Item: Used Nissan Leaf 2018-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a> is a great electric car. It’s a great used purchase&nbsp;because it is exceptionally cheap to buy and run, even if you lease the battery rather than buying it outright. It’s quiet and easy to drive, and its&nbsp;range is excellent. It didn’t fare as well as Leaf in our last reliability survey, though.

One premium alternative is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-golf/hatchback/used-review/n17990">Volkswagen e-Golf</a>. It has a range of around 125 miles in the real world, and you can charge it through a three-pin plug, too, although this will take 13 hours for a full charge. It takes four hours for a full charge via a dedicated quick charger. It’s great to drive, but it is pricey.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Slow rapid charging times</h3>

Early examples of the second-generation Leaf had an issue where drivers were unable to&nbsp;rapid charge their cars&nbsp;as quickly as anticipated, particularly if the vehicle had already been&nbsp;rapidly charged earlier in the day. This was due to programming that limited the rate of charge to the battery if the internal temperature of the pack reached a pre-set threshold, in order to prolong the life of the batteries inside.&nbsp;This threshold has since been raised, improving the speed of charging.&nbsp;

In our most recent survey, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/nissan">Nissan</a> as a brand finished in a disappointing 28th place out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers. In fairness, the first, and now second-gen Leaf has turned out to be&nbsp;one of&nbsp;the most reliable electric vehicle choices&nbsp;and one of Nissan's better models. The present Leaf is currently in third place in the electric car class.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Hatchback

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

LEAF

The Leaf is a well-equipped electric car that’s also good to drive and easy to live with.

Used Nissan Leaf

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

One good thing about electricity is it costs less than petrol or diesel to run a car on. Choose an economy tariff and charge your electric car up overnight, and your bills will be a fraction of what they would be for a conventionally powered car. Nissan claims a range of around 168 miles under the new WLTP test for the 40kWh version, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18159">although&nbsp;in our real range tests it ran for 128 miles</a>. The 62kWh version goes further with a real range of 217 miles, which isn't that far from its&nbsp;predicted range of 239 miles.

The Leaf uses the same Type 2 connector for normal charging as most of its rivals. However, unlike the Zoe and e-Golf, there’s also a CHAdeMO connector for 50kWh rapid&nbsp;charging. Charging at home from 0-100% on a 7kW wallbox&nbsp;will take 7.5 hours, and you can charge from 20-80% from a 50kW CHAdeMO charger in about 60 minutes. A full charge from a domestic three-pin plug socket&nbsp;will take 21 hours.&nbsp;

As you'd expect, the 62kWh version takes longer to charge: up to&nbsp;90 minutes for the same 20-80% 50kWh charge; and 11.5 hours from a wallbox, or 32 hours from a three-pin plug going from empty to full.&nbsp;

Find out more about the different types of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/types-of-electric-car-plug/n18057">electric car charging plugs here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">CO2 emissions</h3>

Since this is an electric car, there are no exhaust pipe emissions to have to worry about. Choose a renewable energy tariff for extra green points.

<h3 dir="ltr">Road tax</h3>

Annual car tax will be zero, as will be the London Congestion Charge (after you've paid to register your car on their system, of course). To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Servicing</h3>

Servicing is required every 18,000 miles and costs £159 for a minor service, and £209 for a major one. &nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Insurance</h3>

All versions of the Leaf are in group 21 for insurance, which is lower&nbsp;than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-golf/hatchback/used-review/n17990">Volkswagen e-Golf</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a> e-Niro and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/used-review/n18075">Hyundai Kona</a>; but R110 models of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a> are lower still.

Find out more about <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/are-electric-cars-more-expensive-to-insure/n18043">electric car insurance by reading our news story here</a>.

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Used Nissan Leaf 2018-present

The Leaf is a well-equipped car that’s also good to drive and easy to live with. 


Used prices for the latest&nbsp;Leaf start at around £17,500, which gets you an early&nbsp;2018&nbsp;model with high&nbsp;mileage. If you want something less leggy, you'll need to increase your budget to £19,000&nbsp;or more.&nbsp;An e+ Leaf with the bigger battery pack is still around £30,000, which is&nbsp;quite a lot when you consider that the discounted price of a new example, through our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan/leaf/hatchback/deals?engineHamId=NILE00HE_1217">New Car Buying service</a>, is&nbsp;currently a little over £33k, and&nbsp;the Leaf still qualifies for the government grant of £3000, too. &nbsp;

Check the value of a used Nissan Leaf with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3 dir="ltr">Specification</h3>

Acenta offers plenty of equipment for the money and a decent amount of standard safety kit. The higher-spec cars are only worthwhile if you desperately&nbsp;want one with the full suite of driver-assistance&nbsp;technology, such as adaptive cruise control that'll even work in stop/start traffic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Engine</h3>

There is no engine, as such, but you can go for either a 40kWh or a 62kWh version. We'd stick with the regular 40kWh car as it will be cheaper,&nbsp;there are a lot more of them to choose from, and it handles better because it's lighter.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/nissan">Nissan</a> Leaf:&nbsp;40kW Acenta

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £3500.

