2019 Nissan Leaf Plus | The Long Range Leaf

[@Hogtown1986]

Thorough as usual Alex. I own a 2018 Leaf, so I’m biased but I think the Leaf is like that reliable employee who always shows up, gets the job done and gets no recognition. For people who live in “normal” America, those compliance cars from Hyundai aren’t available. The choices are: Tesla Chevy Nissan Tesla is great if you can afford it. But no discount off MSRP and the tax credit is going away. The Model 3’s “everything works from the tablet” interior is not for everyone. There are serious problems getting repairs done if needed. And there is a legit question if Tesla can survive financially. The list of orphaned cars in the US is a long one. AMC, Delorean, Sterling, Renault, Daewoo, Suzuki, to name a few. Tesla’s immortality is not guaranteed. The Bolt is a more compact car than the Leaf, especially for cargo. And it looks...cheap. Especially from the front and on the inside. It’s a good EV, but the tax credit is going away. The Leaf is built by a major carmaker with an established dealer network if needed for repairs. Nissan has 9 years of EV-building experience. The Leaf is one of the most reliable cars one can buy. When has a Leaf ever made the news by bursting into flames? The dealers will heavily discount the price, and the full $7500 tax credit is available. Buying one in the US is as easy as driving to your local dealer. Many dealers have free fast charging available. Tesla gets all the headlines, but the Leaf is the reliable standby that just works.

[@OregonCoastVideo]

I do wish it did not look like the Honda Civic.. I much prefer my 2011 LEAF Body. Also The Passive Battery Heat Management system is Great ! Dont fall for the Hype.

[@rkalla]

Good points all around!

[@SueC56]

Thanks for speaking for those of us in the central US with few EV choices.

[@Dave23547]

@@SueC56 I live in PA, and we have the same problem.

[@JH-dh2ws]

Tesla probably is going to do fine financially, the issue with Tesla though is that depending on your region you're gonna have issues trying to get any major service done with car that requires more than a "ranger" visiting your place to fix the car on the spot. But for the South, the Tesla is really the best choice for long range driving because outside of super chargers you're gonna have a rough time finding enough DC fast chargers for Non-Tesla EVs depending on your route. Bolt EV is probably the next best EV given the range, the reliability far as I'm aware, and it's better access to fast chargers (Why Nissan insists on sticking to CHaDMEO in the US market is beyond me. CCS and J1772 are becoming more common than CHaDMEO.) I'd argue that the Tesla will rival that eventually, far as a dealer network goes. They're currently having to deal with franchise dealership owners fighting tooth and nail to keep them out of some states. For instance my home state, where the bastards try to argue that it's about keeping things fair. (It's not, it's about those franchise owners trying to make sure people don't see the better dealership model that Tesla has, and having to possibly lose out on money eventually if the legacy automakers decide to start selling directly to customers too) Probably won't be long till some people get Tesla to push to be allowed to setup their dealerships in this state, and others. Volkswagen is probably going to do well here too, once they start selling the ID CROZZ in the US sometime this year. Again though in states like mine they're going to run into issues with the charging infrastructure, issues Tesla doesn't necessarily have with their supercharger network. We also have the other EV company getting ready to sell possibly next year, Rivian, with their R1T Truck, and R1S SUV. Nissan is a great cheap, affordable option...but it'd be a lot better once we have a better infrastructure across the US. Edit: My first EV will probably be a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. I'd get a Hyundai Kona EV....if Hyundai would bloody sell it here, but since my state doesn't have anything remotely similar to the same emission regulations that California has (and again not the best charging infrastructure) I'm SOL.

[@goma3]

I bought a Leaf cause the local tax incentives were insane: $5k rebate from electricity provider, $3k state, $7.5k federal. Walked out the door with an EV Plus for $23k after all said and done. Couldn't be happier.

[@FabienTeulieres93]

Wow! You made out like a bandit. Good choice!

[@josephjohn907]

I overly respect Nissan as Nissan Leaf is the first EV from a Legacy Automaker in this millennium. Thanks Alex

[@josephjohn907]

@Mario S. me too

[@anthonyc1883]

A plug-in Prius Prime came into the family recently and I am brand new in learning about EV topics. I'm disappointed in learning that the Leaf doesn't have the battery management hardware, but was heartened when Alex pointed out that NOT fast-charging the battery will help substantially in battery life. My situation is such that I'd rarely need to fast-charge, and I could easily keep the battery within 90% and 25%.

[@autonewstv86]

*I extremely respect Nissan as Nissan Leaf is the first EV from a Legacy Automaker in this millennium *

[@dlittlester]

Umm... Mitsubishi?

[@trex2092]

They came out of the gate then failed .....miserably. RIP Nissan

[@skepticalmechanic]

Kona 2021 here… love it! Bought for 32,000 after rebates

[@Theonestrongbusleader]

My first Nissan EV vehicle! terrific job bro.

[@digitalw0lf468]

I own a Bolt, and I definitely agree that the seats are not the most comfortable in the world. I have had to get a couple of cushions to make it more bearable.

[@teaearlgrey9052]

The trade is the backseats are comfy and much more legroom than the other EVs. You can't even get your knees behind some of the new EVs for the same price... even the Model 3 has a cramped backseat.

[@marktuyet]

Go to a auto seat shop and maybe they can rebuild the seat with better foam ..

[@nestorchavez1294]

Same here.

[@chadlawson7087]

Great review of the options available. I hope we see a 300+ mile affordable EV in the next five years.

[@Rhyme905]

get a tesla model 3

[@toyotaprius79]

Unless you drive over 300 miles per week, you might not need it. _I know people_ who do drive all the time, upwards of 300 mi per week without some sort of weekend road trip. Their eyes are itching for any EV. They know that even a Renault Zoe 40kWh wouldn't need more than 3 charges per week and they live a 5 minute walk from the local petrol station where there is a multi-point rapid charger.

