I was so relieved to see such a good report on what my wife and I hope to be the crowning glory to are final days in retirement. We live in oxford( city of dreaming spires) and will soon be taking home the new 2018 NIssan leaf as our third electric car with the same name. We hope that this car will persuade many people we meet and give a test drive, to think about purchasing one and once and for all get off of fossil fuel. If old folks like us who have been driving ice cars most of our lives, and can change to electric cars and show the young generation that we care about our planet and a bright future for our children and children’s children then we have achieved something. Thank you James and Kate and keep up the good work.
After this it's itching even more to order one. Passed by the dealer today. He said the current wait time would place it somewhere after the summer :( . My last car, a Diesel X-Trail, was a bad purchase since I lost the side job for which I did a lot of km every year.
I plan to, going back to the dealer next weekend to request a test drive. And then I just need to find room in my budget if I want to purchase one. I doubt the price of my X-trail will cover the cost of the Leaf :D
As always, love the review. Looking forward to Part 2 as am particularly interested in your experiences with rapid charging and how it affects battery temperature. Thanks - keep up the good work !!
Great review, thank you! I do see one compromise you have to take in the new Leaf: Battery temperature! I expect that long travels with multiple rapid charging will have an effect on the battery temperature and charging speeds. For me (expecting my Leaf in about 2 months) this is a compromise I can take. When you test charging and range, I'd be happy to see how the battery temperature behaves after multiple rapid charging sessions.
you won't have to wait long, just getting some more footage. I agree, the charging won't make that much difference in the long run.... Glad you enjoyed it :-)
just found you guys so I've subbed :) Its good to see other manufacturer owned vehicles commenting on and being totally unbiased for that I thank you! I will be covering my 2018 leaf for as long as I can keep it and covering upwards of 200.000miles on my own channel but unlike many others that cover BEVs mine will focus on the vehicle in our commercial taxi/private hire sector, of course the public will be able to see how great or not these vehicles will be at ultra high mileages with replacement parts way outside of the warranty so our guys and girls in the industry can make comparisons with ICE vehicles over said same miles covered. Cheers!
That was a very fair assessment of the leaf and I'm looking forward to part 2. Right now in Canada there is no Zoe for an option and the leaf is the prime candidate.
Hi James and Kate, IPete2 here from ‘Are Friends Electric?’ - very informative video thanks! Just wanted to let you know we’ve just ordered our new Nissan Leaf 2.0! Woot! Should be arriving first week of May, and I hope to do a little video to show the Nissan dealership experience and the new Ev! Keep up the excellent EV coverage I learn such a lot from you guys!
Thanks for the review. My LE with ProPilot will be in my hands on Tuesday. The E pedal is very intuitive to use. The seats have more padding. The ride is firmer and more rewarding.
Interestingly What Car magazine tested the New Leaf against a Q type Zoe and the electric Golf recently. This was a rather brutal winter test with car heating on and driven like an ice car. The three cars were run in convoy swapping the drivers around, the new Leaf did 108 miles, the Zoe did 131 miles and the Golf did 93 miles. This was in the What Car of the Year 2018 edition 24 Jan - 22 Feb.
Great job guys - really looking forward to Part 2. Just as an aside, had a look round the Leaf at our local dealers. It's actually put me off going EV but in a good way. I want one of these so will hold off for a bit. Things really moving apace now with many more longer range EVs to come over the next few years.
Yeah I understand that, but be aware of the premium for the larger pack, plus 50% capacity won't come cheap. glad you enjoyed it, part 2 won't be long :-)
Agreed. The Leaf is really nice to drive. Obviously now we know more about the battery issues on the Leaf 2, so range on used cars is probably more of a concern than for other EVs. There are so many negative videos out there about the Leaf, it's easy to forget how good the build quality and design was in 2018.
Thanks for the review. I may have misheard but I thought our local dealer advised us that the e-pedal does apply brakes and it's not just regen bringing the car to a stop.
LeiChat you’re absolutely correct, the car will use the friction brakes but you don’t need to was the point we tried to make. The friction brakes are only used when the battery is 100% charged and very cold restricting regen. However the transition is fluid and seemless 😊👍🏻
Thanks James Kate. I’m taken with this new Leaf but I’m going to wait. I just get this feeling that if I buy now I’ll regret it not because it’s bad but there is going to be so many new EV’s coming I’m scared of making the wrong decision. Looking forward to the further reviews on this car though.
First! 0-60 on video at least about 7.5 sec.! It’s so true, that brand loyalty is so hard to brake, especially if there’s a product to back it up, isn’t? Btw, we’ve had 4 maximas in our household and 2nd Infiniti Q50 on leas currently , and after watching this video I think I want to test drive this new ‘18 Leaf ^_^ Thx 4 video guys, cheers!
We had a short test drive today, first full EV I’ve driven. Impressed by how quiet the cabin is at all speeds (radio was off too 🙂 ) compared to my Kia Niro Hybrid in EV mode. Heating steering wheel today was a bonus (Tekna demo model). Tried ePedal, not enough time to get used to it but wow it certainly brakes hard when you take your foot off! Interior looked well put together, surprised sitting in the back I couldn’t get my feet under the front passenger seat. I need a long term test for long motorway trips and it’s not available till end of March/early April for that. The Hyundai Kona electric 64 pack could knock the leaf aside if Hyundai can build enough/price it well.
Number one spot huh? Im still burnt about "all new" then they released the actual car and it's very much not "all new" . Im looking forward to your quick charge speeds. Im happy nissan is moving forward but not happy with what they could have done as well. Our 2012 is still kickin with its brand new 24kWh battery and we plan on driving that car into the ground. Besides a few suspension creeks... The car is built superbly, you guys are absolutely right about that with this new one too i bet. Great video!! Thanks for sharing this :)
TRY to HELP you agreed, I'm battling with the fact Nissan made zero progress with aero efficiency.. it really bothers me that the Ioniq is 20% more efficient per kWh. I don't agree with interior quality though.. maybe a leather tekna is step up but my seats in acenta have worn quite badly. Appreciate the review though, will definitely go test drive one - like you say, there is actually little to touch the 2018 leaf when you consider battery range Vs price. (Zoe is just too small for family trips, for me at least). Looking forward to next video
That's curious, Andrew. We see to drive Metro's for about 22 years. We often took four people in comfort, all the luggage, food for the first three days of a self-catering holiday, almost 200 miles away from here, and still had room to spare. Is the Zöe really that small? Refuelled, for the first time, after about 320 miles, btw.
An excellent review as usual. We are test driving a new Leaf 140Kwh in a couple of days but the current range problem would probably be an issue for us if it isn't resolved.
James and Kate I love your channel good informative information cant wait for part 2. I still own a diesel car however my next purchase will probably be ev in the future. The only concern i have is range on the leaf as i live in the country no rapid chargers for around 30 miles.So if i was to buy now it would be a rex I3 as the range extender for me is a deal breaker, as this gives the confidence to be my soul car in the knowledge that when i get home with not much power i have the option of using the extender to get where i want if a emergency cropped up or a summer evening trip to the coast. Maybe a 60kw version of the leaf and a better charging network would perhaps change my mind.
Enjoyed the video, love my gen1 Leaf and had dreamed of replacing it with a Tesla, but frankly they are just too expensive. I need a real world affordable car, with a step up for the range - but I don’t often drive much further than 40 miles in a day - so really it’s just for the times when I might need to do a 100 mile journey that I need better range. The new Leaf really looks like it will do that for me with a lot of improvements that will mean something concrete day to day - ePedal, Pro Pilot and CarPlay for instance. Also have to say that I loved seeing where you were test driving - my grandparents lived in Market Bosworth and I recognised some of the roads around Sutton Cheney and the battlefield!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Redundancy is the thing we all want. Knowing we can drive 200 miles though we seldom do. Have you considered a 30kWh model? The prices are still quite high but should hopefully fall as the new Leaf hits the roads. That said, the tech inside compared to the new model is pretty poor, but still very usable. Ah, Market Bosworth, Kate grew up there, and her parents still live there. The roads are excellent and mostly quite so ideal for droning, driving and camera work.
