2018 Nissan Leaf First Drive Review

America's most popular EV has just received it's first redesign featuring a more mainstream look, a bump to 150 miles of range and more standard equipment. For 2019 Nissan has announced the Leaf will get another range bump with thanks to a bigger battery for "over 200 miles" of EV range to compete directly with Chevy's Bolt. In the mean time the Leaf slots right between the "average" EV in America and the Bolt in terms of overall range with one of the lower price tags on a modern EV.
0-30 : Not Tested
0-60 : 7.7 Seconds
1/4 Mile : Not Tested
60-0 Braking : 130 Feet
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[@Pikminiman]

>gives a comprehensive review > "Stay tuned for the full review." Only Alex...

[@denisilyayev1878]

wow an electric car that almost looks like a regular car. not bad nissan

[@edysinsimon8646]

Never been a fan of the Leaf's looks, but this new design is far more pleasant to look at.

[@tanzanable]

The 2018 LEAF looks good as it's similar to many current hatchback designs. BUT, the original LEAF is gorgeous. Its form fitted its function which made it a very sexy looking car. The front lights were designed to make the car slippery and quiet and their unique look is very visually appealing.

[@MikeLoomis]

I agree with everything you said but I think we may be in the minority.

[@edysinsimon8646]

Welcome brother!

[@feltonthecat475]

Still doesn't look good though.

[@O-cDxA]

@@tanzanable point 28 drag coefficient ?? Even an ICE Prius is better. The headlights were a gimmick. The designer even admitted later that they made the car look like that to make it 'stand out'. Why not make a beautiful car that stands out instead ? No other EV has, or needs those headlights. They channel air around the mirrors much like the wing fences on a Mig-15, but a better solution would have been to just redesign the mirrors. The Leaf is all electric, which means it has great potential for low drag ( flat underbelly without any exhaust ) yet it has an unimpressive .28 cD ( with some sources quoting a .32 cD ! ) To put this into perpective, the 2001 Lexus LS430 ( yes - the 3 BOX design with the upright grille ) has a cD of just .25 with air suspension. If designers can make that box on wheels have a .25 cD ( and be an ICE as well with full exhaust ) then why couldn't Nissan make the Leaf aerodynamic ? The Nissan designers didn't even try to make the Leaf aerodynamic. If you are going to make the car look like that, then why not give that look have a purpose and make it streamlined ?

[@EVAddicted]

Glad you did this review. Always rely on your reviews. You would tell all the pros and cons the way you know them. After watching your reviews i usually can't think of question that left unanswered.

[@pbirkwood]

Your reviews are always packed full of nuggets of great information.

[@gapreston]

Man, this dude doesn't waste a single word! I like.

[@seamstressy6416]

I look forward to your next review of the 2018 Leaf. Thanks for the great video reference.

[@Ihidthebodynowwhat]

Great review! Thank you for comparing it to other cars. It makes guaging the value/specs much easier.

[@julioenriello]

Wow...you are the BEST reviewer in KZbin. I give you 9.5/10 because the talking is a bit overwhelming at times, some pause in between will help. We hope this will improve in 2019

[@MrDhandley]

You really are the king of car reviewers Alex.

[@vismantass.2942]

Very informative review, thanks Alex.

[@jonhil2111]

Finally a great in depth review! Great car knowledge.

[@horizon42q]

Alex!Excellent review.You are the best

[@IgneusDei2]

This is very helpful. Thank you for this review and for your honest reactions!

[@happykarmaman34]

Best unbiased factual review yet. Well done

[@xkitejunkie]

What an excellent, detailed review! Thanks!

[@AM-zn9di]

thanks for the review, leaf is very interesting model for 2018. I look forward to your Honda Clarity PHEV review

[@ALLElectricChannel]

Great job with this review and video!

[@minetmanila]

excellent review Alex.

[@zeppy13131]

Excellent review, dude!

[@tbvv6729]

Great review as usual. The Leaf would be even better if Nissan can manage > 200 miles range with the same 30K start price. I will wait a few more years for better range electric vehicles at a similar price.

