Used 2014 Nissan LEAF Consumer Reviews
Updated June 2025 98K+ and 60+ mpc
I purchased my used 2013 Leaf in February 2017 at a Carmax after testing about 3 EV's and doing a lot of research and homework. The EV Blogs are great as you hear directly from the consumers. Very informative. Plenty of Youtube tales as well which can be fun. Loads of good content about the experience, including upsides and downsides. Update June 2025: Passed 98k miles. 9 of 12 bars still appear, get a full charge each night on Level 1 charger that came with car and each day the Level 2 charger at my office. More municipal spaces have generic Level 2 charging stations. Also seeing so many non-Teslas in our area. Rivians are very popular EVs here, plus Nissans, Kias, Chevys, BMWs, and hybrids from Honda, Toyota, Jeep, Hyundai, and Volvo are common to see charging. Coworkers, friends, family and neighbors have traded in Teslas for other less controversial EVs. Also more people expressed interest in next car being EV or hybrid—imagine not choking on fumes in traffic and less noise—glad consumers are speaking with their dollars. I see young and old driving EVs, and I still have new EV drivers come up and ask questions as they like some reassurances they made a good move. When I tell folks my 12 year old Leaf has nearly 100k miles and 75% of original battery life most are reassured considering they all drive NextGen cars that go much farther. There are upsides and downsides to EV ownership and driving. Some upsides--zippy to drive, quiet, eco-friendly, no gas/no oil/no emissions, heated steering wheel & seats (front & back), A/C and Heat are quick to get to optimal temperatures, and inexpensive to own/charge. Also many places have free or inexpensive charging (ie. work, some local shops & eateries, golf course). The downsides of the used Leaf: Tires--you go through tires faster, and in Cold months you get 50-60% distance. So on coldest days this winter I would get 35-50 miles per full charge. Back in warmer weather the battery meter on the dash still wants to suggest I can get 70 miles per charge but it is closer to mid 60s. There are apps for your phone that help you find nearby available chargers, and you can subscribe (like with EZ Pass) for those most convenient charging stations for your daily charging needs. Once you get a sense of how far things are from one charge point to another it will be less stressful and car insurance comes with towing so worst case (like running out of charge) you can get it towed to a charging station (or home if you are close enough). If I were in my 20s-30s and living in an Urban area, this car would be perfect, would just need to find some regular charging spaces, unless renting a house with an outdoor outlet for the Level 1 charger. I am seeing more and more EV's (every kind) and it is great to see so many older model Leaf EVs out there. The 2013 Leaf may be like the Model T of EV's, but it keeps chugging along and as long as it can make the trip I will keep driving it. I bought this car with 31K miles on it and in the 8 years I've had it I've put over 60k miles on it (was working remote for much of 2019-2022 which explains less than 8K a year mileage). I know it may seem like a scary proposition but the newer cars are making it even easier to charge, providing greater distance, and if you are a shrewd shopper and dealmaker (hint: get preapproved for the price you want to pay for the car and then show up at the dealership with check in hand and explain that is all you were approved for-they want to get cars off the lot and people walking away and down the street to another dealer isn't good for business. Don't forget in most parking garages the primo parking spaces are reserved for EVs. There are also a number of financial incentives worth looking into (between rebates/tax credits for buying a new EV and rebates/reimbursement for 50% of cost of installation of a Level 2 charger at your home). You may or may not have strong feelings one way or the other about the environment, but it is the only planet our children and theirs will get to live on, we need to find common ground with one another and preserving our planet for future generations seems like a worthy cause that anyone and everyone can and should get behind. This isn't THE solution, it is part of a larger conversation and solution. Just as PIE isn't the full meal . . . (unless you are a dessert only person, in which case, respect). Alright, off the pulpit. Just remember doing good, feels good, and feeling good is better than feeling bad. Original content: There are other reasons to buy one---with projected growth in the EV market, there is no better time to own one---the ratio of charging stations to EV cars on the road will never be better than it is right now. The Leaf is optimal when going out to shop (easier to park), and has plenty of space (hatchback for family of 5 worth of groceries), and working from home--would be surprised how many trips to store one charge gets you, even if only charging to 80% capacity. If you are in the market for a 2nd car for the family and have a reasonable commute, or new drivers, or in a suburb/urban area, it's worth checking out---one thing don't expect salespeople at dealerships to know much about them---do your own research, test drive as many as they have---check for EV Level 1 charger (standard in cars), Get them to charge to 100% and take a substantial test drive, running heat or AC, and see how comfortable you are with the mileage. I think most people will enjoy the ride itself, it's a commuter car, and I've had several commuter cars--this is the best. When idling in traffic you basically use no energy unless running heat or A/C. No exhaust fumes, no gas smells, no engine smells (from oil or other fluids). And no state emissions tests. Best of luck with car buying decision.
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DC fast charger not needed, but 6.6KW is a must!
Had the car for 1300 miles and 1 month. Great car. Purchased after I got tired of waiting for the new Smart ED which had repeated delays. We got the base S model with the $1300 DC Fast Charge option. SL, SV models come with the 6.6KW onboard charger that charges your car at about 30% per hour. The old 3.3KW charger (still standard on the S) gives you about half that charging rate meaning you'll be forced to wait longer when charging out in town. This is a huge deal! The fast charge option adds the high speed DC charge 30 mins 0-80% and upgrades the 3.3kw to the 6.6kw onboard. That is a big deal! In hindsight, prob should have just gotten the mid-grade Leaf with the 6.6w charger.
- S 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,59827 mi away
- S 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $3,49933 mi away
- SV 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,99538 mi away
Don't lease a LEAF!!!
At first when I leased my 2012 Leaf it was the coolest car around. I told all of my friend and before I knew it 6 of my colleagues at work had also leased the Leaf. Man do I wish I'd have waited!!! Now I can't even use the car because of range anxiety. I am getting about 40 miles per full charge for a car that only has about 9000 miles on it. Ridiculous!!! Not even close to the 106 miles on the New car sticker. And yes Range anxiety is REAL- believe me when the meter starts to get near the red mark and you still have about 10 miles to go you get real nervous very fast!! I would NEVER lease another LEAF again.!! Nissan says that this is normal for the car!! Really! 40 miles for a charge!!
Electrifying experiment
Great for everyday average short trips(40 miles) one way. Plug into 110 outlet everynite like one does a cell phone. 5 years of use and never ran out of power. Can experience EV without big cost. Drive into future.
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The best valued car on the market
I got tired of paying $250 a month for gas and just about $1000/month for maintenance and repairs on my gas vehicle and bought a used 2013 Leaf S. My one-way commute is just about 40 miles, I have charging stations at work. Vehicle was awesome (I still miss it), but I missed cruise control and the heating was inefficient. Anyway, local dealer had a great deal on a 2018 Leaf SV and I really needed a tax credit. It's the best vehicle I have owned in my lifetime. I smoke gas cars from the lights, it's maneuverable, it has an intelligent cruise (holds lane, distance to the car in front and speed), it saved itself when somebody cut in front of me and braked hard - vehicle stopped itself before I was able to react. Touchscreen is a bit overloaded, but I got used to it. It's more comfortable than my 2014 Explorer and surprisingly has more leg room in front and rear seats. Overall - a great car.
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