The Renault Zoe is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.

At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s own network of super-fast chargers – makes the Model S a tempting choice. It has seating for up to seven, an classy interior and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.

Electric

Despite its unconventional powertrain, the Leaf is shaped like a normal car with a significant nose and front overhang;&nbsp;this largely so it complies&nbsp;with pedestrian impact legislation in the event of an accident. However, not all of its front end is&nbsp;visible from the driver’s seat, so check for any minor scuffs on the bodywork and any damage to the wheels, as the Leaf will mostly have been used in urban scenarios and in tight city centre parking spaces.

When test-driving a used electric vehicle, make sure you monitor the dash to see how quickly the battery is depleted and ensure that it can be charged fully, just so you have a rough idea of battery condition.

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If you're one of a growing number of used car buyers&nbsp;looking for a second-hand&nbsp;electric car, it makes sense that you'd contemplate a top-seller such as the Nissan Leaf. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/used-review/n823">original Leaf was introduced in 2011</a>&nbsp;but, while it steadily improved over the years,&nbsp;it wasn't until this second-generation car arrived that the model&nbsp;became a challenger to a traditional family car. And now that prices have softened, it makes for a good alternative to a used family car, too.

There are two power and battery pack combinations you can find in the leaf:&nbsp;a 40kWh battery with a 148bhp electric motor; and an e+ version with a bigger 62kWh pack with a 214bhp motor.&nbsp;Like a number of electric cars, the Leaf has instant acceleration&nbsp;away from a standstill. The least powerful version has a&nbsp;0-60mph time of around eight seconds – much nippier than its main rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-golf/hatchback/used-review/n17990">Volkswagen e-Golf</a>. You actually need to be a bit gentle with&nbsp;your right foot when accelerating out of junctions in the 214bhp model,&nbsp;or you’ll spin the front wheels.

You also get a choice of trims, but unless you're a fan of hair shirts, the entry-level Visia is best avoided. In fact, that model was dropped shortly after launch&nbsp;because most went for the next model up, the Acenta, which&nbsp;has&nbsp;16in alloy wheels, lane-departure and blind spot warnings, adaptive cruise control and a 7in infotainment system with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;and a rear-view&nbsp;camera.

The mid-range N-Connecta includes 17in alloys, a&nbsp;360-degree camera system, heated seats and steering wheel and front and rear parking sensors, while the&nbsp;Tekna model gains Nissan's ProPilot suite of semi-autonomous driving aids and&nbsp;a 7-speaker BOSE sound system. Above these are the e+ N-TEC and e+ Tekna versions that both use the bigger 62kWh battery pack. The former has full LED headlights while the latter has the upgraded Bose sound system.

Meet a corner and the Leaf remains fluent: there’s little body lean and the steering is well weighted. Grip is good, too, and while the&nbsp;handling won’t inspire keen drivers, it’s reassuringly safe and secure. The ride comfort is generally very good, too, with only larger bumps catching the Leaf out. In terms of refinement, the Volkswagen e-Golf is better, but&nbsp;the Leaf still impresses.&nbsp;Obviously, there's no engine noise to disturb the calm, however,&nbsp;a little wind and road noise does&nbsp;make its presence known, and the suspension can make the odd clunk too.

Lift off the accelerator and you’ll feel the regenerative braking take effect, especially in e-Pedal mode, which slows the car down without your needing&nbsp;to touch the brake pedal. There’s also the more gentle regenerative braking of B mode (this is&nbsp;selected with the gear lever), with both modes harvesting&nbsp;energy that would otherwise be wasted when you apply the brakes&nbsp;and using it&nbsp;to replenish the battery.

You sit high in the driving seat of the Leaf, so&nbsp;visibility generally is good, although the over-the-shoulder view is hampered by the large rear pillars. Fortunately, a&nbsp;rear-view camera is standard on all&nbsp;trims except Visia. The dashboard is logically laid out and is pleasing to the eye, and you’ll get a 7.0in (enlarged to 8.0in from mid-2019)&nbsp;touchscreen that’s mostly simple to use, thanks to big icons and logical menus. The physical shortcut buttons that flank the display make it easy to hop between functions. Some of the interior plastics feel a little cheaper than those&nbsp;in cars like the e-Golf, for example, and the buttons and switches not quite so reassuring.

Space is good up front, but the steering wheel is only adjustable up and down, not in and out, so some may find that they can't find the right driving position.&nbsp;Rear head room is a little limited by the swooping roofline –&nbsp;anyone over six feet tall will find themselves with a crick in the neck.&nbsp;The Leaf’s boot is longer than some of its rivals, but it is scuppered&nbsp;by rather a large loading lip, and the Tekna and e+ Tekna have less overall capacity because&nbsp;the subwoofers and amplifiers of their Bose sound systems eat into the available room.

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Used Nissan Leaf 2018-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Nissan Leaf hatchback?