Nissan Leaf 2018 in-depth review - Carbuyer

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While other manufacturers are still preparing their first electric car, Nissan has already launched the second generation of its strong-selling Leaf family hatchback. So is this the car to take electric motoring truly mainstream? Ginny finds out.
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Nissan Leaf prices and specs: carbyr.uk/2G0VsDz
Renault Zoe review: carbyr.uk/2f1GmTp
Volkswagen e-Golf review: carbyr.uk/2AbuLvY
Hyundai Ioniq electric review: carbyr.uk/2fUualE
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[@QoraxStan]

One of the best review videos of a car, notwithstanding an EV. Very well done video, short, crisp, to the point - but well covered and aesthetically edited. Kudos for your effort Carbuyer!

[@Alanicus1]

I’ve had one of these for two years now and it’s been brilliant. It’s never missed a beat, apart from one occasion when the auxiliary battery died for no apparent reason, and the running costs have been laughably low. I agree with your estimate of the range which is around 120 miles in winter and 160 in summer. The battery health is still 100% but I rarely use a fast charger so that may have helped. Of course it would be nice to have a bigger battery and a range of 250 miles would be nice. That said I almost never drive more than 100 miles in a day, so in practice it has not been a problem.

[@KoochiKoochi]

This is one excellent review indeed. You clearly know how to talk about EV’s. You picked up on all the points that people normally see as a negative. I’m a Leaf 2014 Owner. Best car I ever bought.

[@giorgostzavaras5686]

I missed you Ginny. I believe that you are the best reviwer in Carbuyer and one of the best on KZbin!

[@toyotaprius79]

This is genuinely a pretty good and informative. The big plus for me is Ginny, previously (like 3 or 4 years ago) she would've been among the least understanding or appreciative of EVs which made her look pretty biased like in the e-UP!. And I was worried for this, but seeing now it's a very no-nonsense and objective review. I'll love to see more reviews from Ginny!

[@neoanderson7]

Ginny was missing for a bit. Good to see her back at it. Good review. 👍🏻

[@philip771]

An excellent review, and as someone who is now considering my first used electric vehicle, those final comments were brilliantly helpful!

[@MrHairyTeabag]

Great car. Weakest point is it greatly reduces the charge rate on the second/subsequent rapid charge during a journey. If you want to do a 400 mile run you'd best take a sleeping bag... ...and no reach-adjustable steering is an epic fail.

[@mel2401]

Ginny looking as fit as ever and reviewing like an OG!

[@joaocorreia6282]

Great review Ginny.

[@robertl2856]

Good review Ginny

[@djhvideo]

She called the capacity 40 kilowatts. Its 40 kilowatt-hours

[@pakwong1348]

Waite till end of this year 2018 Nissan Leaf will be bringing out 60Kw and the range will be 320miles and day to day driving should be around 280-290miles 👍

[@akie64]

One of the best reviews I've seen on the new Leaf, this venerable Leaf will sell like hot cakes.

[@RichO1701e]

It is. Both domestically and abroad.

[@m.fender2989]

One of the very few interesting new cars in 2018!

[@kaylinclaudepillay268]

M. Fender 😂😂😂😂

[@droomagon]

how long would the battery last? and how would it be recycled? it may SEEM its environmentally friendly at first glance, but don't forget after the fact.. don't get me wrong, i love green earth, but do they poison the earth at any point?

[@dhruv3800]

"Tenka Model " XD

[@utrak]

a verbal typo

[@hiyaimamelia]

I was about to comment that it's tekna. 😂

[@t_rex8767]

sitting in the back for longer trips with your legs in a 90 degrees position like that 7:01 is painful, i have been in the back of a hiace alot years ago and it was just painful with my legs that way and couldn`t wait to get out and stretch my legs

[@sleekitwan]

