Recalls:

  • 23 May 2021 – The welded joint on the actuator plate may fail during use. It affected 152 Nissan Leafs built from 2019 to 2020.

Exterior:

The visibility of the rear view camera can be either unclear or just non-existent. However this should’ve been sorted out by Nissan with a software update.

In some cases the tempered glass for the sunroof can crack, or in some cases even shatter entirely. This can usually be initially identified by a rattling sound. Again Nissan offers a replacement to address this issue.

Interior:

There’s are reports that the brakes randomly activate due to a faulty or overly sensitive AEB system, and this is most notable on 2018 models. What is more concerning is that it’s not a gradual input either, it’s said to be quite sudden and violent.

There was also a recall regarding a problem with selecting “park” so just make sure that recall has been seen to.

Mechanically:

By far the biggest concern with the Leaf are the batteries.

Nissan Leafs (or leaves) only have air cooling for the batteries. Other electric cars (like Teslas for example) have a liquid cooled battery. Lithium-ion batteries & heat are not friends. Therefore, in a hot climate like here in Australia that can result in a significant drop in battery performance and longevity.

It should be noted, if you’re looking to buy one you can actually check the battery condition.

On earlier models you count the bars on the main battery display (not the current charge state or percentage). It’s the narrow bars on the side that tell you the battery’s overall health. The later models will require you to scroll through the dash display pages and look for the battery lifetime capacity (again, not the battery’s charge percentage) This is very important to find out before you buy a Leaf.

Typically, 10 bars or more on the scale is what you’re looking for. If the battery is near the end of its life, they can be replaced but it’s not cheap. Nissan Australia are offering exchange batteries for early models for around $10,000.

With the Leaf not being incredibly common here in Australia, second-hand batteries are near impossible to source however in other regions where they are more popular, second hand replacement and even upgraded batteries can be a viable option.

Engines and drivelines (we should say motors) are generally maintenance free and they rarely if ever fail. Thanks to a lack of traditional transmission, there are no concerns with gearboxes or clutches and even the brakes last 3 or 4 times longer than non-electric cars thanks to the regenerative braking doing most of the work.

Recalls:

  • 23 May 2021 – The welded joint on the actuator plate may fail during use. It affected 152 Nissan Leafs built from 2019 to 2020.

Should you buy it?

Well at current used Leaf asking prices, it does have some competition to consider.

At the lower end of the pricing spectrum you could buy a 2019 Hyundai Ioniq, a 2021 MG ZS EV or even a 2014 or 15 BMW i3 which like the Leaf, all have their positives and negatives.

For example the Leaf is arguably more visually appealing than the Ionic, the MG has a few question marks hanging over it in terms of quality and longevity and the BMW is a fair chunk smaller.

But at the upper end of the Leaf pricing range, the competition becomes extremely tempting with the likes of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2021 Mazda MX-30 and even 2021 Tesla Model 3.

With that lineup like that, you’d really really want to love a Leaf to buy one over the Kona, MX-30 or Tesla.

However while the Leaf does make for a great car in general, if you should buy one really comes down to how long you intend to keep it for.

If you’re thinking short term and selling it in 3 to 5 years, yes, buy one, they are a genuinely good thing.

However, if you plan on keeping it any longer than that is potentially risky as there are still quite a few question marks hovering over the batteries and their replacement costs when they eventually run out.

Well at current used Leaf asking prices, it does have some competition to consider.

At the lower end of the pricing spectrum you could buy a 2019 Hyundai Ioniq, a 2021 MG ZS EV or even a 2014 or 15 BMW i3 which like the Leaf, all have their positives and negatives.

For example the Leaf is arguably more visually appealing than the Ionic, the MG has a few question marks hanging over it in terms of quality and longevity and the BMW is a fair chunk smaller.

But at the upper end of the Leaf pricing range, the competition becomes extremely tempting with the likes of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2021 Mazda MX-30 and even 2021 Tesla Model 3.