[@Limemill]

If Nissan did that, it would wipe out literally ALL competition, Tesla included. Unfortunately, it's just not feasible atm.

[@lisalowe515]

Superior job! Thank you for a fabulous overview and great video. This car looks like it would fit me. I am 5'4". No more looking between steering wheel and windshield.

[@Milhouse77BS]

I love the 4 screen driving views

[@mc2ryan100]

Such a great and detailed review.

[@evingmadeez5008]

Nice...I was wanting a Ioniq EV but there is a long waiting list so I guess the new Leaf it is...great job as always Alex

[@billplaschka9279]

Funny how different market areas have different brand coverage...here in Ontario the Ioniq EV is easy enough to get followed by the Leaf then the eGolf which is sold out for the 2018 alottment...

[@Limemill]

The 2017 Leaf was impossible to get in Quebec and very few were on offer in Ontario last year. Likewise, the Golf was nowhere to be found. Both makes were sold out in no time. As for the new versions, they are all pre-ordered these days (I did just that). The new Ioniq is coming out in late 2018, soon after that we'll have the extended-range Leaf with a similar price tag. Not sure about the Golf, but it looks like the price always reflects the range more than anything else and purchasing an EV doesn't make much sense now as the battery sizes continue to grow at quite a steady pace. Leasing, though, is totally the way to go.

[@24618224]

Good review as always :)

[@lonelyp1]

I love my 2015 Leaf. And I'm looking forward to getting a new 2018 when my lease is up. I wanted an electric car when you could only get one by converting your own to electric, and I could never afford that. So I was thrilled that the Leaf came out affordable. We need more, with lower prices to really get the market going.

[@hellodlo]

Great review Alex, could you please showcase pro pilot during your weeklong review? Interested to hear your thoughts on it, similar to your volvo pilot assist video.

[@mountainhobo]

7:49 "subwoofer neatly tucked in" - Tucked in? It sticks out like a sore thumb. It appears to be 3" high. It breaks up the cargo floor.

[@Falconlibrary]

Major design flaw. Nissan needs to offer a cargo false floor that could be put over that subwoofer when you have cargo to load (at the very least).

[@mowcowbell]

No kidding... why on earth couldn't they intregrate the subwoofer into the side panel of the cargo area like every other car on the planet with a subwoofer?

[@raven4k998]

yeah about 3 or 4 inches it's pretty big the video kind of makes it look smaller then it actually is

[@daveincanada785]

Thanks, this just moved to the top of my list!

[@GIGABACHI]

Awesome work as usual ! Keep it up ! 😎👍

[@skipsteel]

Another Great EV Review, Thanks Alex.

[@tonys9413]

Excellent review Alex as always! Would get the Leaf if it had an active battery thermal management system. Here, in south Florida, summer temperatures will degrade battery capacity much faster than outside the southern states. I heard that from many ‘16 and ‘17 model year Leaf owners. GM, BMW, and Tesla use active battery systems (water cooled) with good results in Florida.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

Tony S Same here in NY, batteries don't like the negative temps we get here in the winter. That and IDK what weather protection this has but if it's not that good the salt won't be nice to this car.

[@timg.8146]

another amazing review thanks.

[@gp2003gt]

Just ordered one, thank you !

[@martinostlund1879]

Very good review, great!

[@michaeljohnson1413]

Great review, great car, and finally looks good too.

[@dominicpaleracio844]

Great review!

[@BTC909]

18:08 the color is probably matched on the charge door but the paint reflecting from the sunlight is off. You'll notice this on mid-2000 Altima bumpers as well especially at night.

