The 2021 Nissan Leaf gets a lot right. Its range of 150 or 226 miles, depending on the model, is sufficient for most EV shoppers. It's also quiet and has some useful technology features that can make driving in heavy traffic easier and less tiring.
Part of the second Leaf generation introduced for 2018
What is the Leaf?
The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric hatchback that has a 147-horsepower electric motor and 150 miles of estimated driving range. There's also the Leaf Plus that increases output to 214 hp and extends its range to 226 miles. The original Leaf debuted in 2011 and this second-generation model was fully redesigned in 2018. Since it's only three years into its current generation, we don't expect a refresh until next year. (Nissan tends to update styling and add significant features after four years.)
That means if you're considering a Nissan Leaf, you probably won't be missing out on much by opting for the 2020 model. That said, if the refresh does indeed happen for 2022, it's likely the Leaf will benefit from an increase in battery range. Since range is one of the most significant factors for any EV, you may want to check out the competition if you can't wait.
Edmunds says
The Nissan Leaf is one of the most affordable electric vehicles you can buy today. It currently places fifth in Edmunds' rankings thanks to its quick acceleration, a generous list of standard driver assistants, and decent battery range. It does suffer with some interior quirks that include a non-telescoping steering wheel, limited personal-item storage, and rear seats that don't fold.
As good as the Leaf is, we suggest checking out the top-ranked Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt too. They're a little more expensive but offer enough advantages to make them worth it.
According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.
Estimated battery warranty remaining is 4 years or 44,000 miles for this car.
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
$7,850
Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.
Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.
For the vehicle to qualify:
Price cannot exceed $25,000.
Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
Restrictions: Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Edmunds visitors receive a $100 discount when they contract with Treehouse for their home charger installation. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
This is our second leaf. We had a 2017 SL with the 30kwh battery. It did cause us some range anxiety, surely at first. My wife was very skeptical regarding that car. We made it work and drove it 14,000 miles from July 2017 to April 2018 before we traded it in on the 2018. The new car is so significantly different, my wife prefers driving this car over our luxury sedan. I enjoy … driving this car as well. With the free charging at local charging stations, it is a no brainer if you are into saving money on fuel cost. I have 16,000 miles on this car now, since April 2018, I have spent $65 on a cabin air filter two weeks ago, and that's it. I have done only the free tire rotations as scheduled, otherwise the only reason it goes to the dealership is to charge as I am in the area. I get free refreshments, and hang out for a bit. The dealer I bought it from also has detailed my car twice for me during the maintenance trips. I can't explain how easy this car is to own. I have an 8.1kw solar panel system on my house, so for my wife who's not into waiting around to charge, it doesn't cost me anything to charge at home. I mean it is free. I do not have an electric energy bill since last year when it was installed. We have bought two of these leafs, qualified for all the tax rebates, which from the fed alone was $15,000 combined on our tax return, the state of Colorado gave us $10,000 combined at the time of purchase, and Xcel energy gave us $10,000 straight off the top of the first leaf, but nothing on the second as we chose the zero percent interest loan for the 2018. So we basically got a car for free. We have driven about 30,000 of the easiest and cheapest miles in two nicely equipped Nissan's. I do not plan on trading in the 2018, it gets 150 miles of range in a normal temperature, which is sufficient for the driving we do. I look forward to getting the SL Plus for the times we need the added range. I will be quite happy trading in my BMW, and not missing it... too much.
September 2019: Update
We now have just over 23000 miles on the 2018 Leaf. I would say this has been a fair amount of time to really get to know this car. I will say that it still is a very easy car to own. We have done next to no maintenance. I've rotated the tires twice and taken it in for a rattle in which they removed the full dashboard to finally solve the rattle mystery, something to do with an airbag bolt, and also got a new nissan windshield a couple weeks ago due to a stone chip. Either way, still charging when possible at the local EVGO or the like charging stations. It's quite nice not paying for fuel. The car has held up well, everything still works.
