2020 Nissan Leaf electric

The Leaf is powered by a 40-kWh battery and 147-HP electric motor combo, which has a claimed range of over 200 miles. There is also a more powerful 63-kWh battery and 215-HP motor combo. However, if you love those highway drives, then the EV side of the market might not suit you at the moment. If you try to extract all these horses from the motor, the charge gets depleted quickly. Still, for everyday driving, these are quite fine vehicles.

Electric Vehicles, or EVs, are slowly gaining traction in the market, owing to the spreading awareness among manufacturers and consumers alike. EVs are better for the environment than conventional cars, because of emissions, or lack thereof. Sure, the electricity used in such cars may have come from fossil fuels as well, but renewable energy sources are on the rise too.

Nissan Leaf offers three trim levels namely- S, SV and SL and all under a price range of $36,200. A 147 hp AC Synchronous Motor is standard across the range. Some of the standard features are a 7-inch infotainment system, automatic temperature control, and standard automatic emergency braking.

Trim	S	SV	SL
MSRP	$29,990	$32,420	$36,200
Key Features	110 kW AC synchronous electric motor	17-inch Machine-finished aluminum-alloy wheels	Portable charge cable (120 V/240 V): Plug into a 240-V wall outlet – no charging box required
	Automatic Temperature Control	Nissan Navigation System	Leather-appointed seats
	Standard Automatic Emergency Braking	Apple CarPlay and Android Auto	Blind Spot Warning
	Rear diffuser	NissanConnect EV with Services powered by SiriusXM with complimentary trial access to 3-year EV and Select and 6-month Premium Plus packages	Intelligent Around View Monitor
	Bose Energy Efficient Series Premium Audio System with seven speakers	-	-

We recommend

All of the trim levels of Nissan Leaf come in almost the same driving range and offer almost the same performance. We will recommend the base model of Leaf with some of the additional features like a DC fast-charging port and portable charge cables.

With its more powerful electric motor, the second-generation Nissan Leaf feels far more at home when jockeying for position in traffic than the original car, which was a bit of a slug. Its general smoothness, competent chassis demeanor and steering feel will be utterly familiar to Leaf veterans.-Edmunds

Leaf uses an electric motor to drive the wheels instead of a gasoline engine, hence the name ‘electric car’. Its AC Synchronous Motor produces 147 Horsepower and 236 Pound-feet of torque. If these numbers don’t catch your fancy, well, you’re in luck! Nissan now offers a more powerful motor in the ‘Plus’ trim, 215 HP to be exact. The improved power helps with drivability, and it also gets a better range than the standard model.

The biggest problem with electric cars is the charging time. With a standard 110 Volt outlet, the Leaf will attain a full charge in a staggering 35 hours. If you do plan on using your car for daily errands though, there is a better charging method. A quick charging outlet will give the car enough juice for 90 miles in just 30 minutes, which is a lot more practical.

Models	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
MSRP	$30,885	$37,495	$44,450	$34,945	$22,460
Engine	AC Synchronous Motor	AC permanent magnet motor	130 Kw Electric Motor	131 Kw AC Motor	1.5L i4 Gas/Electric
Transmission	1-speed direct drive	1-speed direct drive	1-speed direct drive	1-speed direct drive	Continuously variable automatic
Horsepower	147 hp@ 3282rpm	200 hp	170 hp@ 4800rpm	109 hp@ 8000rpm	99 hp @4800rpm
Torque	236 ft-lbs.	266 ft-lbs.	184 ft-bs	210 ft-lbs.	82 ft-lbs.@ 4000rpm

Chevrolet Bolt is a surprisingly powerful electric car, with a 200 Horsepower motor. Then there is the BMW i3, which is the one of the only two products in BMW’s i-series of cars. The i3 is an electric car but gets a range-extender 3-cylinder gasoline engine that charges the battery when your electric charge runs low.

There’s also Kia’s electric vehicle, the Soul EV wagon/hatchback. With just 109 Horsepower max output, it is on the lower end of the spectrum. For comparison purpose, there is Prius C included here, Toyota’s compact hybrid hatchback, just to check how the purely electric cars stack against a similar hybrid car.

Acceleration

Testing performance in environment friendly cars is extremely counter-intuitive, as you end up not using the car in a sustainable way. The faster the charge runs out, the faster you have to search for a charging port. Also, electric cars are a mixed bag in terms of acceleration. You get instant torque from the electric motors, which gives you blinding acceleration for a moment.

Then, when the motor reaches the peak output, you’d be left wishing for more juice. Nissan Leaf is just the same, with the ‘Plus’ being a little better, but still the same. 