[@amerigo88]

Rapid improvements in electric vehicles clobber resale values. ("Anybody want to buy my 2011 Leaf with a 70 mile range?") Implies the MSRP of new EVs is artificially high. It's a test case for deflation - modern economist's worst nightmare. However, EVs are doing their part to keep pressure on oil producers not to jack up prices. A sustained oil price spike is going to cause a surge in EV sales and I expect many of those EV buyers won't go back to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) again. Very well done, Nissan. I hope the passive battery management works out this time around. (Search "Arizona and Nissan Leaf" for details.) Also consider that about two-thirds of the parts in your local O'Reilly, Autozone, Advance Auto Parts, etcetera become obsolete for an EV owner. That makes EVs a huge threat to the entire passenger vehicle industry with much smaller, more efficient supply chains. How long has your big electric motor at home (air conditioner/furnace blower) been running? 10 years? 20 years? EVs look like "cars" but they are truly revolutionary.

[@MikeLoomis]

Don't forget all those quick oil change businesses that won't be needed. Bye-bye Jiffy Lube.

[@Tron-Jockey]

I wouldn't go for a 2011 unless it had the new upgraded battery pack. I picked up a 2015 SV in Dec of 2016 that had only 3000 miles on the clock for only $14,900. The car was absolutely pristine and still had the new car smell. I chose the 2015 because thats the first year for the new upgraded (Lizard) battery. That was also the first year for the heat pump. Used 2015 or newer Leafs are easily the best value in an EV. You can literally pick them up for a song and yet they are incredibly well engineered and well made automobiles. And the idea that 84 mile range will be a problem is nonsense. I need only half that every day. I spend far less time filling my EV tank than I did with my gasoline car, 2 seconds to plug it in at night and 2 seconds to unplug it in the morning. No more scheduling time to stop and get gasoline on the way to work, something I hated having to do especially during inclement or Winter weather. I also enjoy not having the old gasoline engine nags going on in the back of my mind. No oil change nag every 5000 miles, no radiator flush nag every year, no winterization nag every Fall (want to make sure that starter battery gets you through the Winter), no twice a week gasoline stops, no need to open the hood ever except for windshield washer fluid, no need to worry about the brakes as regen makes them last virtually for the life of the car, no filters or fluids to track or worry about, no worry on cold mornings that that 4 year old battery might not start your car, no worries about your alternator light coming on or your starter motor not engaging. I live where traffic is a daily occurrence and I have nearly run out of gas on several occasions because of it but this is never an issue with an electric. And the biggest nag is knowing that all this mileage on your gasoline car is getting you close to that feared 100,000 mile mark at which point it begins to nickel and dime you to death (its value also takes a major dump). Not an issue with an electric drive train, as it may never wear out and since I paid so little for it I really don't care about its resale value anyway. The battery is my only concern but the new Lizard chemistry should make 150,000 before the capacity falls below 70% of its original capacity. The cost of replacement batteries for the Leaf are already down to $5500. It will be half that in four or five years when I may need it. This car is absolutely, positively the most maintenance free automobile I've ever owned. Every day I need to do absolutely nothing but get in and drive the damn thing.

[@ivanivanov397]

Samuel , I am interested in your 2011 Leaf , how much is your asking price ? Thanks

[@amerigo88]

Ivan Ivanov - Please accept my apologies, sir. I do not own a Nissan Leaf. The 2011 Leaf question was meant to be rhetorical in order to illustrate the rapid improvements in EV range that are also rapidly depreciating the value of older, shorter-ranged EVs. By late 2018 there should be a 200 mile range Nissan Leaf. This means that in just eight years, the Leaf's maximum range will have tripled. Could the 2026 Nissan Leaf have a maximum range of 600 miles? If so, expect EV resale values to continue dropping faster than ICE vehicle values. Of course, a fuel price spike would disrupt this trend as EVs of nearly all ranges became much more popular.

[@monie948]

you have to buy a $5-7,000 battery every eight years. I was considering buying a used 2011 but the battery will need to be replaced soon. I don't want to spend $5-7,000 on a new battery. I'm going to buy a 2004 toyota corolla

[@stevelamb8849]

Hi Alex Like your videos. I currently drive a Toyota Auris Hybrid in the UK (don't know what you call them in USA) and was wondering if you would recommend staying with what I've got or whether I should, some time in the future, go for the Leaf or the Ioniq EV? Thanks

[@DavidBLo100]

Good job on the review. Tell it like it is.

