The Nissan leaf is offered in three different trims across various close but different price points; the base S model starts at $28, 980 and has a 24-kWh battery. The SV trim priced at $32, 000 is offered with the same battery but with a better 6. 6-kWh charger than the 3. 6-kWh charger on the S trim and finally at $35, 020 comes the range topping SL trim with the same battery pack but more features that can be considered premium. 

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We would likely recommend the SV trim that stands between the most basic and the most equipped models, the reasons would not seem too deep as the feature rich SL trim might draw more juice from the battery and the basic S trim just is too basic. The price too seems satisfactory and the faster charger is an added advantage.

The 2014 Nissan Leaf does not have an engine in particular since it is an electric car but it rather comes equipped with an 80 kW AC electric motor paired to a 24 Kwh Li-ion battery that is mated to 1-speed direct-drive transmission. The motor is capable of producing 107hp and 187lb-ft of torque. The car has a top speed of 84mph.

All the cars here use the same drivetrain and the transmission setup. The Chevy is the fastest here clocking 7.9 and 16.4 seconds in the 60 MPH and quarter-mile run, respectively. It is also the most powerful with nearly 140 horsepower on tap with the torque starting almost instantaneously.

The Leaf is quite an efficient car that is returning 126 MPGe in the city, however on the highway the returns come down to 101 MPGe and this results in a range of 84 miles. The Leaf S has a 24-kWh battery, the upper two trims come with a stronger 6.6 kW charger. This bigger battery also aids the Leaf in squeezing out more miles from the battery pack, increasing the range as well.

The Fiat 500e is the most efficient car here, returning more range while equipping a 21-kWh battery pack. On the other hand, the Spark EV returns more MPGe but lesser range as compared to the other cars in the comparison. The Leaf falls somewhere in between, while being not too different from the others in terms of battery capacity.

The 2014 Nissan Leaf has a spacious cabin and the battery pack is smartly placed underneath the cabin in order to make no compromises in the cabin space. The interior features cloth trimmed seats in the lower variants, while the higher-end trims get leather-covered seats. There is ample headroom available for taller people; the Leaf has a cargo capacity of 23.6 cu-ft, which is pretty good considering the segment. 

The Spark EV and 500e can seat four passengers only. The Fiat is the smallest car in the segment with the least legroom on offer and a rather small cargo capacity, making it the least usable for longer drives. The Spark EV has almost a similar amount of space but also lacks considerably in cargo space. The Leaf’s interiors are roomy with some of the highlights being:

• Steering Mounted Controls
• Tilt Steering Wheel
• Single Zone Front Climate Control
• Cruise Control (Available on all except the base trim)
• Trunk Light
• Front and Rear Cupholders

How intuitive is the 2014 Nissan Leaf’s infotainment unit?

The Leaf comes with a 7” multi-touch control system with inbuilt navigation and infotainment. This system is not the best one out there but works decently smoothly to ensure that the task is being done well. The base trim comes with four speakers, there is a six speaker system offered in the middle spec and the top trim comes with Bose speaker system. Some other important infotainment features include:

• Satellite Radio
• USB Connection
• AM/FM Stereo
• Mast Antenna
• Smartphone Integration 
• Premium Sound System 

The Nissan leaf for this year looks just like it’s previous iteration. It still has the potential to be disliked from the outside thanks to the bizarre headlamps in the front and the weird mix of the hatchback look with a sedan boot and the cargo area of the car seems to be outside the car itself. The car has a peculiar and a shouting out appearance and offers something different from its rivals that follow the traditional car styling. 

The Spark EV and 500e are lighter than the Leaf while also being smaller in dimensions, even though the Spark EV being the tallest car in the segment. The wheelbases of the Spark EV and 500e are also shorter than the Leaf which gives the Leaf an advantage of being a roomy car and also boasting of the segment’s biggest cargo space. Some exterior highlights include: 

• Rear Spoiler
• Splash Guards
• 16/17-inch All season tires
• Alloy Wheels

The Nissan Leaf has basic price adequate features that include brake assist, traction control, and child safety locks. As standard, 4-wheel disc brakes are standard on all trims of the car and that grants it with decent halting distance in the braking tests. Other safety features include:

• Tire-Pressure Monitoring System
• Engine Immobilizer
• Anti-Theft Alarm System
• Electronic Stability Control
• Front and Rear Head Airbags
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

The 2014 Nissan Leaf is a really good alternative to the constantly growing Electric car market, it has the potential to be a great car to introduce you to the EV world as it is very affordable, practical, spacious, safe and reliable. The features offered in a car of this size is commendable as well. This car might just turn out to be a great value for money.