Enjoyed this timely video, it's good stuff. My observation though is this - At 1:40 your comment on solar panels and how the cost is free 'once you've recouped the cost of installation'. Powerwall plus solar cells enough to do this = £7,000. Savings of electricity free out of this compared to paying let's extrapolate it to be going up to 20p/kWh, in one year for average use of say 5,000 miles, is 2,500kWh so say £500. That's TEN YEARS I am afraid just to get the first five grand back. The UK government a few years ago was paying you to generate electricity and dump it into the national grid, at 43p per unit (rounding these numbers). Now, it is 4p per unit. No, really, a tenth. The first price, was causing a 'gold rush' and the latest, has nobody much interested, unless the panels appear to be given away. The UK government, does not want people to do this, is the obvious conclusion. You have learned a great deal about this however, and come to the same conclusion I did: that because in effect, you cannot use the national grid to store your energy, you need to buy your own storage unit (powerwall). For the less experienced, it's to do with the costs I just pointed out... What I wanted to do was exactly this suggestion you made, but after doing the calculations, I realised the UK government has screwed the pooch on this one, as they say abroad. I figured how many solar panels I would need, from their out put and accounting for reasonably good light on the roof involved, and then I looked into those costs I outlined above. What I THOUGHT I would have been doing, was generating electricity all day long, and part of twilight even, and pouring that into the national grid while the house was not using much. Then, later, at night maybe, I would tap the national grid for maybe roughly that amount, to fill my electric car up. No, the figures can't be right I thought...all I wanted, was that the electricity I put IN was paid to me at the same rate as the units I took OUT, then, it is in effect FREE storage, as if I bought a powerwall. But no, I would be paid the tariff the government set - a poxy 4 pence per kWh. As I pay 14 pence per kWh now, I am beat. The only way to beat this, is to install 3 times as much solar panel as I calculated I would need (3 x 4p is close to 14p), then I would indeed get the juice for free. As it is, I would pay 10p per unit for the privilege of them storing it for a day or so. Really? This 'feed-in tariff' was meant to be an incentive, clearly as I said, the UK government has been lobbied by the national grid etc, who have decided, they don't wish to be used to store our electricity we made ourselves, hence the bo**ocksed system. Boo! Honestly, the way this country goes about stuff...this, from successive governments telling us 'the only constant is change' and all that garbage. Apparently, we have to adapt and change all over the place, but in no way are they about to help us do it.

[@BenRudd3]

Best comment. Thank you.

[@zoebettina]

....but no battery temperature management which is very important for more powerful battery packs

[@BenRudd3]

I think in the new model?

[@rabit818]

The first gen Leaf styling was polarizing. This gen looks a little. better. I hope the 120 + mile range is doubled.

[@RichO1701e]

The 120 miles was under the worst possible circumstances. Under "normal" Uk temperatures, 180+ average is easily achievable.

[@evilmario6061]

Excellent video. I know plenty of people who should consider a Leaf, Zoe or Kona etc.

[@davidwilson3530]

Lots of us have to park our cars on the road side, so how exactly do we charge these electric cars at home?

[@Martin-dx5zs]

David Wilson at a rapid charger? I've got more rapids than petrol pumps in a 6 Nike radius. Check out plugshare

[@linbinnash]

300 miles n i'm in but 160 miles still too short. Anyway way forward nissan.

[@tarassu]

Last time you drove 300 miles... waiting for reply.

[@linbinnash]

Arnis Tarassu i hav done 300 miles couple of times. But not on a regular basis. 300+miles will gives you peace of mind not worrying too much about charging stations on your journey.

[@Beorn.]

@@tarassu Most weekends I drive 150 miles each way . It wouldn't get me to my holiday place on a single charge as its 50% motorway then 50% big hills a 300 mile range would mean I could expect to get there whereas a 150 mile range wouldn't as it would be killed on such a journey then I could charge for the return. I do the journey mostly in the dark as well. The Hyundai Kona would so I agree with Gavin Nash, the range isn't good enough yet although I like the look of it more than the Kona which I think does not look like its worth its 30k+ price tag.

[@Beorn.]

@@linbinnash My regular journey is 50% motorway then some big hills and often in the dark so I would agree that 300 mile range would have to be the minimum before I considered one. I guess that when Nissan quote a range they are not taking that sort of journey into account. I would want to charge at destination not extend what is a long drive anyway.

[@peteg8920]

Best English car reviewer online

[@funnyfiveminutes]

Tekna - not: Tenka - as I do believe was mentioned (trim level). I know, I know : Very pedantic of me.