Good point about the 30kw version but no, I want the new tech! And the increased power... and I’m in the neat position that my PCP will end in September, so I was planning on replacing with whatever new EV was best affordable option 😊
Hi guys. Thank you for your part 1 review and already looking forward to part 2!! Hope you guys have some thoughts on no thermal battery management. Also excited to see the 60kw version when that arrives. Cheers.
First video of yours I’ve watched I have just subscribed to your channel Makes me want to go out and get a new leaf tomorrow but goto save the deposit first Looking forward to part two Will you do the driving next time Kate I feel you would both benefit from the different viewpoints of passenger and driver .
You have to take into consideration the lack of a thermal protection system. The leaf has none. The battery degradation in places like (where I live) Arizona. Put it at the bottom of the list
But I do not have the same problem, I live where no one is surprised by -30 degrees C. So battery heater is of better value for me... Still on top for me...
@Chris Bates. I echo your concern. It's not as hot in Tennessee as Arizona but it's still to hot for the LEAF. My second "lizard" battery has lost 7% after 15 months and 16,000 miles. It's just too much. For me its once bitten twice shy. I'll wait at least 5 years before considering another Nissan EV just to see how they hold up, I can't trust promises that the problem is fixed until the evidence supports the claim.
The big EV flaw is the monthly cost to lease. I have a Kia Niro, monthly lease for 12k miles is just 236 gbp! The extra cost for any EV is greater than my annual fuel bill never mind range and refueling time issues. I hope by 2020 when my lease is up prices for EV s will be more realistic.
Great review as always love the dual perspective you bring to your reviews and so practical. Can't wait for part 2 particularly as I'm seeing a recurrent issue of reduced charge rates (22kW on Ecotricity) in several UA-cam reviews when on longer runs at motorway speed with multiple rapid charging stops. Cancelled my New Leaf order because it would seem old 30kWh Leaf might complete a motorway run from Essex to Glasgow in less time with faster, if more frequent, charging stops James you did a run with Jonathan pitting a 24kWh Leaf against a 30kWh Leaf and the 30kWh won the day, but if repeated woth 30kWh v 40kWh Leaf i wonder if the 30kWh Leaf may be the winner again. Have Nissan gone a kilowatt too far with this battery topology without active cooling?
Ordered a Tekna a few weeks ago but worry that if there is a tall cup or water bottle in those cup holders in the middle you will not be able to operate the 'gear' knob comfortably because your arm will hit the cup/bottle. Or am I missing something?
Guys now that the 62kw is now up for order when you can get your hands on 1 please compare it against johns I know it has some shortcomings but I still want to see if it’s worth ordering by the experts 👍🏻
What about charging Availability in Europe for the leaf and other brands. In America you’re limited to Tesla because they’re only brand that has an extensive build out on a charging network.
Great review as always. I looked at a Leaf in 2015 and even then the Leaf was right in the middle of the showroom and the dealer enthusiastic. Range was the deal-breaker for me then. I think when in has 60 kWh I would like one. Still love my Zoe though for the range and lower price available on haggling, but it definitely doesn't have the quality of the Leaf.
Glad you enjoyed it. I believe the Zoe will be getting an upgrade at a similar time to the new Leaf which will be interesting.... would you still chose a Leaf or the Zoe both with a 60kWh pack?
James and Kate the Zoe is a better size for me so if it were a similar range and charging capability I would go for a Zoe assuming a lower price. I believe the base model Leaf still has a resistive heater, that won't do the range much good in this weather.
Another great vid guys, thanks and it was good being honest about Tesla build vs. Datsun. You would hope that the Japanese have that nailed down, and I wouldn’t expect the French to compete either. I’d say from a value proposition and price point your right, however the market will shake up starting this year ..... :-)
Glad you enjoyed it. The build quality coming from Japan is first class, even better than the germans and prices more comparably. The coming year will be great :-)
Enjoyable and informative video as ever. Thank you. I have driven the new LEAF in Tekna spec with E pedal, which is excellent, and Pro Pilot, which I'm less convinced about. I found it a bit disconcerting to be taking a line which I wouldn't personally have chosen and it doesn't seem to take account of the speed of cars in the lane to the right, so you can end up passing to the left, which I think is still an illegal manoeuvre in the UK (happy to be corrected if that is no longer the case). Overall I thought the car was really good, the ride is certainly improved but, I agree with a lot of people here that are essentially saying this is a bit short of expectations. If the rumours/leaks are true then the 2019 model due out at the end of the year really will be the game changer and this version is a bit of a stop gap. Good but, not quite there.
Glad you enjoyed it, and agree with pretty much everything you've said. Pro -pilot was a tad uninspiring, but possibly because were used to Autopilot :-) you are correct, undertaking is a no no. The new tech is a step in the right direction and Nissans fully autonomous hardware/software looks incredible so hopefully it'll improve.
That 0-30 was rapid! Is it faster 0-30 or does it just pick up past 30 to 60 quicker? I can imagine overtaking will be no problem now Oh and if you coast, i.e let off but not all the way, do the lights still come on? Or is it only when you completely lift?
You say the friction brakes were not applied while the e-pedal was on, but in fact it does use the friction brakes in e-pedal mode combined with the regen. If you want to be sure that the friction brakes are not applied, use the B mode for max regen.
pilootdotcom yes we are aware that the two are mixed however we could see that all this breaking was done through regen as it stayed under 30kw. Also at 100% charge they are used and in emergency situations
I've seen £2k - £2.5k down and £240 - £250 per month on 36 & 48 month lease deals (with 10k mileage per year, the main dealer is not really the best option in this case, which is a shame as the Nissan dealer I visited was a pleasant experience).
Given our budget we'll have to wait for a 2nd hand anyway so still got plenty of time. ('till now our 24kWh Leaf is doing fine). Do you estimate this new Leaf is worth going for or best to wait even longer for the 2019 version with bigger battery (and possibly active cooling)?
Good question. The 40 will cover almost all peoples daily needs and the longer journeys that the lower models couldn't. The active cooling will make a difference but I don't put it near the top of the agenda, it just won't come in to play as much as people think.
Pretty damning comment about Tesla build quality, James! I've "cracked' and ordered a Leaf 2.0. When I test drove a Teckna I thought the car was a couple of light years ahead of the old Leaf in terms of ride quality and performance. I still wish the battery pack was a bit bigger, but considering the new Leaf will accept a 150KW charge when new chargers become available I think Nissan may have included an element of 'future proofing'. Just one glaring omission in this episode, exactly how many Kates can fit in the boot? :)
Peter N Bernfeld we’ve been following your progress and watched you crack. We genuinely love this, it’s perfect for range, size and as you said, the drive is way better than the old model. When does yours arrive???
Not really damning Tesla. From my brief look at the tekna in our local dealership, the leaf is just so well finished, it's hard to believe that it's from the same stable as the horrid pulsar. Mind you, I also saw a Micra (nearly 20 grand mind you) and I have to say, that was really well screwed together too. Nissan are really smacking the bums of rivals when it comes to interior materials.
hopefully in a few days, we still have some more footage to record but the weather and other commitments have got in the way. Looking forward to your video :-)
Keep up the good ev testing , I look forward to part 2, you 2 are brilliant, when I buy my ev from Jonathan ( need to save a bit more yet ) my one stipulation is you 2 deliver it 👍
Nissan Personal Lease. Initial Payment of £1,860 inc VAT followed by 35 monthly payments of £310 inc VAT. Based on 10,000* miles per annum. *Excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. That’s for The Tekna
I’d rather have a Bolt or a Model 3/Y. Rumor has it, the new Leaf battery may suffer from overheating issues. Seems like Nissan doesn’t think much of thermal management systems.
