Change is a Good Thing – 2018 Nissan LEAF vs. 2017 Nissan LEAF

February 23, 2018

The Nissan LEAF is the best-selling electric car in the world, according to Bloomberg. But a champion only stays a champion by continuing to self-reflect and improve.
Spoiler alert: the 2018 Nissan LEAF is going to remain a champion. It has improved, and not just a little, but significantly. Very significantly.
The gulf between the 2018 LEAF versus the 2017 LEAF is remarkably apparent in every meaningful category. Rarely does a model leap forward so boldly in one year, so we’ll forgive you as you perform a double-take.
So what’s missing from the 2017 LEAF and how are the models so starkly different? Let’s take a look at the three most critically important points:

Breaking it Down – The 2018 Nissan LEAF

Price:

Due to intensifying competition from other electric models, the MSRP for the LEAF is actually lower in 2018 than in 2017, dropping from $30,680 to $29,990. Do you hear that? That’s the sound of your wallet singing an ode to happiness.

Performance:

You aren’t going to confuse the 2018 Nissan LEAF with Seabiscuit, but it does have 147 horsepower under its hood. That is a significant stride forward compared to the 2017 model, which limped into your garage with only 107 horsepower. Similarly, the 2018 LEAF also surges ahead with 236 pounds-per-foot of torque compared to 187 pounds-per-foot in the previous model. You won’t be winning any drag races, but merging on the freeway won’t require a sloping onramp and a tailwind. This lack of excitement is something you’ll surely appreciate.

Range:

The importance of driving range within any electric car cannot be overstated, even if 99% of personal driving already falls well within the safe range. It has been a barrier to drivers considering making the transition to electric cars in the past. However, that safe range increased by nearly 50% in 2018, jumping from 107 miles to 150 miles due to a new 40kWh battery.

While that still won’t get you from Portland to Seattle, it’s becoming more difficult to picture a scenario where you will suddenly require a charge within your daily routine . More than anything, that extra 43 miles is peace of mind that we accommodate a surprise trip without running out of juice on the way.

The Best Electric Car for Portland? We Think So.

Price, performance, and range are inarguably the three areas that are critiqued most heavily by those considering an electric car. But there are other areas of improvement between the 2017 and 2018 model as well. For example, the 2018 LEAF adds new tech, revamped exterior styling, and improved interior/cargo space. Considering the price has actually gone down, (it seems impossible to emphasize that point enough) we can’t help but exclaim that the best time ever to buy an electric car is right now.
Curious to see if the 2018 LEAF gives you the feels? Be a champion and call Dick Hannah Nissan to schedule a test drive.