The 2021 Nissan Leaf Review

April 15, 2021

The 2021 Nissan Leaf is a fantastic electronic vehicle alternative to those of us that aren’t able to afford luxury brands such as Audi, Jaguar, and Tesla. The Nissan Leaf offers a quiet, affordable all-electric method of transportation for the everyday person. Its overall design may not be as flashy as those luxury brands it does offer a very spacious interior and the Plus models offer a competitive 226-mile range on one charge. The Leaf’s base model is priced attractively low when compared to other mainstream EVs like the Chevy Bolt EV, Kia Niro EV, and the Hyundai Ioniq Electric. However, the base model only has an estimated driving range of 149 miles, which is significantly lower compared to other cars in the same market. Overall, the Nissan Leaf is a fantastic choice for people looking for an Electric Vehicle that boasts a more spacious interior, low pricing, and a relatively good driving range.

Highs

• Plus models offer good power
• Spacious Interior
• Semi-autonomous driving technology available

Lows

• The base model’s driving range is low
• The stereo system is subpar

Pricing

• S: Starting at $32,620
• SV: Starting at $35,910
• S Plus: Starting at $39,220
• SV Plus: Starting at $41,470
• SL Plus: Starting at $44,920

Performance

The base model Leaf comes with a 147-horsepower electric motor that is powered by a 40.0-kWh battery pack. The Leaf Plus models pack a larger 214-horsepower electric motor with a larger 62.0kWh battery. The base model was able to manage a 7.4-second 0 to 60 time but it can feel perkier than that number suggests thanks in part to the instant power delivery of the electric motor. The innovative e-Pedal feature allows drivers to switch back and forth between regenerative braking modes. This allows for two different braking abilities, the first allows the car to coast when the driver lifts off the throttle and the other slows the car when you take your foot off the gas and uses that energy to recharge the battery.

The 2021 Leaf can be plugged into a regular 120-volt outlet and is also able to plug into a 240-volt outlet but charging times are obviously very different between the two. The 240-volt plugin gets the Leaf’s battery charged in about 7 hours, according to Nissan.

Interior & Tech

The Leaf S and SVs have a lot of plastic across the cabin, but the uniform textures and the fact that it is assembled well help to remove that cheap feel. The Nissan Leaf’s seats are recliner comfortable and the spacious rear seat offers plenty of room for adults if you find yourself deemed the driver of the carpool. The gauges feature a large analog speedometer with a 7-inch digital display that can be reconfigured in a number of different ways. Cargo capacity wise the back seats don’t fold flat in the 2021 Leaf but that doesn’t seem to affect the overall capacity.

All trim levels of the Nissan Leaf come with an 8-inch infotainment display that hosts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Navigation is optional. The standard speaker system is somewhat disappointing in the Leaf, especially to those who need a good soundtrack while driving. If you are a music aficionado then moving up to the SL and SL Plus models will get a seven-speaker Bose system that should satisfy your musical requirements.

Safety and Driver-Assistance

The 2021 Nissan Leaf has earned a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Administration and has scored well across the board in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s testing. Nissan’s impressive array of driver-assistance features are standard across all trim levels of the Leaf and available on the SV, SV Plus, and SL trim levels is Nissan’s ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode.

Key Safety Features Include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty

Nissan’s warranty package is the same, timewise, across its entire lineup but the Leaf’s battery is covered for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Battery warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Conclusion

The 2021 Nissan Leaf is the perfect electronic vehicle for those with a shorter commute or are on a more modest budget. While the range is extremely different depending on the trim level you choose, the car is still very affordable compared to some of its competitors. Overall going with the 2021 Nissan Leaf is an easy decision to make for anyone looking to get on the EV bandwagon.

Check out the new 2021 Nissan Leaf here or call us to set up your test drive.