Hi James and Kate, thanks for the informative review as always.. I am keen to move on from my Touran 170 PD DSG.. its a great package but the fumes from the diesel are terrible still enter the cabin despite 5 years of VW trying to stop them entering the cabin.. I have a Model 3 and i Pace on order but they are taking way too long to arrive! Loved: -Pro-pilot -ePedal -Safety features (adaptive cruise etc) -Performance -Improved range -Price if bought with broker discount Put off by the following... -Rear seat bench being slightly strange height relative to the floor -Lack for 100% leather seats -Lack of light colour leather interior ( why do we have to have a depressing black everywhere) -Horrible old fashion analogue speedo taking up huge amount of room that could have been used for sat nav or DIS. -Very slow charging from domestic 240v making a 190 round trip to parents not viable with just a few hours charge -lack for sunroof -Price if purchased from Nissan Dealer without discount Conclusion.. keep waiting for Model 3, or maybe i-pace, or....60kw Leaf.
Don't know about UK but is available for my country, Spain and it's built in UK so I'll be a little strange that it's not available in UK. Well if you don't want a wallbox (Nissan gives you one for free including installation, at least here in Spain) I heard that the new leaf comes with a new EVSE capable of 6,6kW in the USA at 240V, don't know about Europe yet but it's technically capable.
Glad to hear its available in Spain.. Its Black only here in the UK.. Also I do want a wall box, but the point is that my weekend journey is to a house without one which at 190 miles round trip is beyond the limit of the car even with charging it for 3 hours on the type one domestic charger .. as it only seems to charge 7 miles in an hour on 240V UK 13amp socket.
It still looks old on the inside IMO. The Kia Soul EV looks more modern on the inside, but yes I know it doesn't compete with the range of the new 40kw Nissan Leaf :) Still lovin my Soul EV but the new Leaf looks like a solid car!
I also timed it got 6.6 secs, the 0-60 tests I’ve seen on UA-cam the best one was 7 secs so they probably got a slightly favorable inclination I’m guessing. Nissan oficial 0-60 number is 7.9 sec.
See you can now get the new leaf for Nissan Personal Lease. Initial Payment of £1,860 inc VAT followed by 35 monthly payments of £310 inc VAT. Based on 10,000* miles per annum. *Excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. That’s for The Tekna
Thanks for the video both, I can see that you love the new Leaf - great motor. Could you please do a video though on some commercial EVs! I am a tradesman and there are very few videos on the new Nissan e-nv200 especially the real world range when fully loaded?!
Same. I'm really thinking about the e-nv200 but I cannot find a single test fully loaded. Even Nissan can't answer my questions or offer much help at all
I have been on Nissan's website to find out but it still has the "mk 1" e-nv200 listed with the older battery not the new upgraded 30Kwh pack. It feels like commercial side is lagging behind somewhat, apart from Nissan there is just Renault pushing ahead with electric vans and yet electric cars have been out a few years now
The new one is 40kW. The website is soooo out of date. My local dealer didn't even know what size the battery was in the vehicle I looked at....he said he thought it was 80kW!!! For every other question I had he tried to look up the answer in the manual....and he was the resident EV expert....a man who was passionate about electric vehicles (so I was told). I walked away. They actually wouldn't even let me test drive until I could prove to them I had the funds to buy! I actually came away thinking they didn't want to sell me one.
Oops my bad 40kWh. That doesn't sound very helpful and it surprises me. I've had very good experience with our local dealer, I'm an electrician and specialise in renewables and install EV charging points. We have held a few EV open days with them and they even let us borrow some Nissan leafs for a few days. It is frustrating though when you search the internet for the vans and all the listings never include the actual battery size which is the most important piece of info!
Thanks, James and Kate. If on a tight budget, the new Zöe is tempting, if you can live with the poorer charging infrastructure, and slower charge speeds. Otherwise, it's the Leaf 2 hands down. Tesla are fascinating (we'd like to hire yours for a few days, sometime, btw), but prices, even of the Model 3 ar too high for the build quality. If you want range, then, for now, the Tesla’s take the biscuit.
We used a 40 Zoe for a week a few months back and, it was very very good. In the end our only criticisms were, acceleration (which really doesn't count) and the interior finish isn't the best in places. We only used it locally but only charged it twice a week. In all honestly, a 40kWh pack would do us for almost everything we need be it a Leaf or a Zoe, but we do love our S and you're more than welcome anytime you're ready :-)
Thanks, and don't worry about judgement. One of my older e-mail addresses is even more embarrassing, after a new web facility appeared a couple of years ago!
I have to say the 24 kwh I had did 23k hassle free smooth miles. The 30kwh is the same obviously. Why change too much? The most reliable car I have ever had. But I won’t be buying one when my PCP ends on my current one. I am going to wait and buy a used one!
James and Kate Thanks for the videos too they are honest and helpful. I think three years from now the new Tekna today will be sub 10k and an excellent used buy👍
I'm actually not very keen on this car. I have the first Leaf and I think they have not paid that much attention to detail. The car looks like any other Nissan. There is no distinction between their range. I like the old Nissan leaf for it odd looks. (Even though it's not very pretty) I don't like analogue speedometer. I don't like the single screen on the dashboard for information. It should be two split screen with the ability to choose your display setup. I'd miss the trees. (As I get obsessed with being eco) The media screen looks old in comparison to what's coming out now. It looks like the same sat nav as the first model. The could have removed buttons for one touch screen inculding the heater controls. It would seem they have played it safe.
When you have the number one selling EV car in the world, you are not going to take risks on the design with radical changes. You do it gradual. And let's hope it doesn't take another 8 years before they update the current leaf.
The first generation Leaf did stand out with it's quirky looks, but that's what put a lot of people off! People want a normal looking car that doesn't stand out that just happens to be electric to appeal to the masses, not everyone feels the need to advertise their driving a electric car. Personally I prefer the looks of the second generation , but still feel it needs the 60kW battery to appeal to the majority of people but obviously that's going to come at a premium price for a while.
Dave Fitzpatrick well take a look at Honda what EV they intend to bring to the market. Then look at this second gen leaf. How bland is it? Nothing special about its looks. It's just another Nissan car. That to me is not very appealing. Now the Honda's EV offering, is something different. Heck if Tesla is something different with the model 3. I understand they played it safe with the 2nd gen Leaf. I do feel they could have offered something more modern in comparison to what other EV's are coming out.
Vampire Echidna The Honda's you're talking about are concept cars & as we all know may not represent anything like the road going versions ( Honda's aren't renowned for stand out cars either) most concept cars stand out & look futuristic but the production models end up looking little like the concept! And in my view Honda ( who I actually used to like & own cars) have been dragged kicking & screaming into making ev's , which I'm disappointed at as I always saw Honda as a company that seeked innovation! So I'm guessing your Honda will when released be as mundane & as bland as the Nissan, but good on Nissan for being at the forefront of the ev revolution.
Really have you tried Toomys of Southend. Acording to them there is no such thing as a Asenta, it is now called the N connect. Really? They still do not know what they are talking about.
I recently went on a drive consisting of 35km highway driving (8 degrees C, light rain and heating on, no Eco. Cruise control at 110kmh) and return was through normal roads averaging 60kmh (again, around 8C and light rain with eco mode and e-pedal). Total trip was about 100km, I used 50% battery. Do you think this is normal or BMS issue or something else? I have a black mid-grade 2018 Leaf (Japan version), 2 weeks old.
Hi James and Kate. Could you give me a bit of advice. Watching your video has tempted me and the wife get the new Nissan Leaf. We have give on the Nissan website and checked out the configure menu. I have reservations about having the 17" wheels as we prefer a better ride over sporty handling but the 16" wheels are not available on the 2. zero option without significant cost. How did you find the 17" wheels on your tekna? Thanks !!
Ellis Toms in terms of quality, it’s an excellent ride and drive. Weight distribution has been fettled with and the improvement over its predecessor is obvious when driven 👍🏻
Nice review, shame about the massive compromise. Go and do two rapid charges on a long run and the 2nd will take an hour and 30 min! Max charge rate 22kw. Forget all the silly gadgets, what it desperately needs is battery cooling. I would rate the new leaf well below everything else until this major problem is fixed. Absolutely not for me thanks. See speakev forum for more info. Sorry Nissan but I won’t be getting another leaf. Until the temperature controlled 60kwh arrives anyway.