[@JH-dh2ws]

@@toyotaprius79 Depending on where you live a 300 mile EV would be a tempting option, especially if the region's charging infrastructure isn't the best for long range travel. (Course that's why realistically the Model 3 is probably the best choice for me in my region if I want to avoid an 11 hour or longer trip with the non-Tesla EVs. Much as I really like the Bolt, and kinda feel tempted by the Leaf plus)

[@adamwillcox8175]

I agree that the Bolt's seat comfort is sub-par. I've had mine for 8 months though and am pretty well adapted to them. It's not something I think about when driving it now. Still very pleased with mine. Passive battery prevents the leaf from being a viable choice for me. The fast charging on the bolt is slow enough, I can't risk doing a longer drive on the leaf and having it throttle the charging due to temperature.

[@richardguo1892]

Passive cooling is the biggest reason that keeps me from buying a leaf, I've heard so many horror stories of owners in AZ, TX and few other hot states had their battery replaced within 3 years, so at this point it is safe to assume these air cooled battery won't last long in hot environment.

[@BigHeadClan]

Which is only an issue if you frequently use DC fast charge, the first generation battery's were a totally different design. The refreshed versions here are very different, still passively cooled which is unfortunate though.

[@Hogtown1986]

Look up Jennifer Sansiba’s writings for EV blogs. She has a 2018 Leaf, drove for Uber in Phoenix heat, lots of fast charging, 95% battery health at 45,000 miles. Nissan was conservative with the battery management, erring on the side of protecting the battery.

[@OregonCoastVideo]

@@BigHeadClan My First Gen Traction Pack is Still running 100 miles and 9 bars!. Stop the Hype.

[@BigHeadClan]

@@OregonCoastVideo First Gen traction pack and 9bars? I don't have a clue what you mean, care to elaborate on that? Also how did I hype anything about the Leaf? I was pointing out was how the battery design has changed from previous generations...

[@connermorgan9223]

I think worth noting in the comparison is the Bolt EV is being significantly discounted by many Chevy dealerships who understand that the car is not competitive without the federal tax credit.

[@CanadasExplorer]

In Canada they all come to similar prices: Tesla 3 standard range plus, Niro EV SX Touring, Kona EV Ultimate, Bolt Premier, Leaf Plus SL, about $52,000-55,000 canadian dollars

[@nickolastiguan]

Canada Explorer exactly, apart from the Model 3, the others are quite a lot more expensive compared to their gasoline cousins/competitors. Even with government incentive(s)

[@billplaschka9279]

You are right, but you can option a little differently: Hyundai Kona Electric Preferred - $48,189 Nissan Leaf S+ - $48,974 Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus - $52,990 In Ontario you get the federal $5,000 rebate (vs $14,000 pre Ford) for any one of these options. If I compare the Kona and 3, there is a pretax advantage of $4,801 for the Kona. However, taking into account trade in valuation from Hyundai and Tesla, the post tax gap expands to $11,301. There is also a substantial difference in financing with Hyundai at 2.79% and Tesla at 4.25% both over 5 years. That adds up to thousands of dollars savings over the life of the loan. In the end the Hyundai is quite a bit cheaper. Is the vehicle itself similar to the Tesla...not in my mind. The 3 is better in many ways.

[@BigHeadClan]

I honestly really life the Leaf, if they did a Nismo edition with active cooling, wider tires, bit larger battery/power and I think it would do really good. The Leaf isn't class leading but it's not a bad alternative, especially at the lease prices Nissan tends to offer their cars at.

[@cdahl]

I want to get this car. The Tesla is my dream car but no tax credit, no discount, double the insurance rate of my previous car made me have to reconsider. I like the Bolt. It’s affordable. But I much prefer the way the Leaf plus handles and the way it looks. It’s also the cheapest out of the three insurance wise and still good the tax credit and has a good discount at my local dealer. I think what really sealed the deal is my bias. My previous cars were a Mazda 3 and an Acura RSX. The Nissan literally felt like I was driving my Mazda but in electric form. So the familiarity made a great impression on me.

[@leafbabe6735]

My 2018 40kwh Nissan Leaf has now traveled over 24,000 miles and was still showing 169 miles range when I set off today, can't remember what it was when new, but not much different. The Leaf is the only car that shows the driver the health of the battery, all others rely on the range estimate. The reason is that the Leaf has an 8 year warranty against battery degradation, other cars just have a warranty against battery failure (argue that one with the service department). The Leaf 2019 62kwh hits the sweet spot; good range, good performance, comfort, large boot, fast charging, good price, good warranty, local servicing. And please don't hark on about the battery and thermal management, may have been relevant a few years ago, but the Leaf has moved on. So should you!

[@skepticalmechanic]

You only get 169 miles on a full charge? I have a 2021 Kona and I get 325 on a full charger … I would think you should get at least 230 miles on a charge…

[@b4804514]

Nissan is not keeping up here. Slow charger and no battery management. These batteries are not going to last but I can see where they are saving money. Hyundai and Kia have much better products at the same price.

[@williamerazo1685]

Exactly and terrible lease deals as well

[@cameron20020]

What bugs me, is the battery is THE most expensive part of the car. So why the hell wouldn't you safeguard it with something sensible like air/liquid thermal management. Everyone knows batteries perform better, and have a much longer service life when their temperature is managed properly. It's a glaring omission. Older EVs with passively cooled packs and their degradation are a clear example of why passive is bad for anything outside the lab. OH, and the icing on the cake? Renault Zoe now uses refrigerant from the HVAC to cool the battery. Would have thought since the companies share parts, they'd share something like that.