[@davidmanjhu]

Wow really great review

[@karlp8484]

I think the Bolt is the best selling EV, but anyway, I'm a very recent subscriber, I don't know why I haven't come across you before. Love your work. You are very thorough and clear. Great job.

[@MikeLoomis]

The Bolt may be the best selling EV this year (I haven't looked in a few years), but he is talking overall numbers. The Leaf has a seven year head start on the Bolt.

[@JD-yx7be]

model s is still in the lead. source insideevs.com

[@ArizonaDashcam]

That’s a beautiful color!

[@teslalars3938]

Does anyone know if it’s “solid red” or “magnetic red”?

[@jocelynchouinard]

Hi Alex, love your reviews. I am always surprised by the relative low amount of views compared to other channels and I do not understand why. Have you considered changing the name of the channel to potentially get more views?

[@skylark304]

ALex is amazing ; the best review

[@jeanluc1200]

Thanks for your videos, they are informative. One quibble, at 7:28 you don't mention that the center rear seat lacks a headrest. Having been rear-ended at 50mph, I would not dream of having a passenger without a headrest.

[@DeadofWinter321]

This and the Nissan Kicks look very sharp. Nice job Nissan. 👍🏻

[@bobparry4575]

Good review. I have one of the 2018’s on order for a February delivery. I hope. You showed the new charge cord that comes with the new Leaf. Do you have any more info on it? I will be setting up my garage for the car and want to know what plug that is. You, and most others say that is a dryer plug, but it looks like a 14-50 plug. Can you confirm what plug it is? That would help me decide which way to go either a 30 amp EVSE or use the OEM one for at least awhile

[@benhaze1010]

no telescopic steering wheel?? That is a shame. Excellent review Alex, as always!

[@abbaby555]

great review

[@karlp8484]

I think he's great !!

[@kathydu2146]

abbaby555 sdsaa

[@Trades46]

I like the newer looks, even if it does look more mainstream. However the European Micra looks extremely good for a subcompact and the Leaf mk2 shares much of the design elements over the alien-bug-eye thing the Leaf mk1 looks. Still while the 150mi range & 40kWh pack is an improvement, the one to look forward to is next year's 60kWh battery which would guarantee range matching or exceeding the Bolt's current record. Also kudos to Nissan for giving a Level 2 portable charger as standard equipment.

[@jozafax]

Great video!

[@GeorgeStar]

You're the best auto reviewer on youtube.

[@mikec1655]

You were in Napa 😱😱 hope you didn’t catch my crazy driving on video LOL

[@79bnice]

Great job as usual Alex, can't wait for a Tesla model 3 review.

[@misc8867]

Love the review, would love to hear how this compares to Hyundai Ioniq.

[@kliaklia6391]

good video. thanks sir!

[@akhaqan]

I was wondering when will you do a full review

[@ThatGaijinFella]

We just bought this exact same LEAF, but were given the e+ interior package. So basically we have a LEAF G with the e+ package but not the e+ battery pack. Ideal for our needs and I’m happy I won’t have to do 2 or 3 charges on trips over 120kms.

[@christianscheidt57]

So good,just wanna say thanks!

[@niceboy60]

Low range 150 miles is still a poor range for a 30k vehicle

[@aaronz9687]

If you drive like a efficient EV driver like myself 4.6 miles per kWh is easy. Thats 180 to 190 miles range with this new 40 kWh leaf.

[@xchopp]

Hi Alex, How about a 2017/28 e-Golf review so we can compare with 2018 LEAF and Ioniq EV? The Ioniq EV review was especially nice as you had a lot of comparative data. I'm wondering how you view e-Golf handling vs these two direct competitors (I don't have any relationship with VW, I just drive a 2016 e-Golf SE -- that I love -- and I'm trying to figure out what the next one should be (could also be early production Model 3, decisions, decisions).

[@DanielZajic]

Good job!