For me, Zoe40 Q90 i > Leaf 2018 Basically, active battery cooling. That's major, for battery lifetime and rapid charging speeds by recent reports. A Zoe will beat the Leaf long distance hands down. 22kW AC is also huge, especially if you can't charge at home like me. The new battery heater is important if you can't charge at home. Also the steering wheel position is more adjustable. But the Leaf beats the Zoe on performance, energy efficiency, toys, cupholders, interior space and boot space. Possibly glove box? For the used market, better availability of battery owned models will be huge. Battery lease Zoe models are still a good deal new but not used which is a problem. That's a long list of positives for the Leaf but the EV features of the Zoe are too big for me to ignore. One almost small thing I like is that the new Leaf gives an estimate to 80% or so. In the Zoe, mentally knock 20 minutes off but only if not limited by battery temps (22kWh version).
This leaf has a battery heater, and if you want active battery cooling and more range there's a 60kWh variant, the leaf it's better than the Zoe in every way if you spend a little more money.
Girahim It has a battery heater? You learn something new... In that case, the Leaf beats the Zoe in every way except active battery cooling (and therefore long distance driving and rapid charge rate), AC charge rate and, as you mention, cost. All the most important aspects for me.
Sripal TAD The current Zoe rapid charges (40kW DC) as quickly as the current Leaf (40-42kW in practice) with similar range. And you can rapid charge more than once per day. The second rapid charge for the Zoe will give you 40kW vs 27kW in a Leaf.
Small things make a big difference? There's no sunglasses holder in the roof of the new Leaf! Still buying a 2.ZERO though. Not to self:- Find a sunglasses case that can be fitted somewhere logical.
Go for the future go ev THANK YOU JAMES AND KATE #buzzofftoxic NEW Nissan Leaf I find bit boring to look at and sad Nissan is using more heavy steel in it than the old Leaf that old speedo! is it from my old 1980s Renault 4 yuk ... NEW 2018 BMW faster and for me looks like the car of the future more important BMW for taking care about the embodied energy within manufacturing, thought of material use so important if the car is truly GREEN! However well done Nisan for being the first major car producer to go car green for the mass boring sells thats cool JAMES AND KATE please look at the embodied energy within any car produced SUSTAINABILITY ?
I just hope the bigger pack arrives soon and Nissan uk offer the lighter colour interior on the top two models, as much as I loved my test ride motorway miles (minus ePeddle) ain't great 125 usable leaving 8 in the tank, a long way from the Mickey Mouse 200 Euro rating but even against the EPA rating of 150. The heated seats improved no pulsing (glorious) I was surprised against the egolf with heat pump how much it still drank in 4c winter test to keep at 21c. It's like Nissan just thought ok I works why change it. In summer though I have no doubt this car will get 150 round town to 160miles
ram64man Curious what speed did you try to keep to on your motorway test drive? Seen a couple of other videos and the owners drove at national limit (when possible) and got around 102ish (involved some big hills). I’ve only a short test drive next week, but do occasional 150ish motorway drives (300ish round trip) so in two minds if this Leaf is the right one or wait for the 60.
alrokram alrokram my test ride started in Southampton along the m27 to the m3 then anti clockwise on the m25 I got to blue water with 113on the trip I got as far as Romford before I had to charge average speed was 61 mph 8 on the clock and low charge warning my digbat of a co-pilot cleared the setting while I plugged in. On the way back we cut through London to the a2 to get the low speed average of 4.1 miles per kw before driving the same bit of m25 and m3 total trip 5 hours if your a tesla driver or driven an i3 then your love epilot
Thanks for that info, leaning towards waiting for the bigger battery but going to ask for a long test drive like yours to make my mind up. Hyundai Europe are meant to announce tomorrow (27/02) the electric Kona with 38 or 64 battery packs for sale this summer.
Remember those bits that are the same are ok , main problem was the front look outside , the people who might buy this where never in the old leaf because it was so ugly to the majority of people . hate the analogue clock , what were they thinking, foot break should be gone by now , prefer manual hand break , I can actually drive a car
Nissan dealers in my state are TERRIBLE. They hated me and my leaf :( Main reason I jumped ship and got a Tesla model S I loved my leaf but HATED the Nissan dealerships in my area
Stop saying that it has a clever styling. it doesn't ... I like what the car can do but the styling is far, far from beautiful. It a design mix between a Honda Civic and Toyota Prius and none of these cars are beautiful.
Surely if its a design mix between a Civic and Prius it's very clever as I see none of it. My point is, it's the same car underneath and has had very little alteration, but at first glance and to the untrained eye it's a different car.
Thank you for such a pleasant video. You two make a great team.
Thank you
I was so relieved to see such a good report on what my wife and I hope to be the crowning glory to are final days in retirement. We live in oxford( city of dreaming spires) and will soon be taking home the new 2018 NIssan leaf as our third electric car with the same name. We hope that this car will persuade many people we meet and give a test drive, to think about purchasing one and once and for all get off of fossil fuel. If old folks like us who have been driving ice cars most of our lives, and can change to electric cars and show the young generation that we care about our planet and a bright future for our children and children’s children then we have achieved something. Thank you James and Kate and keep up the good work.
Great video, pleasure to watch the interaction between the two of you, can't wait for part 2, thank you for doing these videos.
Thank you, it won't be long :-)
After your review I’m glad my new Tekna is on its way.
After this it's itching even more to order one. Passed by the dealer today. He said the current wait time would place it somewhere after the summer :( . My last car, a Diesel X-Trail, was a bad purchase since I lost the side job for which I did a lot of km every year.
It's excellent, ours has been brought forward from the 16th March to next week :-)
Test drive it, it's awesome :-)
I plan to, going back to the dealer next weekend to request a test drive. And then I just need to find room in my budget if I want to purchase one. I doubt the price of my X-trail will cover the cost of the Leaf :D
As always, love the review. Looking forward to Part 2 as am particularly interested in your experiences with rapid charging and how it affects battery temperature. Thanks - keep up the good work !!
Thank you, it won't be long.
Great review, thank you! I do see one compromise you have to take in the new Leaf: Battery temperature! I expect that long travels with multiple rapid charging will have an effect on the battery temperature and charging speeds. For me (expecting my Leaf in about 2 months) this is a compromise I can take.
When you test charging and range, I'd be happy to see how the battery temperature behaves after multiple rapid charging sessions.
you won't have to wait long, just getting some more footage. I agree, the charging won't make that much difference in the long run.... Glad you enjoyed it :-)
just found you guys so I've subbed :) Its good to see other manufacturer owned vehicles commenting on and being totally unbiased for that I thank you! I will be covering my 2018 leaf for as long as I can keep it and covering upwards of 200.000miles on my own channel but unlike many others that cover BEVs mine will focus on the vehicle in our commercial taxi/private hire sector, of course the public will be able to see how great or not these vehicles will be at ultra high mileages with replacement parts way outside of the warranty so our guys and girls in the industry can make comparisons with ICE vehicles over said same miles covered. Cheers!
What a great review this was and what a great team You are together, really nice to see.
Thank you :-)
James and Kate you guys made the best new leaf review on UA-cam
Thank you :-)
That was a very fair assessment of the leaf and I'm looking forward to part 2. Right now in Canada there is no Zoe for an option and the leaf is the prime candidate.
It won't be long :-) glad you enjoyed it.
Hi James and Kate, IPete2 here from ‘Are Friends Electric?’ - very informative video thanks! Just wanted to let you know we’ve just ordered our new Nissan Leaf 2.0! Woot!
Should be arriving first week of May, and I hope to do a little video to show the Nissan dealership experience and the new Ev!
Keep up the excellent EV coverage I learn such a lot from you guys!
Great news Pete. We are subscribed to you and have been waiting for another video from you, like always i'm sure it will be great to watch :-)
Thanks for the review. My LE with ProPilot will be in my hands on Tuesday. The E pedal is very intuitive to use. The seats have more padding. The ride is firmer and more rewarding.
excellent news, love the e-Pedal
I owe a 30 kw Leaf for over a year now. Love it . I am waiting for the 60 kw .
Interestingly What Car magazine tested the New Leaf against a Q type Zoe and the electric Golf recently. This was a rather brutal winter test with car heating on and driven like an ice car. The three cars were run in convoy swapping the drivers around, the new Leaf did 108 miles, the Zoe did 131 miles and the Golf did 93 miles. This was in the What Car of the Year 2018 edition 24 Jan - 22 Feb.