[@BigHeadClan]

The battery longevity issues were mostly due to the chemical composition of the early designs, it was made worse by the lack of thermal management. And it would t would be really nice to see them include an active thermal management solution but it's highly unlikely we will see battery issues like we did in the first generation.

[@b4804514]

@@cameron20020I think they are taking advantage of the naïve EV shopper. Who would ever ask the charging rate or if the battery was managed or what kind of A/C heater. This scares people away from EV's Heck I have an EV and just learned the charging speed and what how it works.

[@Hogtown1986]

Leaf owner here and...it’s not an issue unless traveling long distances. It takes rapid charging + extended highway driving above 75 mph to get the battery hot. Now once the battery gets hot, it’s a problem because the management system greatly slows charging to protect the battery. But people have put 45,000+ on 2018 Leafs already with no battery degradation. One owner put 40k on hers in the Hell-heat of Phoenix, driving for Uber and lots of rapid charging and had 95% battery health.

[@kens97sto171]

What's really funny to me is that if you look at the size of the vehicle on his chart, the Chevy bolt is down in the teeny tiny, the Nissan leaf is in the middle, and yet the Chevy bolt has more back seat headroom and more leg room.

[@a.e.w.384]

Great review Alex! I am a very satisfied customer of the new E-plus for almost two months now. I got a great purchase deal and factoring the $7500 credit, I clearly got the most bang for the buck for an electric vehicle in today's market. I owned the first gen leaf and I can confidently say that the 2nd gen is a very nice improvement over the previous. My biggest turn-offs for the model 3 (I could have easily bought it) is the potential repair costs, repair center availability and increased insurance costs. It's just not worth the extra sexiness and performance for me. I am also very happy to report that city driving efficiency is outstanding for me (4.1 kWh avg after 1000miles).

[@revpho]

Thinking about upgrading from my 2017 Leaf - what kind of real world range are you getting on the plus? Does the 4.1 include some highway miles? Thanks.

[@a.e.w.384]

@@revpho the 4.1 is city mostly with 5% highway. I actually took a screenshot in case anyone wanted to claim BS on it. I suspect if you did the opposite and had mostly highway then the range would be as advertised (210-220 miles ) which would be 3.7 to 3.8 m/kWh.

[@71johnf]

I leased the standard range 2018 Leaf. And the lack of thermal management was a deal breaker for me since I live in North Carolina. My battery would overheat in the summer sun and would hit over 50 C after a fast charge.

[@tanzanable]

Excellent review but you had 2 errors. The first generation LEAF design was not "awkward"! It was and is one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. The current LEAF looks good but is not as attractive to look at as the original design. Also, the passively cooled battery is superior to actively cooled ones. It's simpler and more reliable as there's less to go wrong over time. There's no evidence that Nissan's batteries wear any faster than others do.

[@alaind831]

> generation LEAF design was not "awkward"! It was and is one of the most beautiful cars ever designed design is subjective I guess, but those bulging headlights were, hummm... fugly! > passively cooled battery is superior to actively cooled ones tell that to the original owners with dead batteries in phoenix and other hot places...

[@tanzanable]

@@alaind831 - One person's fugly is another person's cute I guess! The original batteries were problematic in hot climates but Nissan fixed that with a new heat resistant "lizard" battery.

[@stevelovesemmy]

Your numbers for the Standard Range are off. The Standard Range is still available for $35,400 and the auto pilot (adaptive cruise control) is a $3K add on. You do not have to go up to the SR+ to get auto pilot. It can be added at purchase or ANYTIME in the future, which is a huge selling point for the Model 3. Being able to add options when you are ready for them is a plus for the Tesla and why I chose the SR

[@michaelhatfield5808]

You stated the EPA rating of this particular vehicle to be 226 miles per charge. It is actually EPA rated for 215 miles per charge, as the SV/SL trims drop slightly due to the additional weight with the extra equipment and features. The 226 mile rating only applies to the base S trim model of the Leaf Plus.

[@phileasler5401]

Michael Hatfield it’s the wheel size not the extra equipment. Base leaf is 16 inch wheel, jumps to a 17 inch for Sv and sl

[@michaelhatfield5808]

@@phileasler5401 Regardless, he was still incorrect.

[@LostInIce4]

We tested the Leaf Plus here in Norway against the Kona and Kia. The Leaf was much quieter according to the three souls testing this. You can't just make an assumption like this without having actual facts like decibel readings to back it up.

[@kevinbarry71]

You are overlooking something, nobody will pay anywhere near sticker price for the Leaf. Huge discounts are available.

[@ALMX5DP]

Kevin Barry not overlooking, just can’t speak to as discounts and rebates differ greatly across the world.

[@ronaldmail00]

@@ALMX5DP is correct. He mentions he only talks and MSRP with most is videos since dealers go nuts with pricing.

[@toyotaprius79]

It means that Nissan is still able to sell CARB credits.

[@gillespelletier9161]

Like your review but some point is somewhat misleading. The seats confort in the back is more important than half an inch in legs room for long journey. Also in real world test with sound meters the leaf is the quieter of them all just below the i-pace and the like. See results from bjørn Nyland and others. I was looking for the e-niro but the looks and availability made me go for the leaf plus.

[@Thebuscommunityleader]

I'm thinking of buy used 19' Nissan Leaf EV.

