Okay I see you Leaf
Let’s face it, the first two generations of the Nissan Leaf weren’t particularly pretty, but this new one has me all hot and bothered. It’s super cute in the best of ways, looking like a miniature crossover that sits low and wide. You can tell Nissan took a lot of pride in designing this latest generation, particularly by the lighting elements both front and rear, which both feature unique “cubed” design LEDs, with the top-trim Platinum Plus featuring funky 3D holographic tail lights out back and an integrated light bar in the front. The overall body has a bit of a jellybean shape to it, but because the Leaf is so small, it comes off as cute instead of awkward. The front and rear both feature black panels that integrate Nissan branding and the aforementioned lighting elements, with the rear swooping up into an integrated ducktail type spoiler. That, along with the flush front door handles and hidden rear ones, active grille shutters, and flat underbody help to bring the coefficient of drag down to a super-slippery 0.26 from 0.29, and help keep the new Leaf looking clean and tidy.
There’s also a clever 2-3 design motif, with two horizontal lines and three vertical lines denoting “Ni” and “san” in Japanese. This is littered throughout the design aesthetic of the new Leaf, with the 2-3 iconography being integrated into the headlights, tail lights, wheels (18” standard, 19” optional), charge ports and the interior. It’s clever, culturally aware, and adds a really cool talking point for new Leaf owners. Now you may not see that iconography from afar, but if you choose our tester’s stunning Seabreeze Blue Pearl, you’ll be sure to be noticed from afar.
The overall look is a home run, and although it doesn’t usher in an entirely new design language the way the new Prius did for Toyota, it should garner the same amount of respect. The new Leaf is the protagonist in a romcom who took her glasses off and let her hair down to reveal she’s actually all sorts of pretty.
Small on the outside, big on the inside
The Leaf feels spacious for both driver and passenger. This spaciousness extends to the rear seats as well, with a surprising amount of legroom and plenty of headroom due to the long roofline that doesn’t start to dive much until it gets behind you. The center console is semi-floating in nature, which lends to an airy feel and provides a good amount of storage in the process. Cabin materials are rather top notch, with most touchpoints feeling very solid, and cheap scratchy plastics being next to non-existent. The seats are typical Nissan seats, in that they offer Nissan’s Zero Gravity technology which reduces pressure points.
They also feature what Nissan calls TailorFit material, which is essentially an imitation leather that feels like the real stuff and is more durable than your typical PVC leatherette material. The best compliment I can give about the seats is that I never thought of them once, meaning they quietly do their job to maximum effect. The Platinum Plus trim has some extra nice tidbits, like piping on the dash trim and better texture for the seats both front and rear.
The dual 14.3-inch displays are perfectly proportioned for a car this size, and the physical HVAC controls are welcome, despite being a bit awkwardly recessed into the dash. I’m still not in love with Nissan’s UI, but appreciate that it offers built in Google integration. There’s also a Bose Personal Plus sound system available on the Platinum trim, with speakers in the headrest which allow you to get navigation directions or take phone calls without (overly) disturbing the rest of the cabin, a surprising feature in this class of vehicle. Of course there is wireless charging and ambient lighting onboard as well, with a power liftgate and digitally dimmable moonroof being reserved for the Platinum trim.
A well behaved little thing
The new Leaf drives very well, with excellent road manners whether you’re a driver or passenger. Road imperfections are heard but not particularly felt, the steering is weighted nicely and overall suspension tuning is on point, thanks in no small part to the new independent multilink rear suspension setup. It feels light on its feet with throttle and braking both feeling buttery smooth in their calibration. Road noise is somewhat apparent, and wind noise wasn’t whisper-quiet but it was a particularly windy couple of days during this first drive, so I’ll give it a pass there. The overall experience feels much more premium than the price tag would suggest.
Tech that actually matters
The Leaf has up to 488 kilometers of range from its 75 kWh battery (a smaller, lower-cost 53 kWh battery pack is also on the way). That’s a solid figure, but what really stands out is the fact that Canadian market Leafs (Leaves?) all get a thermal battery management system that helps keep the battery in the most optimal temperature range to ensure maximum range and charging capability (which maxes at 150 kW).
There’s also two charge ports, one on either side, including a J1772 and a NACS port, so you can be sure you can find a charger anywhere and can park it any which way. In addition to all of that, Nissan has an app which integrates all the major EV charge networks (97% of them, including Tesla Superchargers), allowing Plug&Charge capability. This means there’s no fiddling with numerous apps, loading digital wallets, etc - you simply plug the car in and it begins to charge. For someone who uses public chargers regularly, this is a godsend, as I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of times I’ve wanted to drive a car right over one of them in frustration.