[@howardxian]

Thanks for the review. Can you compare this to the Ioniq? Why in the Ioniq review Leaf is smaller in the chart but here it's bigger than the Ioniq

[@nathanpierce4121]

Alex, what triggers the brake lights when in e-Pedal mode? An accelerometer?

[@JD-yx7be]

just pedal position

[@be236]

I recently noticed that Nissan LEAF cargo back opening is oval-shaped, making it a smaller opening than a rectangular opening, like on Kia Niro EV.. this makes getting large bulky items easier into Kia Niro EV or Hyundai Kona Electric. I've nicked and scratched the hard plastic opening area when trying to get large furniture items in that would fit in the middle area where the opening is largest, but the item slides down to being so heavy and scratches the border area of the opening.

[@ybo66]

Excellent review ! I own a Renault Zoe, and I think they should start to worry as price-wise they’re very similar, but quality and functionality wise, they’re very far apart! However the Zoe is a small car, which is very handy in the city.

[@DanielField2023]

you meant Zoe chez les abeilles LOL

[@petermasson5716]

Getting better rangewise and very acceptable levels of fit, trim and performance.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Is the GPS user friendly, like a Garmin ? The previous Nissan navigation was such a pain to use that we never used ours. About the lack of an active battery temperature system, Hyundai put a fan in their EV, Nissan could have done that in expensively.

[@quizzley7]

I like that it comes with a 240V EVSE. It looks like a 14-50 plug, which is common for electric ranges and RV hookups. It will NOT work in a dryer receptacle, which a 14-30. A 14-50 plug means it is designed for a 50 amp circuit. It would not be safe to attach it to a 30 amp dryer circuit.

[@RoguePlanetStudio]

Not bad Nissan.

[@thequake180]

Very nice looking car, love that its a true hatchback.

[@trangenusa]

can you do a video on what, Nissan did to improve cooling and make batteries last, unlike 2011-2012 model Leaf with battery defects???

[@clout13r]

Active battery cooling/heating means faster charging and less range degradation in cold weather... bolt wins

[@BryceLovesTech]

As a Chevrolet volt owner I cannot wait to try this vehicle. Chevrolet Bolt seats were terrible

[@karlp8484]

It's a pity, such a small saving in space and weight, but everybody complains about this.

[@karlp8484]

Too thin in the padding

[@ALMX5DP]

Is it something an upholstery shop can fix? Not that it’s any consolation, but could be an option if you like all other aspects.

[@sergevivier2861]

I had a severe pain problem with a Forester seat and my smart wife bought real sheep seat covers that solved the problem.

[@truantray]

If the Bolt seats are so bad, then just install aftermarket seats. Many options available.

[@EVMANVSGAS]

Did this have pro pilot? I really want to see how well the pro pilot works.

[@m1aws]

I've seen it in use. Starts to work at 37 mph and above.

[@Michael0697]

Yes. Note the dedicated pro-pilot button on the steering wheel (11:19).

[@YoushaAhmad]

Have a look at this video, its a bit long: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6vFoWWrnbaEnM0

[@uoftdrone]

I heard this new model will have a large inverter that can use its battery to power other things. Is this true?

[@unknown-32121]

Is it possible to get your input on brand/vehicle reliability? Obviously, a lot of people love Japanese, but what about your opinion on German, etc....? cheers

[@Aschoolbusandsimulatorfan2219]

This will be my first EV vehicle to buy bro.

[@sak1339]

Would you review the Honda Clarity please?

[@BryceLovesTech]

I'm in thinking about this car. I test drove it drives very well. And I've driven the bolt. What shocking to me is the resale value in just a few short months of 2018 models. You can pick up a 2018 for under $20K

[@timctx]

You can get a new 2019 for under 20K after incentives depending on where you live.

[@mountainhobo]

6:13 [No telescoping steering wheel] - Why? Sorry, that just boggles my mind.

[@courtneyvegan9448]

mountainhobo not as much as a 150 mile range. Now that is mind blowing.