[@brianmartin3920]

Great analysis. I wish I had watched this video earlier in the process, as it took a lot of time and research to come to the same conclusions. The driver's seat in a Bolt was so uncomfortable as to put it out of the running. The Niro EV seems fine, as does the Leaf Plus, but they're SO expensive if you're thinking of leasing. The total outlay for the Leaf Plus for 36 months was ~$30,000 as compared to ~$20,000 for the Model 3 Standard Plus, so even if the numbers the Nissan dealer was quoting me got knocked down by the $7500 tax credit, it's still more expensive than a Tesla. I'm not convinced EV is the way to go. Our other car is a 2018 Chevy Volt, and it's got enough range to do our commutes all-electric and gets 40-miles to the gallon when we go on trips, and all that with plenty of power and handling. It's a fantastic car, and it's a shame Chevy couldn't make money on it. Why they haven't put that drive-train in a compact SUV I don't know -- seems like it'd be a winner.

[@billplaschka9279]

The GM group has enough SUV and CUV chassis, you think they would have used that Volt drivetrain in one of those... Was always held back buying a Volt by the lack of room in the second row.

[@stephenhendricks103]

Thanks again for the excellent EV coverage. I don't own an EV (or a hybrid) but I'm considering adding one to the small family fleet when my teenage daughter starts to drive in the next year or two. Have to say that I feel like it's 1901 and I'm considering whether to put old Dobbin out to pasture andbuy one of them new fangled auto-mobiles. So many things to consider. Dobbin eats hay but I'll need to be sure I can find a filling station if I buy a car. Dobbin's always ready to be hitched up for a drive but who knows about a machine who doesn't love me. If Dobbin throws a shoe there's probably a blacksmith nearby. But what about a mechanic? Do I need to check with the local bicycle shop to see if they can fix it? EV's are a lot like that. Which charger type can I use? Are there convenient fast chargers near me? Planned expansion? Is this like choosing Betamax vs VHS or more like IOS vs Android? Do I need active battery cooling in my climate? What is a "hot" and what is a "cold" climate as far as my EV is concerned? If passive battery cooling shortens battery life are we talking by years? And then there's the complicated question of range. Two hundred or so miles is a minimum for me. That's about half of my gas guzzler but I could deal with it. But do I calculate effective range based on recharging from 10% to 90%, 20%-80%, or 0% -100%. My wife tells me that I'm not satisfied with the temperature unless I can hang meat in the back seat. Do I have to turn off the A/C to make the expected range? My wife complains if her toes are cold on a drive. Do I have to make sure the EV has a more reliable heater than my old VW Beetle? Do I want to have a "heat pump?" Is that like the one in my house? Should I tell my wife to wear double layers of socks in the winter so we can make it to my in-laws? Answers to all these questions aren't expected. Just noting that I consider myself a fairly well informed automotive consumer who can weigh and balance features in ICE vehicles based on my personal priorities. But in a pure EV I'm like most folks, a complete novice. Your videos, Alex, have been a great educational tool. Thanks very much. P.S. I'm waiting for the Soul EV before I get serious about a purchase. If I have to give up exclusive rights to my GTI when my daughter starts to drive, I want something funky to tool around in.

[@kolt9051]

This was hilarious and captured exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for the fun read!

[@alaind831]

for my daughter I just got her a used Prius (won't cry if she dings it up) but almost bought a Volt instead (wanted to have fun driving that as well, love the idea of electric around town). Funny thing is that 50mpg is contagious and I find myself driving her car a lot around town and a recent solo 600mi trip (You can put so much stuff ina Prius, it's really convenient too). Now I'm looking at hybrids to replace my SUV (need awd and 300+ range on a single drive to the mountain, so electric is out) yet electric makes so much more sense as second/third car around town and shorter trips... exciting times!

[@NickZeels]

This is tripping my out. All of my research says that the Plus model has an *air* cooling system, not passive. As in, air conditioned, brought over from Nissan's commercial vehicles. Can anyone tell me which is correct?

[@CrossbarOkay]

I just bought a loaded, top trim Bolt for $32,500 (before government incentives). Seats seem fine to me. I would have loved to have taken a look at a Kona but it's not available in my state.

[@TheGerm24]

That is an interesting thing about the Bolt. The MSRP remains the same, but it seems like dealers are giving big discounts.

[@richardguo1892]

@@TheGerm24 yeah, kinda like the i3 few years ago, when dealer have tons of left over stocks. I heard lots of people got crazy good leasing deal on those i3, talking about $250/mo, 0 down for a almost $50k msrp model.

[@CrossbarOkay]

@@TheGerm24 Yes, just saying the MSRP of the Bolt isn't giving a true picture of current prices.

[@joa8593]

I think they have two seat suppliers. Some people have said they found the seats at the dealer very comfortable and can't tolerate the ones in their own car.

[@Pikminiman]

Seems kind of unnecessary that Nissan provided one tank of gas for this review. >_>

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Maybe to set this pos on fire XD

[@teaearlgrey9052]

I'm not sure charging 20/80 is any worse than charging 10/90. Where did you get your info on the charging amounts for battery life?

[@MrBlueTimes]

20/80 vrs 10/90 might not be very noticeable at first, but just based on how batteries work the more times you're closer to 100% or 0% the more these things called dendrites form and they start shorting out battery life.

[@EVAddicted]

I don’t think LEAF PLUS usable battery capacity is 62kWh. Its more 58kWh

[@whiteandnerdytuba]

Tax credit isn’t cash back. Model 3 being bigger seems to put it in a higher category.

[@Demobot1]

I recently test drove a Nissan Leaf+. I think it's cargo space makes it a top choice to me. I have to test out a Ioniq, but when it comes to price vs practicality to me the Leaf is king.

[@joshuanduwayo7765]

Are you also gonna test drive the Tesla?

[@Demobot1]

@@joshuanduwayo7765 That's not really possible in Canada. Unless I found someone that would let me drive theirs.

[@Demobot1]

@@TrubaMoya my commute is roughly 10km. And a Leaf is about the same size as a Mazda 3 hatchback. That more than enough to hold more than 6 bags of groceries. Infact I can fit 2 suitcases and a stroller in the back of a Leaf.

