The Nissan LEAF is a five-door hatchback and it is the world’s first mass-produced EV when it debuted in 2010. Since then, the LEAF has gone through many refinements, particularly increasing its range from just over 110km to more than 300km on a fully-charged battery.
Just introduced is the upgraded second-generation Nissan LEAF that brings design revisions. The EV now wears a full-black Aero Front Grille featuring the new Nissan logo. The grille is flanked by black-finished headlight housing with integrated LED DRLs. Completing the new look is a refreshed front bumper.
At the rear, the Aero Spoiler sports a new design with enhanced aerodynamics and completed with a grey-accented diffuser panel. The 5-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels design is distinctive, giving the EV an edgy look.
The LEAF is offered with the roof finished in Super Black to pair with one of seven colours – Stealth Grey, Opera Mauve, Akatsuki Sunrise Copper, Burgundy, Vivid Blue, Pure White Pearl or Midnight Black. The interior colour for the leather upholstery comes in either Graphite Black or Stone Grey.
2023 also upgrades the interior, starting with the new Nissan logo on the steering wheel. The centre display panel has been enlarged to an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Andriod Auto. Bluetooth connectivity is also available and hands-free operation of certain features is possible with Voice Recognition.
The Nissan LEAF’s roomy cabin accommodates 5 people comfortably, with the quietness that is one of the benefits of having a 100% electric drive. The rear backrest has a 60/40 split, which allows the class-leading cargo area (435 litres) to be versatile. For more space, folding the rear backrests down will expand the volume by 170% to 1,176 litres. In this configuration, even a full-sized bicycle can be carried with no wheel detached.
An electric motor that generates 110kW (150PS) and 320Nm gives momentum to the Nissan LEAF. The EV hatchback accelerates from 0-100kph in 7.9 seconds. On the fully charged 40kWh lithium-ion battery, the LEAF has a range of 311km.
There are three options to charge the LEAF. The EV’s charging power can accept CHAdeMO for DC fast-charging up to 50kW or Type 2 (previously Type 1) for AC charging up to 6.6kW. For emergencies, the portable Type 2 cable, which can be plugged into the 3-point electrical outlets, is available. DC charging is fast, and a 0% to 100% charge can be done in about 1 hour. It will take up to seven hours to fully charge the leaf using AC charging from a Wallbox.
For ease of mind, you might be pleased to know that Nissan has had zero battery recalls and no major battery-related incidents during the 13 years the LEAF has been on the road.
The Nissan LEAF drives differently from other cars by way of its revolutionary e-Pedal technology. With just the accelerator pedal, you can accelerate and decelerate to a complete stop by simply increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the pedal. It may be daunting for the first few minutes but most can get used to the car quickly.
The Nissan LEAF is priced at RM168,888.00, a significant drop in price due to the tax breaks. A 3-year or 100,000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year or 160,000km warranty for the lithium-ion battery are tagged to the LEAF. The service interval is scheduled at 20,000km with a cost of about RM300 per year.
Of course, the Nissan LEAF is offered with the LEAF Subscription Plan. No down payment is required, owners only need to pay a monthly subscription of RM1,800 for a 3-year contract. At the end of the subscription, the LEAF is returned to Nissan and can be exchanged for a new LEAF with another subscription.
For a limited time, new LEAF buyers are rewarded with a complimentary 12-month JomCharge membership worth RM600. The JomCharge network consists of 107 AC Type 2 units, and 30 DC CHAdeMO units with 600 credits nationwide. On top of that, a complimentary Ice Cool Tinting worth RM2,200 is also included. Those on the LEAF Subscription can get a 50% discount on the Ice Cool Tinting and an RM300 subsidy for a 12-month JomCharge membership.
All owners have the privilege of using the X-Trail SUV, Serena MPV and Navara pick-up for 23 days each year during the first three years of ownership. This is here just in case your travels take you to places yet to have a comprehensive charging network.