[@CosgroveNotts]

Fat people don't need steering wheel rake. European adjusts all over cos they are thinner

[@richardteague5563]

U passed over the two kinds of charging ports quicker than my brain could process -- Please list charger protocols available to charge the 2018 LEAF including adapters.. Thanks.

[@Dave23547]

2/27/2018 I just took one out, for a test drive. This Leaf does have more cabin noise - much more than the previous generation. For me, the three most important EV criteria are: Range, Cabin Noise, and Handling. I wanted to get a 2018 Leaf SL, but I don't know - I would like a little more hush. How do you feel about the noise issue?

[@Limemill]

I've seen other videos on KZbin and the actual tests show an improvement over the previous version. I think, it's about 70 db right now, if not less

[@ahlamddj]

alex.... thanks

[@directorjustin]

This interior is MUCH nicer than in the Bolt! It's too bad the range is so low. I would likely choose this over the Bolt for the same price with the same range.

[@tanzanable]

Justin - Wait for the 2019 LEAF. It will have a 60 KW battery like the current Bolt has so it will go well over 200 miles on a full charge.

[@m1aws]

Would you want to drive the uncomfortable Bolt that far?

[@bbnoximoro3728]

Our Bolt is comfortable for us, as it is for most Bolt owners. Ask someone who drives a Bolt. By the way, the Bolt is very nice to drive, peppy, handles really well, is roomy inside and easy to park. It has exceeded our expectations.

[@oilerlord6513]

Depends if an EV is your only car. I drive a 90 mile B250e, and from experience, even 40 miles of range is more than enough most of the time. At 150 miles, and with fast charging, I think Nissan hit the mark with a decently sized (a foot longer than the Bolt), comfortable car. The Bolt EV with it's 238 mile range is more of a one-trick pony. Big range may be the be-all-end-all for some, but to me the rest of the car matters more.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Can this car be configured / setup to stop battery charge before 100% ?

[@peterzpictstube]

Why didn't GM make the Bolt on a Compact platform like this? Makes so much more sense for most folks.

[@JehanKateli]

Are you sure the DC charging is optional? I assumed it would be a standard feature.

[@xchopp]

Optional for the S level trim, standard on SV and SL.

[@luck02]

any comments on the pro pilot stuff?

[@feitola]

The rear mirror can be adjusted by the way :)

[@mowcee1]

If pure electric vehicles obtained a solar panel roof to constantly charge the battery during sunlight, range would be infinite during the day. Only then, would the plug-in option come in handy during the night time hours.

[@365techtips]

DSM jUhnky The energy produced by covering your entire car with solar panels would not be enough to power the motor even on the sunniest day.

[@mowcee1]

John Derry That's true. But panels would be beneficial rather than to not have any at all imo. At least to help aid with charging by being parked during the daytime, and keep the battery from draining as fast while driving during sunlight.

[@mbaxter22]

* Sigh * Educate yourself, even just a little bit, about solar panels before commenting.

[@tarassu]

Rear view mirror is dual hinged. You can lower it if you want to.

[@pepstein]

Arnis Tarassu I think you're right! I suspect Alex wanted to raise it higher up, but that's just as easy as lowering it. I remember discovering this feature in a rental car after struggling with visibility for days. Made me feel dumb. If Alex can miss something like this, it makes me feel just a bit better about that 😉

[@rkgsd]

Really looks smooth. No more geeky looking EVs.

[@victoreluvathingal3454]

Hi Alex...excellent review...can you pls make a review of VW Tiguan 162 TSI Rline 2017.

[@kphan4643]

Much better looking over the previous leaf.

[@InvestBetter.]

Looks good! And you can't piss on a 150 mi range, but I'm sure they weren't expecting the Chevy Bolt to have over 230 miles. They better get that upgrade to market.....

[@karlp8484]

Early next year..

[@Trades46]

Bolt is ~$39k. Leaf is ~$30k. That is a massive price difference. Also I like the look of the Leaf better; Nissan did a good job on making this EV actually look good & more normal.