NISSAN LEAF (2013-2017)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

5dr family hatchback (EV [Visia, Acenta, Tekna])

Introduction

Plugging our cars into the mains electricity supply when we get home at night might still might seem about as natural as shovelling coal into them before setting off in the morning, but all the signs are that's going to change. Hybrid cars were a first step in the direction of increased use of electricity to drive our vehicles and fully electric models will be the next. Owning a car that will never go near a filling station forecourt except to use the jet wash or inflate its tyres might take some getting used to but Nissan has long been confident that its LEAF all-electric family hatch can make the transition a painless one. In 2013, the brand upgraded the first generation version of this design with an increased range and quicker charging time. This is the version we check out here as a potential used buy.

The History

The ‘LEAF’ name is an acronym for ‘Leading Environmentally friendly Affordable Family car’ – which is exactly what this was when first we saw it launched in 2011 as the first purpose-designed pure electric vehicle on the market. Back then, the only other offering in this segment was hastily converted citycar design sold under different badges by Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen. In comparison, the prospect of spending similar money on a larger, more advanced Nissan LEAF seemed like a no-brainer decision for anyone seriously considering a car of this sort.

The problem for Nissan, in the UK at least, was that in the early years of the 21st century’s second decade, hardly anyone was considering buying a full-electric family vehicle. And certainly not one costing close to £30,000. A LEAF might have been better than anything else on offer in this era but it was still beset by the usual EV issues of low operating range and patchy public charging infrastructure. It was, in short, a car ahead of its time.

By 2013 though, there were signs that things might be changing and that the public might be warming to this model. By this time, the cost of electric technology had come down and the number of public charging points had dramatically increased. Plus the whole idea of owning a pure electric car had been more widely accepted. It was a change in mindset Nissan aimed to capitalise on by re-launching the LEAF with a smarter, more practical interior and a longer operating range. This model sold until an all-new second generation LEAF which a much longer operating range was introduced at the end of 2017.

What To Look For

Reported reliability has thus far been impeccable, due in no small part to the inherent simplicity of the LEAF's drivetrain. The Leaf doesn't have a transmission as such, instead relying on a reduction gear. The motor is always connected to the drive shafts. This makes it very simple and very reliable - much more so than any type of transmission in any other vehicle. Check that the annual battery checks have been conducted but other than that, there's really not too much to look out for other than the usual supermarket and kerb bumps and scrapes.

If possible check the car’s battery health before purchase. One that has had lots of regular charges is better than one that's been stood at 100% for days on end. This improved LEAF reverted to a traditional handbrake which seems to be more resilient. It also appears to have a more resilient battery. Some buyers in our survey reported a leaking roof seal and many have reported some uneven tyre wear. There was a recall for checking the steering on earlier version of this improved LEAF: check it was done.

Also check for tiny rust spots on the door sills when the doors are open and where the rear screen meets the bootlid. It seems the paint is very soft and prone to scratches, so ideally you’d get a LEAF in a colour that disguises it - i.e not black!

On The Road

Let’s start with the headlines. This improved post-’13-era MK1 model LEAF can travel nearly 20% further than the previous version could on a single charge and, if you get the right specced model, you can finish that charge in half the time. If that’s enough to get your interest, then let’s get behind the wheel and see what it’s like to drive.

Get yourself settled and if you’ve tried an early 2011 or 2012-era MK1 model LEAF, you’ll find that things here aren’t very different. If you haven’t, then the whole experience will seem very futuristic. Initially, it feels just like the Focus-sized family hatchback it is. But release the parking brake (changed to foot-operated functionality in this post-’13-era car) then push the starter and the electric experience begins. Virtual instrument graphics spring up in front of you accompanied by a cheery chime before a few seconds later, you’re ready to pull the mouse-shaped auto gear selector into ‘Drive’ (electric cars are of course always automatic) and set off. But before you do, a quick check is needed of the all-important range indicator, designated by an instrument display bar graph and the mileage figure displayed beneath it. It’s a display you’re going to get very used to staring at since it’ll determine exactly how and when you can use this car.

And handling on faster twisty roads? On the original version of this car, this ought to have been quite good thanks to a centre of gravity the same as that in Nissan’s 370z sportscar and near-perfect weight distribution. The trouble was with that car that the steering was so ridiculously light and devoid of feel that at the wheel, you felt absolutely no inclination at all to drive it with any kind of verve. With this revised MK1 model, the engineers improved things, with revised damper settings that improved high speed stability and ensured that the car no longer ‘floated’ rather weirdly when it encountered mid-corner bumps. A bit more weight was added to the steering too. It’s still not what you’d call responsive but you do at least get a little more feel for what the wheels are doing beneath you than was the case with the original MK1 model. Turn-in is actually quite sharp and there’s plenty of grip – though also still plenty of body roll. Most importantly though for potential buyers, the ride is very good.

Overall

Where Nissan succeeded with this improved MK1 model LEAF was in offering a relatively affordable family-sized pure electric car that was much more free of compromise, a model you could pretty painlessly switch into from something conventional. For the right sort of customer, it’s a very forward-thinking kind of used car buy.