[@marcusskyfall]

Now if they could only make it look like a Maserati Grantourismo I'd have one in seconds 😂

[@twoeightythreez]

The Leafs in America are built in America. Kinda weird when you have a Nissan EV with more american content than a Chevrolet EV lol

[@finnelvers4511]

Two things you got wrong among many, the radio does not effect the range, and neither does the heated seats and wheel,they are powered by the 12 volt battery.

[@archerwithspark]

And where do you think 12v battery gets its power from? Quantum fluctuations?😂

[@chrismd00]

The batteries make you sit higher, so that's good for kids but adults have to sit with legs slightly bent, you seemed to say. If you are sitting lower, that would be the case, more leg bend and kids can have feet flat on floor.

[@petersilva037]

You mentioned you were running the heater and "even the electric seat heater"... I have heard that it is actually a good way to save energy or extend range, to use less of the heater, and more of the seat heaters... is that true?

[@ivar.andreassen3209]

100 % correct Peter.

[@MrSeamusMurray]

Yes never mentioned Rapid-Gate? WYF Not ?

[@waisguy2967]

What about the boot??

[@netiturtle]

I only do my 1's and 2's at a friends place. I now proudly wear Zero Emissions sticker, just like the car

[@Mladjasmilic]

It still does not have Mennekes type 2 connector. It can not charge on 3 phase socket. It also should support Vehicle to grid. It does support it in Japan.

[@cros13]

It does have Type 2, though Nissan didn't take the opportunity to fit a 3 phase charger ( that may change with the 60kWh Leaf ePlus next year ). Vehicle to grid is supported but it really isn't useful, it makes much more sense to buy a home battery (even a low capacity one) that is permanently connected than put extra cycles on your expensive car's pack.

[@Mladjasmilic]

cros13 For me, 3 phass is mandatory. Where I live, phase balance is done on household level and almost every home has 3 phase power. Yugoslav 3 phase 16 A sockets are abundant in all countries of former Yugoslavia, so you could rely on any good people to charge up in emergency. Power is limited by fuse before power meter, 20 A in my case, or 13kW. Having larger grade fuses enables you to draw more power, and max power is half the power bill. Also, where I live, power supply can be unreliable. Having a big battery that can power most essetial devices could be beneficial.

[@MrConor159]

Mladen Milić sounds like the 40kwh Zoe would fit that requirement.

[@Mladjasmilic]

Conor Nugent True, but Zoe can not supply power back. It has also battery rent system. I went to local Renault Dacia dealer, they are not interested in selling it here. Only cars on the market are BMW i3 and VW eUp.

[@MrConor159]

Mladen Milić I believe they offer the Zoe without battery rental in all markets now , mute point if you can't get it though. Might have to wait for the VW ID.

[@CarManiac_Chris]

Acceleration is 7.9 seconds as everywhere said so..

[@CosgroveNotts]

OK for nipping about local but useless for tripping off anywhere without stopping for coffee. Anxiety attacks planning a simple long journey.. Long extension hanging out of kitchen window for 22 hrs lol. I don't think so.

[@casperdog777]

good sensible review thanks

[@rodolfonavarrete7362]

We, as a society, should've moved to electric vehicles already, a long time ago.

[@BenRudd3]

Exactly still slowly happening 2022

[@keithbateman5302]

Why?

[@dunbustin]

3:25 I think the journalist is mistaken when she says that the e-pedal is regenerative braking. It is just a different way to apply normal braking. The manufacturers are happy to allow this confusion to reign and their information about it is obscure. It just shows the extent to which electric vehicles are a hobby and an expensive frivolity.

[@41tim]

Great review , thanks

[@CustardInc]

Of all the EVs with unusual appearances (BMW i3, for example)... You choose the Prius to make fun of... When the Leaf now looks even more like a Prius.

[@RoobehTunes]

Nice Jacket!

[@VRHERE]

Great review

[@jpsabbey]

Ash so lovely 😌...And the car seems good too 😊

[@nickschulman986]

Wow so carwow officially killed car buyer. New subscribers have stagnated and views are comparatively minuscule. Ouch.

[@darrenmcdermott6443]

sorry but i still dont get it, until the prices fall in line with combustion cars and until we have 250-300 miles range then its not an option. Maybe as a second car yes, but can you afford 30k for a second car .