Models	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
0-60 MPH	7.2	6.5 sec	7.2 sec	N/A	10.6 sec
Quarter mile	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Emission	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.8

Ride and Handling

The ride and handling of the Leaf aren’t particularly impressive. The steering doesn’t weigh up when the speed rises, and the feedback is minimal. The low mounted battery does give it a low center of gravity, which inspires quite a lot of confidence, although the skinny tires don't offer much grip. The lack of pesky clutch pedals and gear shifters does make life easy in the cities. To be honest, with its simple controls, driving the Leaf feels more like playing a videogame.

With its more powerful electric motor, the second-generation Nissan Leaf feels far more at home when jockeying for position in traffic than the original car, which was a bit of a slug. Its general smoothness, competent chassis demeanor, and steering feel will be utterly familiar to Leaf veterans.

Braking

To decelerate gently, you need not use the brake pedal, as you would in a conventional car. Instead, just roll off the accelerator, and the car will convert your motion (kinetic energy) into battery charge (electrical energy). When the need to shed speed is high though, you can depress the pedal and disc brake setup on all four wheels gets engaged. With left foot hard on the pedal, this car comes to a dead stop at a distance of 128 feet, which is average.

Model	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
Brake Front (in.)	11.1	11	11	11.1	10
Brake Rear (in.)	11.5	10	11	11.8	9
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3433	3563	2965	3289	2530
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

For 2020, the standard Nissan Leaf offers a 40-kWh battery pack, same as the last year. What’s new in 2020 Leaf is the optional larger 62-kWh battery. The standard model gives a range of only 151 miles on a full charge, much less than the rivals, while the ‘Plus’ offers 226 miles of range, almost on par with Chevy Bolt and Kia Niro. The car reaches up to 80% charge in just 40 minutes with the help of a fast charge.

Model	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
MPGe (city)	124	128	129	124	48
MPGe (highway)	99	110	106	93	43
MPGe (combined)	112	119	118	108	46
Tank Capacity (gal)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	9.5

The [Nissan Leaf’s] seats are plush and accommodating, the back seat provides plenty of space for two adults, and the large rear cargo area isn't completely gobbled up by the battery pack since the Leaf was designed from the outset as an electric vehicle.-CarandDriver

Seating and Comfort

With generous exterior dimensions, you get plenty of space inside. You can carry 4 passengers apart from the driver, bringing the total to 5 people, in comfort. 2020 Leaf is one of the most comfortable EVs in the market right now. Owing to the lack of an engine, there is no engine sound in the cabin. Even the road and wind noises are kept to a minimum, although they do get prominent at speed.

You do get better interiors in its premium rival, the BMW, although it does demand some serious cash premium over the little Nissan. The Chevy EV though, doesn’t offer any significant improvement in interiors.

Model	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
Passenger capacity	5	5	4	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	41.2/54.3/42.1	39.7/54.6/41.6	39.6/53.6/40.5	39.6/55.5/40.9	41.7/52.3/37.0
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.3/52.5/33.3	37.9/52.8/36.5	37.2/49.2/31.9	39.5/54.7/36.0	37.0/51.7/35.0

Interior Features

• Dual-zone automatic temperature control
• Rear passenger air conditioning vents
• Rear door alert
• Nissan intelligent key with push-button ignition
• Remote engine start system
• Tilt and telescoping steering column
• Variable intermittent speed-sensitive windshield wipers
• Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extensions
• Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror

Infotainment

Nissan Leaf has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports AM/FM, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

• 7.0-inch Infotainment System (8.0-inch display is optional on ‘Plus’)
• Automatic Temperature Control
• Aerodynamic underbody panels
• Nissan Navigation System
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Portable Charge Cables (120 V/ 240 V)
• Leather-Appointed seats
• Premium Audio System with seven speakers
• Intelligent Around View Monitor

The navigation system of the car gives real-time traffic information with the help of satellite radio.

Cargo volume

The new Nissan has a very useful trunk, contrary to what cars usually offer in the segment. The battery pack is mounted low in the car, and thus the space in the trunk is kept free for cargo. The Leaf offers 23.6 cubic feet, which is almost the best in segment.

Model	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	23.6	16.9	36.9	18.8	17.1

In keeping with the new oddness-reduced external style, the cabin is now more visually orthodox. The instruments have relatively subdued graphics, while offering a cornucopia of factoids on journey, energy, assistance and entertainment.-Top Gear

Design and Dimensions

The little Nissan is quite compact, at just over 176 inches and 70 inches in length and width. The compact dimensions sadly have a lot of metal hidden underneath, 3433 pounds of curb weight. The Leaf offers a ground clearance of 5.9 inches, which is great for a city car. Off-roading is a strict no-no, but you could take it over broken roads just fine.