Great job guys - really looking forward to Part 2. Just as an aside, had a look round the Leaf at our local dealers. It's actually put me off going EV but in a good way. I want one of these so will hold off for a bit. Things really moving apace now with many more longer range EVs to come over the next few years.
Yeah I understand that, but be aware of the premium for the larger pack, plus 50% capacity won't come cheap. glad you enjoyed it, part 2 won't be long :-)
Agreed. The Leaf is really nice to drive. Obviously now we know more about the battery issues on the Leaf 2, so range on used cars is probably more of a concern than for other EVs. There are so many negative videos out there about the Leaf, it's easy to forget how good the build quality and design was in 2018.
James and Kate are loving the new leaf so much they forgot about part 2.
Thanks for the review.
I may have misheard but I thought our local dealer advised us that the e-pedal does apply brakes and it's not just regen bringing the car to a stop.
LeiChat you’re absolutely correct, the car will use the friction brakes but you don’t need to was the point we tried to make. The friction brakes are only used when the battery is 100% charged and very cold restricting regen. However the transition is fluid and seemless 😊👍🏻
That's an important point that I hadn't understood on our test drive. Thanks for providing the distinction.
Yup - I have to agree! Leaf is at the top of the list. Great video guys.
Thanks Tim :-)
Good that the brake lights come on! When I test drove the new leaf I wasn't sure if they were turning on. (Used to my Tesla showing it on the screen)
Yep, a real good feature. Strange it's taken 7 years to implement it.
Great review guys, I think you've swayed me to Nissan
Love your reviews James and Kate
Thank you :-)
Thanks James Kate. I’m taken with this new Leaf but I’m going to wait. I just get this feeling that if I buy now I’ll regret it not because it’s bad but there is going to be so many new EV’s coming I’m scared of making the wrong decision. Looking forward to the further reviews on this car though.
There are plenty doing as you are, so quite possibly a very wise decision. Glad you enjoyed the video :-)
First! 0-60 on video at least about 7.5 sec.!
It’s so true, that brand loyalty is so hard to brake, especially if there’s a product to back it up, isn’t?
Btw, we’ve had 4 maximas in our household and 2nd Infiniti Q50 on leas currently , and after watching this video I think I want to test drive this new ‘18 Leaf ^_^
Thx 4 video guys, cheers!
Do it, you'll love it :-)
We had a short test drive today, first full EV I’ve driven. Impressed by how quiet the cabin is at all speeds (radio was off too 🙂 ) compared to my Kia Niro Hybrid in EV mode. Heating steering wheel today was a bonus (Tekna demo model). Tried ePedal, not enough time to get used to it but wow it certainly brakes hard when you take your foot off! Interior looked well put together, surprised sitting in the back I couldn’t get my feet under the front passenger seat. I need a long term test for long motorway trips and it’s not available till end of March/early April for that. The Hyundai Kona electric 64 pack could knock the leaf aside if Hyundai can build enough/price it well.
Fantastic review folks, look forward to part two. :)
Number one spot huh? Im still burnt about "all new" then they released the actual car and it's very much not "all new" . Im looking forward to your quick charge speeds. Im happy nissan is moving forward but not happy with what they could have done as well. Our 2012 is still kickin with its brand new 24kWh battery and we plan on driving that car into the ground. Besides a few suspension creeks... The car is built superbly, you guys are absolutely right about that with this new one too i bet. Great video!! Thanks for sharing this :)
Hi, how many miles have you done in your 24kwh Leaf and have you had much battery degradation? Thanks.
TRY to HELP you agreed, I'm battling with the fact Nissan made zero progress with aero efficiency.. it really bothers me that the Ioniq is 20% more efficient per kWh.
I don't agree with interior quality though.. maybe a leather tekna is step up but my seats in acenta have worn quite badly.
Appreciate the review though, will definitely go test drive one - like you say, there is actually little to touch the 2018 leaf when you consider battery range Vs price. (Zoe is just too small for family trips, for me at least). Looking forward to next video
That's curious, Andrew. We see to drive Metro's for about 22 years. We often took four people in comfort, all the luggage, food for the first three days of a self-catering holiday, almost 200 miles away from here, and still had room to spare. Is the Zöe really that small? Refuelled, for the first time, after about 320 miles, btw.
Awesome video guys! Keep up the good work.
An excellent review as usual. We are test driving a new Leaf 140Kwh in a couple of days but the current range problem would probably be an issue for us if it isn't resolved.
James and Kate I love your channel good informative information cant wait for part 2.
I still own a diesel car however my next purchase will probably be ev in the future. The only concern i have is range on the leaf as i live in the country no rapid chargers for around 30 miles.So if i was to buy now it would be a rex I3 as the range extender for me is a deal breaker, as this gives the confidence to be my soul car in the knowledge that when i get home with not much power i have the option of using the extender to get where i want if a emergency cropped up or a summer evening trip to the coast. Maybe a 60kw version of the leaf and a better charging network would perhaps change my mind.
Thank you, glad you like it, The i4 is great and the REX just in case :-)
Enjoyed the video, love my gen1 Leaf and had dreamed of replacing it with a Tesla, but frankly they are just too expensive. I need a real world affordable car, with a step up for the range - but I don’t often drive much further than 40 miles in a day - so really it’s just for the times when I might need to do a 100 mile journey that I need better range. The new Leaf really looks like it will do that for me with a lot of improvements that will mean something concrete day to day - ePedal, Pro Pilot and CarPlay for instance. Also have to say that I loved seeing where you were test driving - my grandparents lived in Market Bosworth and I recognised some of the roads around Sutton Cheney and the battlefield!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Redundancy is the thing we all want. Knowing we can drive 200 miles though we seldom do. Have you considered a 30kWh model? The prices are still quite high but should hopefully fall as the new Leaf hits the roads. That said, the tech inside compared to the new model is pretty poor, but still very usable. Ah, Market Bosworth, Kate grew up there, and her parents still live there. The roads are excellent and mostly quite so ideal for droning, driving and camera work.
Good point about the 30kw version but no, I want the new tech! And the increased power... and I’m in the neat position that my PCP will end in September, so I was planning on replacing with whatever new EV was best affordable option 😊
Great vid (as usual👍) when’s part two due?
Hi guys. Thank you for your part 1 review and already looking forward to part 2!! Hope you guys have some thoughts on no thermal battery management. Also excited to see the 60kw version when that arrives. Cheers.
We have plenty of thought, it's quite interesting tbh, won't be long :-)
What happens to the battery when the car is not used for a few weeks., eg leaving it in an airport carpark.
First video of yours I’ve watched
I have just subscribed to your channel
Makes me want to go out and get a new leaf tomorrow but goto save the deposit first
Looking forward to part two
Will you do the driving next time Kate
I feel you would both benefit from the different viewpoints of passenger and driver .
Great job as always guys 👍
Cheers John
You have to take into consideration the lack of a thermal protection system. The leaf has none. The battery degradation in places like (where I live) Arizona. Put it at the bottom of the list
Chris Bates , I have same concern, as I live in Australia 40c+++
I actually cancelled my order because of the lack of the system. I've been told the 60kwh will have this.
But I do not have the same problem, I live where no one is surprised by -30 degrees C. So battery heater is of better value for me... Still on top for me...
Chris Bates that’s a fair shout, I know you have heavy surface loss due to temperature. I’ll add this in our next vid, cheers 👍🏻
@Chris Bates.
I echo your concern. It's not as hot in Tennessee as Arizona but it's still to hot for the LEAF. My second "lizard" battery has lost 7% after 15 months and 16,000 miles. It's just too much.
For me its once bitten twice shy. I'll wait at least 5 years before considering another Nissan EV just to see how they hold up, I can't trust promises that the problem is fixed until the evidence supports the claim.
The big EV flaw is the monthly cost to lease. I have a Kia Niro, monthly lease for 12k miles is just 236 gbp! The extra cost for any EV is greater than my annual fuel bill never mind range and refueling time issues. I hope by 2020 when my lease is up prices for EV s will be more realistic.