Great EV, just don't pay MSRP/Tesla prices
5 out of 5 stars
Tori, 06/02/2021
2020 Nissan LEAF SL PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
Nissan is currently (June 2021) giving thousands of dollars in incentives, plus state and federal credits that can bring a fully-loaded Leaf Plus down to ~$25,000 or less. At a $42k+ sticker price, it doesn't impress compared to a Model 3, but at $25k after incentives and tax credits, it's a fantastic value with 200+ mile range and lots of great features.
Things I love:
Cheapest car on … the market with ProPilot's capabilities
Cheapest 200+ mile EV
Single-pedal driving feels great in stop and go
Very spacious trunk (coming from a Prius Prime this is wonderful)
Surprisingly powerful motor on the Plus trims (equivalent to the Bolt)
Android auto
Physical controls for climate control (as opposed to on the touch screen)
Things I don't love that you'll have to evaluate to see if they're deal breakers:
Center console sticks into the legroom more than I'd like, but seats are otherwise comfortable
Visibility around the A-pillar is so-so
No option to automatically stop charging at a certain percentage
Touch screen can feel unresponsive at times
A Solid Alternative to Tesla Nation Etc.
4 out of 5 stars
EV Guy in CA , 09/30/2020
2020 Nissan LEAF SL PLUS 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
One year of ownership on the books - and the Leaf has officially become a welcome member of the household. It has done this by providing a fun and reasonably quick driving experience, perfect reliability, delivering its 225 mile range as advertised, and just having a cheeky presence on the road.
I'm a former Tesla owner, so there's no need to explain how the Leaf can't touch the … 0-to-60 figures of anything from the Tesla stable. The SL model has plenty of oomph to zip around town, merge onto the freeway, and cruise along at the typical 75-to-80 mph range on the California highways. Innovation is swell, but it's also pleasant it is to own a car with a traditional dealer network standing behind it. Service appointments are quick and painless, and accessories (extra floor mats etc) are easily attainable. Over the air updates are not part of the equation. But when the car needed a software update for the audio system, I was OK having a Latte for an hour while the dealership did its thing.
If you're a heavy road-tripper, the Leaf likely isn't your best choice. But if you have a 240V fast-charge in the garage, the Leaf fits the bill as a perfect commuter option, with enough range to head to the wineries, lakes, golf courses (yeah - this is Northern CA) for your typical day trip.
There are a few de-merits out there. After a year of tweaking and playing with the audio system, it's still not very impressive for a Bose branded system. Bass and depth are limited, more in line with what I would expect for a "base" audio option. It's still annoying that Nissan cheaped out and didn't include a power passenger seat. And there's some work to do with brake feel. It feels a bit more golf cart than sporty sedan.
On the other hand, single pedal driving is easy and intuitive when the car is in the "Eco-Drive" mode. The intuitive cruise control works like a charm, and I love the 360-camera view option.
Balance it all out, and the Leaf impresses as an EV with that ingrained reliability and careful fit and finish we have come to expect from the Japanese automakers. If you need extended range, this obviously isn't your best choice. But for a price around 30K (purchase price after discounts and Federal / CA incentives), we're quite pleased, and would definitely consider another Nissan EV down the line.
Good commuter car, not so good for road trips
3 out of 5 stars
New LEAF owner, 12/02/2019
2019 Nissan LEAF SV 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
My wife and I love the car for local driving. It is ideal for my 18 mile round trip commute. I installed a level 2 charger at home so keeping charged is easy and there are chargers at work. Although the range is listed as 150-160, in winter 100 miles is more realistic. Cold weather battery performance, heat, headlights, and driving over 60mph really decrease the range. An … inconveniently out of service Level 3 charger turned our 3 hour drive home from thanksgiving into a 7 hour marathon of hunting for working chargers and driving at 50 without heat to stretch the battery. We’ll take our Honda Fit for the next trip over 50 miles. Get the Plus if you can justify the extra $7000
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Nissan LEAF, so we've included reviews for other years of the LEAF since its last redesign.
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