Nissan Leaf 2018 Review

By: Jorge

February 11,2018

11 min read

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2018 Nissan Leaf Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Electric Vehicle

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Introduction

The Nissan Leaf 2018 will be coming to our market; however, nobody knows when and for how much. It is estimated that it will arrive in the UAE towards the end of the year or early 2019. According to their statement, engineers still need to adapt the product to the Middle East requirements. The worst-case scenario will be that the car launches at the Expo 2020 since Nissan is the official automotive partner <Read the article here> and committed to delivering a fleet of eco-friendly cars.

Market Competition

Now I’m talking to you Nissan, you have a solid product, so speed up because other brands are taking over. We have Renault with the Zoe and Chevrolet with the Bolt <read our first quick drive here>, not to mention Tesla with the Model 3; however, it’s uncertain when you will actually receive it after pre-ordering.

Pricing Speculation

Having addressed the money, it’s also important to know how much the 2nd Generation Nissan Leaf will cost. At the end of the day, people care about electric cars because they are supposed to be cost-effective. You save on petrol, servicing, parking (for at least one more year in Dubai), and a Salik Tag. The price in Europe is approximately Euro 32,000; hence we can estimate around AED 140,000. If these assumptions are accurate, we will have an eventual price point situation.

Driving Experience

Anyways, let us take a break to appreciate this picture. I’ll tell you the story. We were driving downhill in the Tenerife Mountains, and at one point, I pulled over and took this image. We were literally driving above the clouds.

Historical Context

So, about the Leaf. The first-generation Nissan Leaf was launched 7 years ago. Since then, they’ve sold 300,000 units, representing over 3.9 billion non-contaminated kilometers driven, saving 1.2 million tons of CO2 emissions. This equals the reforestation of 15.93 km² in trees. The first generation won several awards, including European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year; hence this 2nd Generation has a lot to prove.

About the Experience

Overall, Nissan has created a great electric, eco-friendly experience to launch the 2018 Leaf. We arrived in Tenerife and, from the moment we got out of the plane, we started driving the New Nissan e-NV200, a cargo/7-seater electric van.

Driving the Leaf

From the very beginning, we got our hands on the current Nissan electric lineup. After driving more than 80 kilometers, we reached the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITR), a sustainable city facing the sea with wind farms and solar panels. Everyone then headed to their villa for a short product presentation of the New 2018 Nissan Leaf. The next day, we had hands-on experience with the electric car, two journalists per car, and a fully charged battery to drive up and downhill.

Driving and Technology

About the drive and the car itself: I dressed according to the situation, driving an eco-friendly car. This time, I would like to address the new enhancements against its predecessor. After reading this article, I suggest you check our <read here> for first-time electric car buyers.

Design

Design-wise, the second-generation Nissan Leaf looks less awkward than its predecessor. Nowadays, there’s no need for electric cars to look different from others. I’ve taken a picture with both, so you can see the difference.

Even though it resembles a petrol car, you can still find electric hints, such as the absence of grilles or exhaust pipes.

Interior Space

The all-new Nissan Leaf can seat 4 to 5 adults with their short weekend luggage in its 435-liter trunk. However, it’s uncertain how the range of the battery will react to such weight. Furthermore, I plan to test this in Dubai specifically at the YallaMotor garage.

Performance

When it comes to power: The Nissan Leaf has a 40-kWh battery. This electric engine can deliver 150 horsepower with 320 Nm of instant torque. The 2nd Generation of the Leaf can take you 230 km on a combined cycle, while in optimal city conditions, it can deliver up to 415 kilometers of range. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, which is good for a hatchback.

Electro-tip of the day: Electric cars consume more on highways than in cities, which is the opposite of petrol cars. Nissan leaf 2018 interior

Driving Experience

The overall drive is interesting, especially for first-time electric car drivers. The quietness of the cabin is a major highlight, although you can still hear a bit of connection between the driver and the electric sound.

Technology Highlights

I would like to highlight the following three technological features:

Pro Pilot: Enhanced adaptive cruise control along with lane assist. It helps maintain steering, acceleration, and braking to keep you safe on the highway.
e-Pedal: This allows you to drive using only the accelerator. When you remove your foot from the pedal, the car will brake and regenerate energy.
Pro Pilot Park: Automated parking feature, which we didn’t test but is worth mentioning.

Integration: The Leaf comes with a 7-inch screen compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The Leaf also offers the Nissan Connect EV app for remote control of climate and battery status.

Charging Options

Now the charging part: Every electric car needs to be charged, right? You have 3 options:

Plugging the Leaf into a regular household socket, which takes 21 hours from 0% to 100%.
Using public infrastructure, which takes 7.5 hours for a full charge.
Fast charging, which can charge up to 80% of the battery within 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Conclusion

The 2018 Nissan Leaf is worth considering, especially for its legacy. Nissan has made significant improvements, added useful technology, and extended the range. However, it remains to be seen how it will perform in the UAE, where highway driving is common. We also need to know the pricing in a price-sensitive market like the UAE, where electricity is cheaper than petrol but requires more infrastructure locally.