Model	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon	Toyota Prius C L hatchback
Curb weight (lbs.)	3433	3563	2965	3289	2530
Length(in)	176.4	164.0	158.3	163.0	162.4
Width(in)	70.5	69.5	69.9	70.9	68.6
Height(in)	61.4	62.8	62.9	63.0	59.6
Ground clearance (in)	5.9	N/A	N/A	5.9	5.5
Wheelbase (in)	106.3	102.4	101.2	101.2	100.4
Track width (in) F/R	60.6/61.2	59.1/59.1	61.9/62	62/62.4	58.5/58.1

With the 2018 redesign, the Nissan Leaf now looks a little prettier than the previous gen-model. The new design is surprisingly similar to the new Altima sedan, making the Leaf look more like an Altima based Hatchback. The headlights are almost rectangular units, with a U-shaped front grille complete the front look. You also get 17-inch Machine-Finished Aluminum Alloy Wheels, LED Headlights, with Daytime Running Lights integrated.

External Features

• LED headlamps
• LED DRLs
• Aerodynamic underbody panels and rear diffuser
• UV reducing solar glass
• Acoustic laminated glass
• Chrome v-motion grille
• Dark chrome v-motion grille

The list of standard safety features in the 2020 Nissan Leaf includes the following:

• Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with Dual-Stage Supplemental Front Air Bags with Seat Belt and Occupant-Classification Sensors
• Driver and Front-Passenger Seat-Mounted Side-Impact Supplemental Air Bags
• Roof-Mounted Curtain Supplemental Air Bags with Rollover Sensor for Side-Impact Head Protection For Front And Rear-Seat Outboard Occupants
• Front Seat Belts with Pretensioners And Load Limiters
• 3-Point ALR/ELR Passenger Seat Belt System (ELR For Driver)
• Zone Body Construction with Front and Rear Crumple Zones
• LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) With Traction Control System (TCS)

 

Nissan Leaf vs Chevrolet Bolt

Chevrolet Bolt is a great EV vehicle, with lots of range and plenty of usable power. The range actually is the biggest appeal with the Chevy, 238 miles compared to 150 miles on the Leaf. It also offers quicker acceleration, better steering and handling combo, more spacious interiors, and plusher seating. The Leaf offers better cargo capacity though and is also a little cheaper than the Bolt. If it isn’t too hard on your wallet, the Chevy is actually quite a nice buy, else, save a little money and get the Leaf

Nissan Leaf vs BMW i3

The Beemer is a much more premium offering than the Nissan, and it feels like one too, both on the inside and outside. You could easily forget that this car is a “budget” offering, at least by BMW standards. You also get better range in the i3, and if you decide to spend a little extra, a range extender as well, which simply put, is just a gasoline engine that powers the battery when the charge goes down. Overall, the BMW is a much better offering, provided you are prepared to spend the extra cash.

Nissan Leaf vs Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius is the quintessential Eco-friendly car, the one everyone knows, the one celebrities drive to show how much they care about the Earth. That’s because it has made a reputation for itself in the market internationally, and has a strong Eco-conscious image attached to it. Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, hasn’t had any comparable amount of success. It was not a particularly good-looking car till last year as well, nor was it really practical to run as well. That, however, has now changed.

You can now buy a Leaf, confident in the knowledge that you won’t regret your decision at a later stage. The range is manageable, the power is fine, the drive is comfy, and you’re actually producing no emissions, compared to the Prius which produces some emissions, although not much.

The 2020 Nissan Leaf is quite a simple and practical electric car, one that is equally adept at city commutes. While spirited driving within city limits isn’t much of a problem, but try to avoid highways unless there are charging points along your route. Fast charging will give you a quick top-up for a good enough range. If you want to have an electric are considering an electric car on a slightly tight pocket, the Nissan Leaf will suit you well.

Frequently Asked Questions about 2020 Nissan Leaf

What is the cost of 2020 Nissan Leaf?

The 2020 Nissan Leaf S is priced at $ 29,990.

Which is better, Tesla Model 3 or Nissan Leaf?

Tesla Model 3 has a better range but the Nissan Leaf is obviously priced a lot lower than Tesla.

What's new in 2020 Nissan Leaf?

New Leaf Plus model with a larger battery pack and more powerful motor