[@Demobot1]

@@TrubaMoya don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to say that a Leaf would be the only car in my house. Just that it's more than practical enough to move a family around. And I considered a hybrid. But I am done dealing with oil changes, brake pad replacements and the like. So an electric car will be my next car purchase. It's just a matter of which one.

[@Demobot1]

@@TrubaMoya I hear you. But my situation seems to be a bit different than yours. I have 3 little ones and the longest road trip we would take is 300km with a fast charger at the halfway point. Anything longer and we are taking the Explorer. Not to mention there are videos of people going on road trips with the 62kwh Leaf with little to no problems.

[@tarassu]

Some charging stations are 120A 500V limited. Most EVs take 400V. Therefore NOT 60kW.

[@dominicfong6341]

Both Adam and Eve had a leaf...but wasn't made by Nissan.

[@henryespinosa9283]

I personally like the looks of the Mazda 3 Hatchback design better than that of the Sedan, which to me, looks a bit too conservative and conventional. I also prefer the practicality of the Hatchback over the Sedan. However, I would only consider buying the Mazda 3 with the Skyactiv-X engine. Otherwise, I feel that the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla are better value than the Mazda 3 with 2.5 liter Skyactiv-G engine.

[@SvikDK]

Think you nailed it on the conclusions. To bad there is one year delivery time on the Niro, that leaves "only" the model 3 for me. And that lacks heatpump wich is a big bummer in the rather cold Denmark

[@Boomer.Roberts]

I've been leasing a 2017 Bolt for a year and a half, and I find the seats pretty uncomfortable. They are too narrow, and I say that as a relatively skinny guy. The bolstering on the bottom cushion, while fairly mild, comes in too far, so it's constantly pushing up at the sides of my butt/hips, which absolutely gets uncomfortable on longer drives. And padding is way too minimal. It doesn't feel "firm", in a good way, it just feels unpadded. If I push my back against the seat back I can feel/hear the fabric of the seat pressing into the plastic at the backside of the seat back.

[@hogster5935]

I'm currently looking at both, the Leaf and Ioniq. Looking more and more like the Ioniq. Mainly because battery management and very good reviews. Range for the Leaf + is nice but again battery management. That said if I don't drive far or at 70mph then why get the plus? I drove the Leaf 2019 SL I do like it...

[@hogster5935]

I am in the market. I test drove the Leaf 2019 SL. I liked it. I'm sure the plus would be better to drive too. I'm reading and watching reviews. How does the battery handle winters, say 0-20's F.? I most likely will buy a Leaf maybe a plus with the tax credits the highest. To me they and others are entry level EV's with stated ranges and charging station availability and limitations. For me I would mostly drive 60-70/day. Long traveling with an EV in a practical sense, hmmmm not yet, maybe in 5 to 10 yrs. I do think they should control battery temps though.

[@Dave23547]

I understand the value discussion that you are making. But with Evs, range does matter. Sometimes people do get lost; and no one wants to be tapped-out. If longer range saves your butt once; its price is worth a few bucks.

[@TheGerm24]

Like anything, the use case matters. If you are using the EV as an in-town commuter, then the difference between 150 miles and 220 miles is not really important. I have commuted with an EV for 3 years. You get used to the range. It isn't as scary as it seems.

[@SwaffordR]

Nissan provided one tank of gas? Was that Hydrogen for your new leased vehicle?

[@darrenorange2982]

I'm still a little confused on your Teeny-Tiny to Compact. You are using the over all length of the outside of the car to place these cars in their position?

[@flamingspinach]

Why are the auto captions on this video in Vietnamese...??

[@tonyperone3242]

Nissan says Leaf has a battery warmer that is used wjhen the temp is at or below +14F.

[@TheKaisarwilhelm]

Alex, why do you never compare the i3 in any of your EV tests?

[@igranderojo]

Early June 2019, we picked up 2019 LEAF SL PLUS, Brilliant Silver Metallic With Nissan rebate, state rebate, federal tax credit, the price dropped by $12,500 then we traded an ICE and got $14,500. So the car is very affordable. My wife drives this EV around town or I drive on in-state day trips when we both travel. We live in Oregon, with mild climate and garage the cars, so the temperature extremes that might degrade the battery will be nonexistent or we will mitigate the risk by not charging during hot days, only at night in garage. We owned a used 2013 Leaf and the 2019 leaf has many familiar user interface features. the gear shift, climate control, start button moved....the backup camera is not as good as the Model 3, however my wife likes it and its better than nothing like the 2013 Leaf. We also bought a 2019 Model 3 LR RWD 3/30/2019 and trade-in was 2013 Leaf (not worth much) Together the cars cost 60% of MSRP after all the rebates and tax credits, and trade-ins. The Tesla obviously belongs in a different category from the LEAF. The Tesla was made by a technology company that happens to make cars. The LEAF was made by a car company transitioning to EVs, slowly.

[@ram64man]

Personally I would pick the leaf over the Korean alternative simply because the hatch design, Nissan may have faith in the pack and as a 40kw owner so far according to leave spy and 30k miles so far I have a 5% Deregulation, however I agree improvements need to be made I do wish they improve the standard charger to 11kw or more like Renault have with the Zoe mk2 , and also really wish Nissan fitted reach and rake on the wheel why they have not fixed this after 6 years of owners asking for it I have no idea, no matter how good the air cooled pack is and until solid state packs appear they need to add water cooling for price of mind and improve winter care, the motor in my opinion needs changing, just upping the power output as a side effect from the increased pack is not enough, both Korea and Tesla have significant improvements in this area and Nissan need to follow in the 2020 model otherwise they will see significant loss in sales to Tesla, vw and the Koreans , a;so if a nismo model appears they really need to add a magnetic fluid suspension to improve for a more progressive ride, final gripe is with the on board cameras the quality and pixel density needs improved, final gripe the light colour interior trim needs to be a world option, as I hate the dark interior being forced on the U.K. models. Nissan not everyone like black if you can offerit in Japan and America you can offer it in Europe too

[@johnmorgan1629]

Alex, have you been following what has been happening with the TFL Tesla Model 3, after Tommy had a small prang, they are already $10K + into a repair bill and it is still not fixed. Others on their website have over $36,000 in repairs. That will potentially mean small repairs on new, or nearly new cars having them written off, imagine that would push insurance up and up on them.