With that lineup like that, you’d really really want to love a Leaf to buy one over the Kona, MX-30 or Tesla.

However while the Leaf does make for a great car in general, if you should buy one really comes down to how long you intend to keep it for.

If you’re thinking short term and selling it in 3 to 5 years, yes, buy one, they are a genuinely good thing.

However, if you plan on keeping it any longer than that is potentially risky as there are still quite a few question marks hovering over the batteries and their replacement costs when they eventually run out.

Should you buy it?

Well at current used Leaf asking prices, it does have some competition to consider.

At the lower end of the pricing spectrum you could buy a 2019 Hyundai Ioniq, a 2021 MG ZS EV or even a 2014 or 15 BMW i3 which like the Leaf, all have their positives and negatives.

For example the Leaf is arguably more visually appealing than the Ionic, the MG has a few question marks hanging over it in terms of quality and longevity and the BMW is a fair chunk smaller.

But at the upper end of the Leaf pricing range, the competition becomes extremely tempting with the likes of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2021 Mazda MX-30 and even 2021 Tesla Model 3.

With that lineup like that, you’d really really want to love a Leaf to buy one over the Kona, MX-30 or Tesla.

However while the Leaf does make for a great car in general, if you should buy one really comes down to how long you intend to keep it for.

If you’re thinking short term and selling it in 3 to 5 years, yes, buy one, they are a genuinely good thing.

However, if you plan on keeping it any longer than that is potentially risky as there are still quite a few question marks hovering over the batteries and their replacement costs when they eventually run out.

Need help with finance?

What is the car's build year?

2020

Loan Amount

$5,000

Finance estimate ~

$30

Per week*

8.49%

Comparison rate p.a#

Models, pricing & features

Nissan Leaf-8

Leaf

Price when new: $49,990 - $50,990

Price used: $27,000 - $45,700

Released in 2017 globally, the Nissan Leaf did not arrive on Australian shores until April 2019. Featuring a 40kWh electric motor, the Leaf came equipped with a variety of comfort and luxury features such as leather/suede seats, heated seats, climate control, LED lights, BOSE sound system as well as a 5-star ANCAP safety rating thanks to six airbags, ISOFIX points and a variety of active safety features like AEB, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist.

Standard Features:

  • Four drive modes with ECO Mode
  • e-Pedal
  • Shift-by-wire drive selector
  • Intelligent trace control
  • Intelligent ride control
  • AC Type 2 and DC CHAdeMO charging ports
  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Body coloured bumper bars
  • Black coloured side mirrors
  • Chrome door handles
  • 5-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2018)
  • 6 airbags: driver and front passenger, front side impact and full-length curtain airbags,
  • 3-point (lap sash) seatbelt for all occupants
  • Height adjustable seatbelts for driver and front passenger
  • Seat pretensioners and load limiters for for driver and front passenger
  • ISOFIX points for all rear seats
  • Child seat anchor points
  • Seatbelt reminder for driver and front passenger’s seat
  • Headrests for all occupants
  • Active head restraints for driver and front passenger
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
  • Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)
  • Brake assist
  • Electronic stability program (ESP)
  • Traction control
  • Hill start assist (HSA)
  • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – low speed
  • Forward collision warning (FCW)
  • Blind spot monitoring (BSM)
  • Lane keeping assist
  • Front cross traffic alert
  • Fatigue warning/alert
  • Driver fatigue monitoring system
  • Speed sign recognition
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Reversing camera – in infotainment system
  • Reversing camera with grid lines
  • 360 degree camera
  • Electrochromatic rear vision mirror
  • Heated side mirrors
  • Electrically folding side mirrors
  • Electric windows – front and rear with driver’s auto up/down function
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • LED headlights
  • LED front fog lights
  • Automatic headlights
  • Auto high-beam (also known as high beam assist)
  • Coming/leaving home function
  • Daytime running lights (DRL)
  • Interior lights – interior lights, reading lights and rear map lights
  • Rain sensing (auto) wipers
  • Proximity entry
  • Push button start
  • Alarm
  • 7-inch driver’s display and trip computer
  • Power steering
  • Steering wheel – tilt (up/down) adjust
  • Multi-functional leather sterring wheel
  • Single-zone climate control
  • Leather upholstery with suede inserts
  • Manually adjustable driver’s and front passenger’s seat
  • Seat heating: driver and front passenger
  • 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • 7-speaker BOSE sound system
  • DAB+ digital radio
  • Bluetooth connectivity – phone and audio streaming
  • Satellite navigation
  • Apple CarPlay – wired
  • Android Auto – wired
  • Front USB ports
  • Front cup holders
  • Centre console storage
  • Glovebox
  • Front seat map pockets
  • Sunglasses holder
  • Vanity mirror for driver and front passenger
  • 60:40 rear folding seats
  • Cargo net
  • Under floor storage