Cannot wait for the next episode 🙂
Won't be long Bud :-)
Great review as always love the dual perspective you bring to your reviews and so practical. Can't wait for part 2 particularly as I'm seeing a recurrent issue of reduced charge rates (22kW on Ecotricity) in several UA-cam reviews when on longer runs at motorway speed with multiple rapid charging stops. Cancelled my New Leaf order because it would seem old 30kWh Leaf might complete a motorway run from Essex to Glasgow in less time with faster, if more frequent, charging stops James you did a run with Jonathan pitting a 24kWh Leaf against a 30kWh Leaf and the 30kWh won the day, but if repeated woth 30kWh v 40kWh Leaf i wonder if the 30kWh Leaf may be the winner again. Have Nissan gone a kilowatt too far with this battery topology without active cooling?
Fantastic video guys
Thank you :-)
Ordered a Tekna a few weeks ago but worry that if there is a tall cup or water bottle in those cup holders in the middle you will not be able to operate the 'gear' knob comfortably because your arm will hit the cup/bottle. Or am I missing something?
We tried a couple of Mcdonalds coffees and it was no issue
Guys now that the 62kw is now up for order when you can get your hands on 1 please compare it against johns I know it has some shortcomings but I still want to see if it’s worth ordering by the experts 👍🏻
What about charging Availability in Europe for the leaf and other brands. In America you’re limited to Tesla because they’re only brand that has an extensive build out on a charging network.
I am going to check out a leaf tomorrow! I may have to take a hit on my 2017 Sentra....but would save a fair amount in gasoline in any case.
Great review as always. I looked at a Leaf in 2015 and even then the Leaf was right in the middle of the showroom and the dealer enthusiastic. Range was the deal-breaker for me then. I think when in has 60 kWh I would like one. Still love my Zoe though for the range and lower price available on haggling, but it definitely doesn't have the quality of the Leaf.
Glad you enjoyed it. I believe the Zoe will be getting an upgrade at a similar time to the new Leaf which will be interesting.... would you still chose a Leaf or the Zoe both with a 60kWh pack?
James and Kate the Zoe is a better size for me so if it were a similar range and charging capability I would go for a Zoe assuming a lower price. I believe the base model Leaf still has a resistive heater, that won't do the range much good in this weather.
Another great vid guys, thanks and it was good being honest about Tesla build vs. Datsun. You would hope that the Japanese have that nailed down, and I wouldn’t expect the French to compete either. I’d say from a value proposition and price point your right, however the market will shake up starting this year ..... :-)
Glad you enjoyed it. The build quality coming from Japan is first class, even better than the germans and prices more comparably. The coming year will be great :-)
The Apple carplay etc isn't on the Visia afaik? Doesn't the shear amount of buttons on the dash/steering wheel get annoying?
Do you guys still feel the same way? Comparing to other used EV is the same class?
How is wind and tyre noise compared to its old version and to other EVs please. I am an EV newbie and considering to get my first one sometime soon
The drive is ace, better refinement and weight distribution. A real difference in the right direction....
Enjoyable and informative video as ever. Thank you. I have driven the new LEAF in Tekna spec with E pedal, which is excellent, and Pro Pilot, which I'm less convinced about. I found it a bit disconcerting to be taking a line which I wouldn't personally have chosen and it doesn't seem to take account of the speed of cars in the lane to the right, so you can end up passing to the left, which I think is still an illegal manoeuvre in the UK (happy to be corrected if that is no longer the case). Overall I thought the car was really good, the ride is certainly improved but, I agree with a lot of people here that are essentially saying this is a bit short of expectations. If the rumours/leaks are true then the 2019 model due out at the end of the year really will be the game changer and this version is a bit of a stop gap. Good but, not quite there.
Glad you enjoyed it, and agree with pretty much everything you've said. Pro -pilot was a tad uninspiring, but possibly because were used to Autopilot :-) you are correct, undertaking is a no no. The new tech is a step in the right direction and Nissans fully autonomous hardware/software looks incredible so hopefully it'll improve.
Another great vid thanks guys. Get mine next week! :-)
Great news, glad you enjoyed it :-)
That 0-30 was rapid! Is it faster 0-30 or does it just pick up past 30 to 60 quicker? I can imagine overtaking will be no problem now
Oh and if you coast, i.e let off but not all the way, do the lights still come on? Or is it only when you completely lift?
The difference between this and the old model is huge, it just keeps pulling. Comparable to a BMW i3 if you've driven one?
You say the friction brakes were not applied while the e-pedal was on, but in fact it does use the friction brakes in e-pedal mode combined with the regen. If you want to be sure that the friction brakes are not applied, use the B mode for max regen.
pilootdotcom yes we are aware that the two are mixed however we could see that all this breaking was done through regen as it stayed under 30kw. Also at 100% charge they are used and in emergency situations
Thanks for expanding on that!
I've seen £2k - £2.5k down and £240 - £250 per month on 36 & 48 month lease deals (with 10k mileage per year, the main dealer is not really the best option in this case, which is a shame as the Nissan dealer I visited was a pleasant experience).
Good prices :-)
James and Kate Sorry, the website is cars2buy, comparison site.
When's the next video coming out? Can't wait.
not long, just getting some more footage :-)
Given our budget we'll have to wait for a 2nd hand anyway so still got plenty of time. ('till now our 24kWh Leaf is doing fine).
Do you estimate this new Leaf is worth going for or best to wait even longer for the 2019 version with bigger battery (and possibly active cooling)?
Good question. The 40 will cover almost all peoples daily needs and the longer journeys that the lower models couldn't. The active cooling will make a difference but I don't put it near the top of the agenda, it just won't come in to play as much as people think.
You need to try the newer 30kw Soul.... My dealer was superb in knowledge and the EV lifestyle.
We did, in a previous video, and we loved it.
Pretty damning comment about Tesla build quality, James! I've "cracked' and ordered a Leaf 2.0. When I test drove a Teckna I thought the car was a couple of light years ahead of the old Leaf in terms of ride quality and performance. I still wish the battery pack was a bit bigger, but considering the new Leaf will accept a 150KW charge when new chargers become available I think Nissan may have included an element of 'future proofing'. Just one glaring omission in this episode, exactly how many Kates can fit in the boot? :)
Peter N Bernfeld Unfortunately the new Leaf cannot take 150KW charge see cleantechnica.com/2017/09/16/nissan-trick-sleeve-new-leaf/
Peter N Bernfeld we’ve been following your progress and watched you crack. We genuinely love this, it’s perfect for range, size and as you said, the drive is way better than the old model. When does yours arrive???
Not really damning Tesla. From my brief look at the tekna in our local dealership, the leaf is just so well finished, it's hard to believe that it's from the same stable as the horrid pulsar.
Mind you, I also saw a Micra (nearly 20 grand mind you) and I have to say, that was really well screwed together too.
Nissan are really smacking the bums of rivals when it comes to interior materials.
James and Kate week ending March 9th. I have a week off then, so hopefully be able to shoot some footage. When is your part two being uploaded?
hopefully in a few days, we still have some more footage to record but the weather and other commitments have got in the way. Looking forward to your video :-)
Will buy new Leaf when 60 kwh battery version comes out.
Good to hear :-)
When is part 2 due?
Keep up the good ev testing , I look forward to part 2, you 2 are brilliant, when I buy my ev from Jonathan ( need to save a bit more yet ) my one stipulation is you 2 deliver it 👍
Thats a done deal, would be a pleasure :-)
Nissan Personal Lease. Initial Payment of £1,860 inc VAT followed by 35 monthly payments of £310 inc VAT. Based on 10,000* miles per annum. *Excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. That’s for The Tekna
Where is part 2, we are still waiting!!!
It's coming, be patient, still filming footage :-)
Excellent video, thank you!
I’d rather have a Bolt or a Model 3/Y. Rumor has it, the new Leaf battery may suffer from overheating issues. Seems like Nissan doesn’t think much of thermal management systems.
we've tested it, it's not as bad as people think.
Hi James and Kate, thanks for the informative review as always..