[@darkpepsi]

john morgan I saw that video and Roman even said 20% of the value of the Model 3 is already on collision repairs. Two months later, they still haven’t even got the parts yet.

[@johnmorgan1629]

@@darkpepsi Their situation is not helped by the small crossover of repairers, that the insurer, State Farm I think it is, will work with. But then again, the repairers make the initial estimate, then see what else is broke, then the window went as well, so it's think order, dig deeper order, break glass order, each time its weeks of wait. Seems like a nightmare, imagine someone reverses into you in a parking lot and drives off, it could bankrupt you.

[@geboo5414]

Good afternoon thanks for your great reviews and when I reviewed the Nissan Leaf high-end SL version not the Plus at my dealership it said the driving range is 285 miles so I wonder why that is much more than the ones you were reviewing maybe because it was not a plus but I'm not sure do you happen to know why my dealerships leaf is 15 short of 300 compared to the ones you review if so please reply and let me know if not no worries might be worth looking into and have a great day!

[@arevee9429]

Not a fan of Nissan styling, but the Leaf looks pretty good. Terrible liftover on the hatch though. Tesla polarizes me and not towards the good pole. If anyone has not seen the TFL review on their experience with a minor repair, it's worth watching. What looked like minor bumper damage turned into a 12K (and rising) nightmare.

[@alaind831]

> What looked like minor bumper damage turned into a 12K (and rising) nightmare. and likely many months of wait... only mater of time until insurance charge the real cost of tesla ownership!

[@TRYtoHELPyou]

The SL and sv have 226 mile EPA ratings? Re check that.

[@ibmtpx24]

It's been almost three years and the long range leaf + is still not available on the market.

[@j.wagner8639]

Cycling the battery is crucial.

[@mobgma]

200 mile range lol no thanks. still cant use in canadian winters... -40 c/f winters.

[@LostInIce4]

No problems here in Norway in minus 37C.

[@gillespelletier9161]

I'm canadien and have no problem with a 2016 leaf in minus 40 °C that happened quite often where I live. So my new leaf plus will do quite fine. Better than the model 3 SR+ with all its cold climate problems and no heat pumps.

[@dlittlester]

Your part of Canada is much different to mine.

[@ALxdCr4ftPlays]

TOYOTA is the only one late to the party. Toyota has NO EV's STILL!! I like the Nissan Leaf practical design apart from having no spare tyre and crazy high price which not even middle class people can afford and only the rich can afford.

[@MythosGandaar]

The Niro EV is definitely my top pick for next car. Luckily I'm about to move to a state that they're selling it in!

[@b4804514]

Hey great choice Niro would be my choice too

[@vicjay1972]

I got a Niro in May. I love it. Best car I have ever owned.

[@be236]

I currently have Nissan LEAF 2017 and plan to get Kia Niro EV since it's available in my state, though I wish I had a choice to get Hyundai Kona Electric.... also, I dont consider Tesla since it still looks like a sedan and now I prefer hatchback or SUV looks.

[@hogster5935]

I don't like the looks of model 3's interior.

[@AdamIverson]

Is there any reason that you buy a car to review instead of rent or borrow? Even for Tesla Model 3, you do have 7 days return policy for a full refund, but instead, you choose to sell it after you're done with it.

[@phileasler5401]

Looking forward in getting the leaf e+ Sv, going to switch out the std 17 wheels for 16 wheels and adding the heat pump option hoping to achieve 250 ~ epa miles

[@danielstefanovic2604]

In europe the model 3 can charge at 11kW ac, i chose the model 3 sr+, would have considered the e-niro but here in norway we only get around 2000 a year and its very sought after but we have only gotten 600 so far so it doesnt look like they will manage that.meanwhile the model 3 is almost at 10 000 since arriving in february and thats without the sr+ which wont arrive until august here.

[@toyotaprius79]

It's a bit of an iron pig at this stage. Lets not forget, the OG LEAF was very much built from the chassis of the 2006 Nissan Tiida/Versa. And it still is.

[@gzcwnk]

In 8 years technology has moved on. With a lot of 2011/12 leafs under 70% and even 2013 cars no way am I buying outdated in-adequate by today's standards tech. If they had put a 64kwh LG Chem actively cooled battery in the plus, I'd buy it, its great great car but hell will freeze over on this one.

[@MrBlueTimes]

You can buy a 2013 leaf for 6K.. it might have 0 to 10% battery loss.. it is outdated technology, but you get more value than you spend because the used prices are so cheap. 6k for a car that cost 1-2 pennies/mile to operate and drives with ease

[@chrisw443]

I have the same kia soul EV as you alex, My choices are the bolt or the leaf plus. Mostly because I will have to road trip every few months across washington. Now, which one of those is just as fast as the 2016 soul EV? I use that power constantly to get onto freeways here and I would really really miss having that quick speed to get me out of possible rear end situations. Between the base leaf, the leaf plus or the chevy bolt. Two of which are cheap (huge bolt discounts, and base leaf price) which one is going to keep my fun and bail out speedieness of the 2016 soul EV? If I could I wouldnt get rid of my soul, but itll be used as a trade in. Any comments or advice. I have not had a chance to drive a bolt or leaf just yet.