e+

Price when new: $60,490 - $61,490

Price used: $34,900 - $54,100

The e+ was released in 2021, and featured a larger electric motor (62kWh) resulting in a slightly more powerful output and a longer WLTP combined cycle range of 385km vs 270km on the standard Leaf. Standard equipment remains identical to the base-model Leaf.

Additional Features:

62kWh electric motor

Tech specs

Body Style:
5-door hatchback

Engines:

  • 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Power:

  • 110kW – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 160kW – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Torque:

  • 320Nm – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 340Nm – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Transmission & drivetrains:

1-speed automatic gearbox, front-wheel drive (FWD)

Range:

  • 270km – WLTP combined cycle (Leaf)
  • 385km – WLTP combined cycle (e+)

Length:
4490mm

Width:
1788mm

Height:
1540mm

Kerb Weight:
1580 – 1736kg

Body Style:
5-door hatchback

Engines:

  • 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Power:

  • 110kW – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 160kW – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Torque:

  • 320Nm – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 340Nm – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Transmission & drivetrains:

1-speed automatic gearbox, front-wheel drive (FWD)

Range:

  • 270km – WLTP combined cycle (Leaf)
  • 385km – WLTP combined cycle (e+)

Length:
4490mm

Width:
1788mm

Height:
1540mm

Kerb Weight:
1580 – 1736kg

Body Style:
5-door hatchback

Engines:

  • 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Power:

  • 110kW – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 160kW – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Torque:

  • 320Nm – 40kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (Leaf)
  • 340Nm – 62kWh electric motor with lithium-ion battery (e+)

Transmission & drivetrains:

1-speed automatic gearbox, front-wheel drive (FWD)

Range:

  • 270km – WLTP combined cycle (Leaf)
  • 385km – WLTP combined cycle (e+)

Length:
4490mm

Width:
1788mm

Height:
1540mm

Kerb Weight:
1580 – 1736kg

Warranty & servicing

Warranty:

5 years/unlimited kms

Servicing:

12 months/20,000kms

Buying a used car? Buy a PPSR report first.

Have ultimate peace of mind when buying a used car by purchasing an official PPSR report.

In the market?

Disclaimer

Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.

Information correct as of September 30, 2022.

The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

Related Blog Articles Latest from ReDriven Blog

Join the ReDriven Community

You are the best, the content in your videos is so helpful, delivered in a great way. Please keep going as for sure you are unique in every way. All the best from Guatemala

L. G. - YouTube

You guys have truly found something wonderful… Loved this channel ever since from the beginning… Will support you guys as long as you guys keep making these wonderful car reviews…

Calvin - YouTube

This is probably the best channel I have ever seen when reviewing vehicles. New or old. The honesty is so appreciated. I’ve been a mechanic for 20 years and I find it very informative when looking for a vehicle for my daughter. Keep up the awesome work.

Jason T. - YouTube

© 2024 ReDriven All Rights Reserved