I am keen to move on from my Touran 170 PD DSG.. its a great package but the fumes from the diesel are terrible still enter the cabin despite 5 years of VW trying to stop them entering the cabin.. I have a Model 3 and i Pace on order but they are taking way too long to arrive!
Loved:
-Pro-pilot
-ePedal
-Safety features (adaptive cruise etc)
-Performance
-Improved range
-Price if bought with broker discount
Put off by the following...
-Rear seat bench being slightly strange height relative to the floor
-Lack for 100% leather seats
-Lack of light colour leather interior ( why do we have to have a depressing black everywhere)
-Horrible old fashion analogue speedo taking up huge amount of room that could have been used for sat nav or DIS.
-Very slow charging from domestic 240v making a 190 round trip to parents not viable with just a few hours charge
-lack for sunroof
-Price if purchased from Nissan Dealer without discount
Conclusion.. keep waiting for Model 3, or maybe i-pace, or....60kw Leaf.
There's a light leather interior color available and it's compatible with a 7kW wallbox that charges it from dead to full in ~7 hours.
Girahim thanks but is the light colour available in the UK on the tekna? Also the 7kw charger only useful when at home and have it installed
Don't know about UK but is available for my country, Spain and it's built in UK so I'll be a little strange that it's not available in UK.
Well if you don't want a wallbox (Nissan gives you one for free including installation, at least here in Spain) I heard that the new leaf comes with a new EVSE capable of 6,6kW in the USA at 240V, don't know about Europe yet but it's technically capable.
Glad to hear its available in Spain.. Its Black only here in the UK.. Also I do want a wall box, but the point is that my weekend journey is to a house without one which at 190 miles round trip is beyond the limit of the car even with charging it for 3 hours on the type one domestic charger .. as it only seems to charge 7 miles in an hour on 240V UK 13amp socket.
It still looks old on the inside IMO. The Kia Soul EV looks more modern on the inside, but yes I know it doesn't compete with the range of the new 40kw Nissan Leaf :) Still lovin my Soul EV but the new Leaf looks like a solid car!
The Soul is a great EV and we loved our experience of it. I'm really liking the interior, I think they've done a great job.
Did you get rid of the white Tesla?
Nope, still have it.
Great review
Assuming your video was playing at 1:1 I timed 0-60 at 6 seconds. Were you on the flat?
I also timed it got 6.6 secs, the 0-60 tests I’ve seen on UA-cam the best one was 7 secs so they probably got a slightly favorable inclination I’m guessing. Nissan oficial 0-60 number is 7.9 sec.
Simon Carr we V-boxed it at 6.9, kate driving on her own and a boot full of camera kit. Well impressed 👍🏻
See you can now get the new leaf for Nissan Personal Lease. Initial Payment of £1,860 inc VAT followed by 35 monthly payments of £310 inc VAT. Based on 10,000* miles per annum. *Excess mileage charged at 8p per mile. That’s for The Tekna
Where from?
Simon Carr Macklin Motors Glasgow
Thanks for the video both, I can see that you love the new Leaf - great motor. Could you please do a video though on some commercial EVs! I am a tradesman and there are very few videos on the new Nissan e-nv200 especially the real world range when fully loaded?!
We have covered the e-NV in a review and driven it long distances, but not loaded. Ill see what i can do for you. Glad you enjoyed the video
Same. I'm really thinking about the e-nv200 but I cannot find a single test fully loaded. Even Nissan can't answer my questions or offer much help at all
I have been on Nissan's website to find out but it still has the "mk 1" e-nv200 listed with the older battery not the new upgraded 30Kwh pack. It feels like commercial side is lagging behind somewhat, apart from Nissan there is just Renault pushing ahead with electric vans and yet electric cars have been out a few years now
The new one is 40kW. The website is soooo out of date.
My local dealer didn't even know what size the battery was in the vehicle I looked at....he said he thought it was 80kW!!! For every other question I had he tried to look up the answer in the manual....and he was the resident EV expert....a man who was passionate about electric vehicles (so I was told). I walked away. They actually wouldn't even let me test drive until I could prove to them I had the funds to buy! I actually came away thinking they didn't want to sell me one.
Oops my bad 40kWh. That doesn't sound very helpful and it surprises me. I've had very good experience with our local dealer, I'm an electrician and specialise in renewables and install EV charging points. We have held a few EV open days with them and they even let us borrow some Nissan leafs for a few days. It is frustrating though when you search the internet for the vans and all the listings never include the actual battery size which is the most important piece of info!
I need a car for a daily commute of 80 miles. Should I get the 40kwh leaf or the 28kwh ionic or something else? £16k budget?
Personally, I’d take the ioniq. Quicker charging and a better drive.
Thanks, James and Kate. If on a tight budget, the new Zöe is tempting, if you can live with the poorer charging infrastructure, and slower charge speeds. Otherwise, it's the Leaf 2 hands down. Tesla are fascinating (we'd like to hire yours for a few days, sometime, btw), but prices, even of the Model 3 ar too high for the build quality. If you want range, then, for now, the Tesla’s take the biscuit.
We used a 40 Zoe for a week a few months back and, it was very very good. In the end our only criticisms were, acceleration (which really doesn't count) and the interior finish isn't the best in places. We only used it locally but only charged it twice a week. In all honestly, a 40kWh pack would do us for almost everything we need be it a Leaf or a Zoe, but we do love our S and you're more than welcome anytime you're ready :-)
How do I contact you, please?
RWBHere Please dont judge me 😳 poodragon@katefantom.me.uk
Thanks, and don't worry about judgement. One of my older e-mail addresses is even more embarrassing, after a new web facility appeared a couple of years ago!
I like the review, but I think I will wait until after 2020, when most of the next generation EV's will be coming to market.
Fair one, quite a few doing the same.
Love love love the I 3, but can't affort it.
I’m trying to figure out the first thing Kate didn’t like about the egolf. Something about keys?
The monkeys that VAG used in their emissions testing. So not to do with the E-Golf itself, but the company.
Apolloimperial ah ok I don’t know why it didn’t register with me because I was upset by that news as everyone was. Just slipped my mind temporarily.
Just had a test drive in the new leaf today never been so excited about a car it’s a computer on wheels bye bye ice car
I have to say the 24 kwh I had did 23k hassle free smooth miles. The 30kwh is the same obviously. Why change too much? The most reliable car I have ever had. But I won’t be buying one when my PCP ends on my current one. I am going to wait and buy a used one!
Thats the way to save money, no depreciation. And Nissans history of EV's has been very reliable so the newer models should be the same :-)
James and Kate Thanks for the videos too they are honest and helpful. I think three years from now the new Tekna today will be sub 10k and an excellent used buy👍
I'm actually not very keen on this car. I have the first Leaf and I think they have not paid that much attention to detail. The car looks like any other Nissan. There is no distinction between their range. I like the old Nissan leaf for it odd looks. (Even though it's not very pretty) I don't like analogue speedometer. I don't like the single screen on the dashboard for information. It should be two split screen with the ability to choose your display setup. I'd miss the trees. (As I get obsessed with being eco) The media screen looks old in comparison to what's coming out now. It looks like the same sat nav as the first model. The could have removed buttons for one touch screen inculding the heater controls. It would seem they have played it safe.
When you have the number one selling EV car in the world, you are not going to take risks on the design with radical changes. You do it gradual. And let's hope it doesn't take another 8 years before they update the current leaf.
I agree with all your comments Vampire, and your name great
The first generation Leaf did stand out with it's quirky looks, but that's what put a lot of people off!
People want a normal looking car that doesn't stand out that just happens to be electric to appeal to the masses, not everyone feels the need to advertise their driving a electric car.
Personally I prefer the looks of the second generation , but still feel it needs the 60kW battery to appeal to the majority of people but obviously that's going to come at a premium price for a while.
Dave Fitzpatrick well take a look at Honda what EV they intend to bring to the market. Then look at this second gen leaf. How bland is it? Nothing special about its looks. It's just another Nissan car. That to me is not very appealing. Now the Honda's EV offering, is something different. Heck if Tesla is something different with the model 3. I understand they played it safe with the 2nd gen Leaf. I do feel they could have offered something more modern in comparison to what other EV's are coming out.