[@chazsmith4351]

My advice is to drive and try to rent the two vehicles you were considering for at least a few hours if not a few days. Look uo Turo and see if any such vehicles are available in your ares. I have a friend who has and really likes his 2017 Kia Soul EV. I believe on paper and and seat-of-the-pants feel you will find that the latest generation of leaf, whether it that will be the + or the regular will be faster than what you're used to, so I am confident that I you won't be disappointed. As Alex mentioned,Nissan does noticeably limit some of the torque off the line so you may not feel the extra pickup right away but you will really notice the difference when you are already up to speed and executing a pass. The Bolt, which I have had fir about a yesr and s half after coming from a 2012 Leaf, has more than enough power and amazingly poweful regenerative braking. The Chevy Engineers were not shy about letting you getting that right from the stand still. The Chevy is mote of a little hot rod. It is a bit more fun but long-termit may not be good for the car. The leaf will have significantly more boot space so if that's a factor for you you want to give that proper weight. The bolt because of how Chevy use the space, has at least as comfortable rear seats maybe more so than the leaf but the space in the boot is significantly smaller, I believe the bolt is about 10 inches shorter than the leave so there's only so much one can do with that. If you like a smooth soft ride, the leaf is the way to go. the leaf also has the pro Plus which is an active cruise control with some steering assistance. The bolt has an available driver confidence package that does some lane-keeping for you and gives you an alert if you are coming up fast on another vehicle call but hasalwsys on auto braking or ability to simply follow the vehicle in front of it and the lane keeping is fairly crude. If you really like the form factor of your soul EV, and can wait at least 6 months to a year , see if you can hold out for the new Soul EV which sounds like an excellent vehicle, though I expect it will be sold in limited numbers in that you will not see any significant discounting. Every car has its advantages and disadvantages and the value proposition of one car may be different to a different purchasers than another depending on their actual use of needs for the car. Best of luck with your research and have fun with it. You are very likely to get a significantly improved electrified ride and your current Soul EV will make an excellent used car for someone else making the much-needed switched from fossil fuel burning cars to Electric. Charge on 😎👍⚡

[@steeltwistercoaster]

No fast charge network for road trips is the deal breaker for me

[@EVAddicted]

You said your choice would be Niro EV because of the heat pump? I thought that Kona EV comes with heat pump too!!?

[@ronaldmail00]

It's optional in select northern states on the Kona. He noted niro is the only one 50 state wide you can get the option.

[@EVAddicted]

@@ronaldmail00 Niro or Niro EV? I am in Virginia and Niro EV is not available here. KIA never sold here any EV

[@ronaldmail00]

@@EVAddicted to be honest I'm surprised Alex said that. I didn't think the Niro would go 50 Statewide, perhaps he ment eventually.

[@BERNIEO4]

I'd go with the e-Niro...

[@ciello___8307]

The problem is the availability of the hyundai kia EV's is not that good rn

[@mustafanajeeb7859]

Great Nissan.

[@nestorchavez1294]

I have a bolt and yes the seats are very uncomfortable

[@fvvfvbbbb]

That's whats kept us from buying a Bolt. Loved how it drove and funky looks but those horrible seats and the ugly white dash were deal breakers.

[@bird718]

kona looks better

[@LostInIce4]

But the Kona is less premium versus the Leaf.

[@bird718]

@@LostInIce4 would you rather be in the leaf or the kona? i really can't drive a vehicle that is unpleasant to look at. if you or anyone thinks the leaf is a nice looking car then thats fine, everyone has different tast and thats why so many cars exist. i like to detail my vehicles. i clay bar, use sealant, i have the porta cable buffer and all that. pressure washer etc.... i can't bring myself to working on the leaf. i have to like it to treat it nice.

[@mustafanaji6591]

GREAT LEAF.

[@johnson8c]

Good price but no software update much less capable semi autonomous driving after some upgrades

[@robgonzo6966]

I think you hit all the important points comparing EVs. I think for the price, performance and tax credits the Nissan Leaf non-plus is unbeatable. Kia and Hyundai have solid choices as well with full tax credits but even those two options are 8-12 k more than the Nissan non-plus for about 75 more mile range. And yes Nissan battery is air cooled, but it hasn’t affected the older Leaf (2015-17) battery life/performance drastically except for extreme heat climates, which should be a disqualification for anyone considering EVs Nissan should not be on your list.

[@iu2]

Older Leafs have poor batteries. I should know, i had one.

[@tongtran007]

Unless you’re a Nissan fan, Model 3 is more fun :)

[@rafaljankowski2807]

as always great review.there is something Alex never discussed here but struck me while watching TFL cars which is Tesla being so expensive to fix and long wait for parts if you ever need to repair your EV.I think that should be mentioned somewhere

[@b4804514]

Hey if the car stops itself damage should be less often. No insurance company likes that so they charge more money for less potential damage. Figures

[@rafaljankowski2807]

@@b4804514 don't underestimate human factor

[@Hogtown1986]

Loganbay there are major problems with Tesla now, mostly related to parts delays. The car may stop itself (Leaf does too) but that doesn’t mean another driver is gonna stop. If using your own coverage, rental ends at 30 days and it’s taking months to fix the cars. The Model 3 glass roof cracks if you look at it funny. Tesla in its current state is an insurance nightmare.

[@haroldroussel]

A friend of mine was in the market to get an EV (it was for his wife actually). He considered Niro, Leaf + and Model 3. The Niro was only available in top trim, meaning the most expensive one at around 55K (Canadian $). It was initially his first choice. But then from Nissan he got a much better overall deal. First because he choose the SV trim, at 49K. Then got more money of the old car they were exchanging (2K more). They ordered the Leaf finally. The model 3 was discarded for a number of reasons: build quality, rear wheel drive only, no heat pump. Not to mention that it was more expensive overall.