[@livc444111]

Darren Mcdermott the price mentioned doesn't include government incentives. 200mile range is not bad, just charge it up every 3-4 days

[@MLife1972]

Disappointed that CarBuyer is running Honda Civic advertisements on the KZbin feed that look like a review. Gee, I wonder which car will come out on top in a comparison.

[@mehdi-pz9iq]

Carwow won the race by publishing the leaf's review

[@VehicleValhalla]

mehdi lol

[@roygustafsson6452]

But both carbuyer and carwow lost against Kelley Blue Book. They posted a review 2 weeks ago.

[@jimt2349]

Not even close. Carwow also gave either false information (Nissan's milage estimate is 168mi, not 240) or highly exaggerated (having to register with every charger company in the country) to make electric cars look less appealing.

[@jamieclarke687]

Did Ginny check the boot space.

[@RichO1701e]

It's HUGE!

[@sleekitwan]

Sorry, have to pick up on a small point at 3:19 you get into using a term that is wrong - 'regenerative brakes'. Don't exist. There is not this thing. There is 'regenerative braking', performed by turning the shaft of the electric motor/generator (electric machine they call it in the business), instead of feeding electricity into the thing to make the shaft turn. This, is responsible for a third of the benefit of an electric car over combustion engined cars. Another third (I round) is the fact the motor is 90% efficient not 15% as an ICE is (yes, fifteen percent), and the last third, is the avoidance of tax payment, both in road fund licence terms and fuel duty terms. Always remember, only relatively affluent people are buying electric vehicles at the moment. Therefore, the burden of tax, is being shifted further onto the poorer in society. Sad fact, but needs mentioning and addressing. Also please remember, when fuel companies and car makers talk about their latest combustion engine being 'more efficient' they really mean (try not to laugh) it is going from 14.5% to 15.5% efficiency. Tops. The internal combustion engine, is a really, really, brilliant heater. As only a half Watt or so comes out as noise, the energy lost is almost entirely heat. So, it's 85% efficient as a heater basically. Great heater, lousy shaft-turner, which is meant to be the point after all, to get a wheel to turn. I still like the vid, but there are no regenerative brakes, no regenerative brake pads, and no regenerative brake disks!

[@chrismd00]

Nice review. My Tesla M3 is almost here. Tesla is driving the competitors to up the batters. Looks like leaf has 40kw vs my 75 kw

[@cwilsonpa]

How cold was it?

[@cwilsonpa]

Billy McAuliffe: The reason for my question is due to the outside temperature impact on range. She indicated only a ~20% reduction on range, which would be impressive if it were far below freezing, but probably slightly above average if it were hovering around freezing. The heat pump is only effective to a certain temperature after that heat will be provided by the less efficient resistance heating which would greatly impact range. Also it would have been interesting to see if that indicated 120 mile range was actually correct by driving it at that cold temperature to see the true impact on range. These are all important questions to see if such a car would fit ones life style. I suspect the indicated 120 mile range was optimistic.

[@kyliefan7]

Good review Ginny....I’d disagree with you on this being a good looking car but I did like everything else!

[@ocatf7386]

help me please. Nissan Leaf vs Hyundai IONIQ???

[@kaylinclaudepillay268]

Oscar FraCa leaf

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

This is really pathetic 120 mls ; so its lost about 50 mls winter or not thats crap , and of corse theres all the problems of rapid charging two or three times in a row causing problems and cutting the Range down even more,? nissen dropped the ball with this one , this should have been the look at how far we have come car , and its not , i like the older one better overall, manufacturers should be bringing out no less than a minimum 200 mile range car and proper cooling for the batteries.

[@martiruda]

how weird has this comment aged. lots of people driving this car nowadays, no one complaining about the range just adjusting to it but most beneficial of all is the savings.

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

@@martiruda yes perhaps people are adjusting to the poor range, but look at the tesla model 3 with cooling for the battery pack over the air updating etc ,why would you get this car there's a reason tesla are outselling the rest of the other electric offerings

[@sutsi]

The E-Golf I think is the best family Electric vehicle especially as it carries over the build quality of the standard golf. It's not that more expensive Vs a Leaf.

[@Biskawow]

Why u use imperial not metric system?

[@steven2809]

Mario D. Zmaj Because we live in the UK....

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

Mario, the UK uses an odd mix of imperial and metric. Most things motoring are done in Imperial (not US) MPG and miles. Although we buy fuel by the litre and measure electric car battery capacity in kW.

