Earlier this year, Nissan updated the Leaf with a brand new model. The EV hatchback returned with some new design cues and also, better electric mileage.
The new Leaf came out with a weird shape that reminds us of the alien pods from some old-school sci-fi flick. The design is neither impressive nor horrible. It is just plain awkward. Inside the vehicle however, things are really neat and tidy. The Leaf is a glimpse of the future to come as it arrived with some cool electronic instruments.
Under the hood, the Leaf runs on an 80kW motor that is powered by a 24kW lithium-ion battery pack. The latter requires a full four hours to get fully charged from a 220-volt output. Regardless, the motor offers 107hp and 187ft-lbs of torque. As for the energy consumption, the Leaf is rated to return 115mpg with 75 miles range on a full charge.
There are three different price tags on the Nissan Leaf. The entry level S model cost $28,800, the mid-range SV retails at $31,820 and the top of the line SL retails at $34,840.
For us, the Nissan Leaf isn’t anything bad at all. However, EV is still considered as something very new to this world and it can be hard to find an electric-station unless the individual is living in a major city. Furthermore, EV vehicles are considered really expensive and the Leaf is a perfect example of that.
As such, we believe that the Nissan Leaf is not for everyone at this moment. The battery is still not revolutionary enough to convince the masses. However, it should appeal to those that are confident that the Leaf’s range can ensure a safe return trip from home to office.