Vampire Echidna The Honda's you're talking about are concept cars & as we all know may not represent anything like the road going versions ( Honda's aren't renowned for stand out cars either) most concept cars stand out & look futuristic but the production models end up looking little like the concept!
And in my view Honda ( who I actually used to like & own cars) have been dragged kicking & screaming into making ev's , which I'm disappointed at as I always saw Honda as a company that seeked innovation!
So I'm guessing your Honda will when released be as mundane & as bland as the Nissan, but good on Nissan for being at the forefront of the ev revolution.
Really have you tried Toomys of Southend. Acording to them there is no such thing as a Asenta, it is now called the N connect. Really? They still do not know what they are talking about.
I recently went on a drive consisting of 35km highway driving (8 degrees C, light rain and heating on, no Eco. Cruise control at 110kmh) and return was through normal roads averaging 60kmh (again, around 8C and light rain with eco mode and e-pedal). Total trip was about 100km, I used 50% battery. Do you think this is normal or BMS issue or something else? I have a black mid-grade 2018 Leaf (Japan version), 2 weeks old.
Just to conform you have a 40kWh model????
Yes, 40kwh
It‘s made in 🇬🇧 that should be also a reason to buy this car as a brit. :)
R P I guess Americans can use the same argument, Our leaf is built in Tennessee, along with the battery.
Normal drivers?
Hi James and Kate. Could you give me a bit of advice. Watching your video has tempted me and the wife get the new Nissan Leaf. We have give on the Nissan website and checked out the configure menu. I have reservations about having the 17" wheels as we prefer a better ride over sporty handling but the 16" wheels are not available on the 2. zero option without significant cost. How did you find the 17" wheels on your tekna? Thanks !!
Ellis Toms Check out this recent test drive video with good feedback on the ride quality of the 17s. ua-cam.com/video/IKHpdtCCwhA/v-deo.html
alrokram hi thanks. Just checked out his other vids and he says that the turning circle is larger with the 17" wheels. Strange.
Ellis Toms in terms of quality, it’s an excellent ride and drive. Weight distribution has been fettled with and the improvement over its predecessor is obvious when driven 👍🏻
Cool music.
Nice review, shame about the massive compromise. Go and do two rapid charges on a long run and the 2nd will take an hour and 30 min! Max charge rate 22kw. Forget all the silly gadgets, what it desperately needs is battery cooling. I would rate the new leaf well below everything else until this major problem is fixed. Absolutely not for me thanks. See speakev forum for more info. Sorry Nissan but I won’t be getting another leaf. Until the temperature controlled 60kwh arrives anyway.
Don't care about the speed one iota. Wish they kept the 0 to 60 slow, maybe they could have got more range.
For me, Zoe40 Q90 i > Leaf 2018
Basically, active battery cooling. That's major, for battery lifetime and rapid charging speeds by recent reports. A Zoe will beat the Leaf long distance hands down. 22kW AC is also huge, especially if you can't charge at home like me. The new battery heater is important if you can't charge at home. Also the steering wheel position is more adjustable.
But the Leaf beats the Zoe on performance, energy efficiency, toys, cupholders, interior space and boot space. Possibly glove box? For the used market, better availability of battery owned models will be huge. Battery lease Zoe models are still a good deal new but not used which is a problem.
That's a long list of positives for the Leaf but the EV features of the Zoe are too big for me to ignore.
One almost small thing I like is that the new Leaf gives an estimate to 80% or so. In the Zoe, mentally knock 20 minutes off but only if not limited by battery temps (22kWh version).
This leaf has a battery heater, and if you want active battery cooling and more range there's a 60kWh variant, the leaf it's better than the Zoe in every way if you spend a little more money.
Girahim It has a battery heater? You learn something new...
In that case, the Leaf beats the Zoe in every way except active battery cooling (and therefore long distance driving and rapid charge rate), AC charge rate and, as you mention, cost. All the most important aspects for me.
I wish the ZoE was available in USA... I would get one!
Brian Shannon Zoe has less range than leaf on similar battery and takes too long even in fast charge .
Sripal TAD The current Zoe rapid charges (40kW DC) as quickly as the current Leaf (40-42kW in practice) with similar range. And you can rapid charge more than once per day. The second rapid charge for the Zoe will give you 40kW vs 27kW in a Leaf.
I prefer the old design because it looks less distinctive and boring in my view. The best thing about the new leaf is more hp.
Small things make a big difference? There's no sunglasses holder in the roof of the new Leaf! Still buying a 2.ZERO though. Not to self:- Find a sunglasses case that can be fitted somewhere logical.
I found my sunglasses didn't fit, but as you said, the little things..... Great news you have one en route
Maaaaaaayyybe consider dropping that intro soundtrack down a bit? It's more than a bit loud. ;)
A bigger AC charger would have been great....
Go for the future go ev THANK YOU JAMES AND KATE #buzzofftoxic NEW Nissan Leaf I find bit boring to look at and sad Nissan is using more heavy steel in it than the old Leaf that old speedo! is it from my old 1980s Renault 4 yuk ... NEW 2018 BMW faster and for me looks like the car of the future more important BMW for taking care about the embodied energy within manufacturing, thought of material use so important if the car is truly GREEN! However well done Nisan for being the first major car producer to go car green for the mass boring sells thats cool JAMES AND KATE please look at the embodied energy within any car produced SUSTAINABILITY ?
I just hope the bigger pack arrives soon and Nissan uk offer the lighter colour interior on the top two models, as much as I loved my test ride motorway miles (minus ePeddle) ain't great 125 usable leaving 8 in the tank, a long way from the Mickey Mouse 200 Euro rating but even against the EPA rating of 150. The heated seats improved no pulsing (glorious) I was surprised against the egolf with heat pump how much it still drank in 4c winter test to keep at 21c. It's like Nissan just thought ok I works why change it. In summer though I have no doubt this car will get 150 round town to 160miles
ram64man Curious what speed did you try to keep to on your motorway test drive? Seen a couple of other videos and the owners drove at national limit (when possible) and got around 102ish (involved some big hills). I’ve only a short test drive next week, but do occasional 150ish motorway drives (300ish round trip) so in two minds if this Leaf is the right one or wait for the 60.
alrokram my test ride started in Southampton along the m27 to the m3 then anti clockwise on the m25 I got to blue water with 113on the trip
Did you do much of that at 70mph or was it too busy?
alrokram alrokram my test ride started in Southampton along the m27 to the m3 then anti clockwise on the m25 I got to blue water with 113on the trip I got as far as Romford before I had to charge average speed was 61 mph 8 on the clock and low charge warning my digbat of a co-pilot cleared the setting while I plugged in. On the way back we cut through London to the a2 to get the low speed average of 4.1 miles per kw before driving the same bit of m25 and m3 total trip 5 hours if your a tesla driver or driven an i3 then your love epilot
Thanks for that info, leaning towards waiting for the bigger battery but going to ask for a long test drive like yours to make my mind up. Hyundai Europe are meant to announce tomorrow (27/02) the electric Kona with 38 or 64 battery packs for sale this summer.
0-60 is in the mid 7's and the OE ECO tires hurt your times.
Remember those bits that are the same are ok , main problem was the front look outside , the people who might buy this where never in the old leaf because it was so ugly to the majority of people . hate the analogue clock , what were they thinking, foot break should be gone by now , prefer manual hand break , I can actually drive a car
Kate , you look really pretty !
James is one lucky man!
Nissan dealers in my state are TERRIBLE. They hated me and my leaf :(
Main reason I jumped ship and got a Tesla model S
I loved my leaf but HATED the Nissan dealerships in my area
Thats a real shame, for Nissan, great for Tesla. Nissan are excellent here, we're very lucky.
The Nissan dealers in my area are grim, they also have the Hyundai franchise. Staying with Toyota.
Stop saying that it has a clever styling. it doesn't ... I like what the car can do but the styling is far, far from beautiful. It a design mix between a Honda Civic and Toyota Prius and none of these cars are beautiful.
Surely if its a design mix between a Civic and Prius it's very clever as I see none of it. My point is, it's the same car underneath and has had very little alteration, but at first glance and to the untrained eye it's a different car.