Nissan Leaf G - 30kWh 2016

Owner Review: Community Contributor
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Kilometres travelled

10,000 - 25,000 km

Did you buy this car new or used?

Used

If used, what year did you buy it used?

2021

How much did you pay? (including all on-road costs)

23000

What were your needs when you bought this car? Has it fulfilled those needs?

We were looking for an electric run about to see if we could live with an electric car. The Leaf was an obvious choice, as it fit the budget and seemed relatively easy to use and maintain. The car is well put together and performs amicably. Charging is quick from the normal wall socket. We charge overnight twice a week and get a range of 193km in summer and around 170km in winter.

What were your initial thoughts about the car? Tell us why it appealed to you.

I don't like Nissan. Grew up with Datsun/Nissan - remember the old 120Y, Stanza and Laurel? They were rattle traps. Finish and fit was poor and they were in general horrible cars. Took the Leaf for a test drive and I was very impressed by the high standard of fit and finish. No rattles anywhere and it was super quiet. The colour (Silver) was also appealing to us. Not to fond of the light (cream) interior. That was rectified with black seat covers to protect the seats. This model is very well equipped. It has heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel and other little things like excellent storage.

What have you discovered since owning the car?

Service costs are very low. We paid $150 for a service at a local EV dealer. The cost of charging is also quite low at around $5/week. The car handles well and is easy to live with. It won't break any records but it is a great runabout. Owning an electric car is very easy. It has far fewer things that can go wrong. The Leaf is very reliable and I only ever replaced the front two tyres.

What do you like/dislike about the car?

I love the ease of use. It is also easy to get in and out of the car. Having a bit higher seat also helps with us getting older. Luggage space is good for the normal kind of things you do like grocery shopping. The shape of the boot is however a bit awkward and makes it difficult for carrying larger items. What I disliked most was all the chimes. Put it in reverse, and there is a chime, dare to cross over the line on the side of the road, and it chimes. I know this is for safety, but can it please be less irritating? The car is now 7 years old and the SOH of the battery is still 82%. It has only ever had 3 fast charges since new. The rest of the time we charge at home.

Any other comments on the car?

I can highly recommend the Leaf as an entry level electric car. It is easy to live with, does not cost the earth to maintain or charge. It is spacious enough for a family. It is starting to show its age. There are newer offerings that has better battery technology, but as a starter, nothing comes close.

Reliability

5

Features/technology

3

Performance/economy

3

Value for money

5

Overall rating

4

Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?

Yes

Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?

We have now traded up. It was a tough decision. Should we buy a 62kWh Nissan Leaf again or should we rather opt for an SUV style vehicle? Our needs have changed slightly as we need to carry a bike rack as well. So the SUV won out. I would definitely buy another Leaf should I need something to run around town with.