[@Biskawow]

how come Clarckson uses kilometers in Grand Tour then?

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

Mario D. Zmaj when?! If he has he’s probably been told to to make it easier to sell the program to international markets. The UK uses miles for road distances, miles per gallon for fuel economy. Our motorway speed limit is 70mph, we say lorries are limited to 56mph not 90kmph. But yes we use metric for most other stuff.

[@Biskawow]

well alright, but that sounds like a mess to me

[@takeataxi]

06:39 sweet :)

[@robertbidochon7949]

finally electric cars are becoming mainstream... about time, car manufacturers!

[@collinslfc]

Not sure I agree, ICE still have a massive market share where I live.

[@pottermus666]

must have had tenko in mind

[@merouby]

She is lovely - wouldn't mind a test drive :)

[@rishop07]

I'm inclined to agree with her on the Toyota Prius ugly look 😂 😂

[@Reddylion]

Ev no going back to ice no more..... high time.......... from Hindustan, India. Is waiting.

[@SuperWHIZZO]

Ginny does it only come in "milk-float white" ?

[@KoochiKoochi]

SuperWHIZZO typical response from someone who has never driven or owned an EV. Clueless!

[@RichO1701e]

@ SuperHIZZO, no. Black and mint green too.

[@VSS1]

I'm glad Nissan are making electric cars, but the Leaf is so old hat, the sat Nav screen is a decade behind. It's just a bit boring as well.

[@ScrewInTheTuna_]

Vic Sandhu can you do better then?

[@VSS1]

Simon Buckingham I don't make cars, do you?

[@twoeightythreez]

I kind of like "boring" in a car as long as it works well. Cutting edge is only cutting edge when its brand new and you are talking about something most of us will be owning for at least 5 years

[@davidlightfoot6955]

Total crap to dear and not enough charging points in the UK

[@martiruda]

regretting about this comment mate?

[@Beastriderpav]

Makes me laugh how they watch Matt 😝

[@kael13]

But it’s so ugly. And in white looks like a fridge. Can’t deny it seems more powerful, but 2020 VW range should be more interesting for those not buying Teslas. Anyway, I’m totally ready to move to electric as soon as I can buy something I want, for a decent price.

[@teflonpan115]

I always thought Prius had a pretty cool futuristic look. Don't understand what people are nagging on about.

[@viximano]

👏👏👏👏

[@net_news]

she's so beautiful love you Ginny!

[@Garstonk]

"Tenka"🤣🤣🤣

[@pavelabadjiev8220]

music an1

[@DiiGiiTAL]

Lol.

[@MRK-lt4eg]

CarWOW wins 😂😂😂😂👍

[@garyfff4757]

£30k for a Toy.a rich mans Toy .totally impractical!

[@mny8441]

Second

[@rovamota]

Clever, but it's ultimately a dull car. If it had a petrol engine you'd probably not even review it.

[@JB-ki9ql]

Ginny a few months pregnant.

[@finnelvers4511]

Not a great review,you should stick to escape to the country

[@TheWeeky]

And ofc it has to be so ugly. Just like 90% of any other electric cars

[@003File]

More like the Nissan i don't like to get laid edition.

[@a.s945]

I'm not sexist, but what does woman does standing next to a car, never mind talking about it.

[@scoopermg8226]

only funny Get an education, pal. You comment makes little sense and you do sound sexist.... The first line of your comment gives it away

[@a.s945]

Scooper MG ever heard of sarcasm?

[@a.s945]

Mr highlighted reply

[@a.s945]

Or should I call you Holmes?

[@collinslfc]

That comment makes no sense.

[@bojankis5999]

Don't copy CARWOW with cars that you test, specialy this one that nobody want.

[@RobertWhittaker1]

I want it

[@chillikd]

I have one

[@mel2401]

I believe they may be the same company?

[@Kniffel101]

"that nobody wants." Good joke! 😂😂😂

[@nothingmuch.3014]

Bojan Kis You do realise these reviews are filmed in advance.

[@wideboy38]

leaf cannot rapid charge twice in succession without dropping the voltage . now to do 300 miles takes longer than the old one?????

[@cassiuscardinho]

Good review Ginny