[@tjwatson0403]

I will absolutely never consider a Nissan as long as they still air cool their batteries

[@randycox2755]

No Tesla Service Centers>

[@matelslug1]

so a guy like me who does 200 miles every day, electric car is not a suitable option cause by depleting battery to zero everyday and fully charge it every night on fast charge for the next day commute i will chew through my battery pack alot faster!!! i still believe that one day will have battery swapping stations like gas stations u know where we could pop the hood and take drained packs out and stick fresh charged packs in faster than gas guzzler duded right next to us...that would a fun...

[@jdvaillancourt]

Not trying to be a know-it-all, but you're partially correct. Doing a Level 3 DC Fast Charge (CHAdeMO) every night would definitely result in battery degradation. However, you'd probably won't be fast charging when you get home at the end of your day. You'd most likely be doing a 240V Level 2 charge (J1772) like most other EVs out there. Daily charging with Level 2 shouldn't result in any out-of-the-ordinary battery degradation on any EV. On that note, my issue with the Leaf is that the battery isn't actively cooled, like most/all other EVs. Nissan, if I wanted a 1960's VW Beetle, I'd buy one.

[@pepstein]

If you can install a 240 volt outlet to charge your EV overnight then a long range Model 3 would probably work well for you.

[@alaind831]

yes a long range RWD model 3 (which you can order in person) or even the standard range (190-240) IF you can charge at work (in which case any of the 200 mile ranges here listed would work), and slow charge overnight. With hat many miles EV vs gaz could be a very big fuel saving depending on your rates.... and less maintenance.

[@LostInIce4]

The European Leaf has a battery heater. Plus you are all missing the point. The Leaf feels much more premium than the Niro or Kona. The ProPilot system on the Nissan is probably one of the top three driving assistants in the market. I will never buy a car that doesn't offer a truly usable system like ProPilot. I almost ordered the Model 3 and I'm thankful I didn't. What an ugly car! Looks like s Ford from the 90's and awful service and waiting time for spares. Get the Leaf folks!

[@Moymoy-25]

If someone invent arc reactor for EV Cars it will be cool

[@amigatommy7]

base tires are bycycle tires!

[@nc3826]

that was a pointless tire-d comment....that was inflated with hot air...

[@niffrig]

Never heard of a BMW i3

[@alejandrocotilla2899]

I never understand that ruler, this car is tiny, how can it be bigger than Sportage, the Niro, and the CX-3, even the Kona and the Soul look bigger to me. Also the Model 3 is larger than a RAV 4 🤯, how is that possible!?

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

The numbers don’t lie LOL

[@williamerazo1685]

3 is longer but RAV4 is taller

[@bradybisgard]

The Leaf is pathetically outdated. You should not buy this product. I would love for someone to tell me why they would.

[@ALMX5DP]

Brady Bisgard price or availability?

[@swilbeth]

Too long winded with this review stick to one brand of car . And plus the Kona EV is not available for sale in many other states so That info is not needed.

[@pepstein]

I appreciated his thorough review, especially the comparison and conclusion sections.

[@nodak81]

Wish they'd hurry up and get to a 500-600 miles of range. I only need about 400 miles but I want to keep within the 20-80% range to max the life span of the battery. I drive for a living and there is zero time to sit somewhere and wait for a charge except overnight at home.

[@teaearlgrey9052]

You want a Rivian. I hope your wallet is big enough, lol.

[@BTC909]

Be sure to Google - 3 Reasons the 2019 Nissan Leaf Lost the Brand Its EV Lead

[@Sublimer79]

Use Brave for that google search. Lol the ad's are blocked.

[@BTC909]

@@Sublimer79 Or Ublock Origin.

[@trex2092]

Love driving my Tesla Model S, with NO Range Anxiety at all. I have a reservation in for a Tesla Cybertruck with 500 miles range and a battery life of 1 Million Miles......suck it, Nissan.

[@kylecronin3212]

11:23 Déjà vu

[@johnson8c]

Hey I got a Nissan leaf. What leaf?

[@homosapiensinfuturae]

Loganbay, Not only the thermal management! Chademo as fast charging in europe is dead!!! Thise two fails makes the car unbuying!

[@BoopSnoot]

Makes no sense to me why EVs are FWD. Big fail.

[@greenergenes]

all tesla models come with rear wheel drive ... optionally with a 2nd front motor ie all wheel drive

[@BoopSnoot]

@@greenergenes As they should be. With ICE, FWD packaging makes sense, but with EVs the motors aren't that big and the batteries are in the floor, so RWD should be the default. Too many of these designs are just modified ICE vehicles electrified or at least borrowing from their design, and that's a fail.

[@tarassu]

Tire width has almost nothing to do with stopping distance. If it would actually matter, BMW i3 would be the worst.

[@cja7964]

Soooo, better than a base Tesla. Lol 😂

[@johnson8c]

Wow Nissan leaf gets slammed hard here. Too bad.

[@BigHeadClan]

???? Alex may not have been in love with the Leaf but he in no way slammed the car. It's also worth pointing out that Alex is comparing all EV's regardless of size and the Leaf is fair bit larger than the Bolt or Niro.

[@johnson8c]

@@BigHeadClan I mean the comments.

[@BigHeadClan]

@@johnson8c Oh, then yeah 100% with you on that.

[@hirundine44]

If it were my money on the line ..? Would not be purchasing any electric vehicles, at this time. Many reasons for me but NO. No EV's for me, thanks.

[@salipander6570]

I'd choose the Peugeot e-208!