Overview & Reviews

The 2011 Nissan Leaf is an all-new model.

• Intelligent navigation system.
• Spacious, quiet cabin
• Snappy acceleration
• No more gas stations

• Home charger is a necessity.
• Limited recharging points
• Limited cruising range

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 20.00

• 

  A history making car! - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By R. Edelman - October 19 - 4:54 am

  Why is this a history making car? Because the Nissan Leaf was one of the first practical and affordable all-electric sedans. I purchased this car new in 2011. Back then, the Leaf was made in Japan. Now they are made in Tennessee, but I dont think there should be a difference in quality. My Leaf has almost 50,000 miles on it, and it has been reliable and almost completely trouble free. It is deceptively roomy inside because there is no fuel tank or exhaust system. Maintenance costs are low. The original tires lasted 45,000 miles. To recapture the kinetic energy of the car, most of the braking is done by the drive train. This is called "regenerative braking", and allows the drive train to act as a generator to charge the battery. All electric vehicles and hybrids utilize regenerative braking. Not only is regenerative braking energy efficient, it allows the brakes to last a long time. For example, I also own a Toyota Prius with over 100,000 miles on it, and the brakes have never been serviced. Driving an electric car is fun. The electric motor provides all of its torque instantly, which allows excellent acceleration from a stop as well as on the road. It is quite, and there are no vibrations. There are no exhaust fumes or oil leaks, and the drive train of the car tends to stay clean. The down side of any electric car is the battery. Batteries are heavy and expensive. They become less efficient in very cold weather, and they lose charge capacity as they age. Both of these translate into reduced range. And you need access to a 220 volt charging station to recharge the car in a few hours. The Leaf is sold with either a 24 kWh battery or a 30 kWh battery. I recommend the 30 kWh battery as it provides a range (when new) of about 100 miles, rather than the 75 miles provided by the 24 kWh battery. That 75 mile range provided by the 24 kWh battery when new drops down to about 55 miles after 5 years. So, the larger battery will allow you a more generous range even after the car is several years old. Despite the battery issue, I really enjoy the Leaf ownership experience. Nissan service and support has been very good. Based on my Leaf ownership, I have become a fan of electric drivetrains, so much so that I am now on my second Leaf, one with the 30 kWh battery (which was not available in 2011). I do not think that I will ever go back to owning a car that is not either all-electric or a hybrid. Nissan should be commended for taking a big risk in developing and marketing the Leaf. I think that the commitment to manufacturing an all-electric car will pay off for Nissan in the future.

• 

  Good so far. - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By pacoug - June 11 - 9:11 am

  Im in Pennsylvania so I havent experienced the reduced range that comes from cold winter temps yet. That comes in a couple months. But I can tell you right now this thing makes a much better commuter than I thought it would. My drive to work is about 12 miles, about 30 minutes each way. It works in my life and would work for most urban commuters. I didnt intend for this car to do much duty besides going to work and back; essentially its the third car. But its becoming my choice for anything within 20 miles of home--which is most of what I do day-to-day. If this car fits your life you might consider it. Im still probing the range limits to see what I can and cant do.

• 

  Well built, loved the quiet - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By rufustf - January 11 - 3:06 am

  We are in TN, so only Nissan dealers are supplying the charging stations making "range anxiety" a very real concern for me after hours driving. It will just take more planning until I adjust to it. When DC quick charging stations are more available, range anxiety will be much reduced. Handles very well.

• 

  Welcome to the 21st Century! - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By stellarrat - June 28 - 8:24 am

  Ive had my 2011 Leaf for a month now. Its my only car. So far Ive spent a grand total of $8.10 in electricity to drive 729 miles. In my previous car I was spending $180 a month in gasoline and probably another $50 in maintenance (if you averaged it out per month.) In the NW, off-peak power is $.044 / kwh. So, as you can see its saving me about $220 / month. Ive taken this car to every family event, errand and work daily. Not a single problem with range or anything else. I dont even need the 240v charger. The car is just great all around. Good room, good ride, excellent electronics, and decent handling. Acceleration is very good around town.

• 

  Experience after 2 months - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By ph_ - August 14 - 9:09 am

  Ok, Ive had a leaf for about 2 months now. Admittedly, I also have a gas car, which I use when I need to go out of town. That said, the Leaf is the primary vehicle being driven about twice the miles as the gas car. Overall, Nissan did an excellent job. I could complain about a number of things but Ill focus on the essentials instead. 1. Plugging in at night is no problem. It takes about 15 seconds - and another 15 in the morning. 2. Acceleration is great. The specs are above. But, from observing the Leafs kilowatt meter, it appears Nissan restricted the acceleartion (probably for safety). Instead of immediately pegging at 80kw (the top of the meter), it... (see forum)

• 

  Smooth As Silk - 2011 Nissan Leaf
  By billsea - May 12 - 9:38 am

  Ive really enjoyed owning and driving this car, which is now up to 10,000 miles. It is incredibly smooth, quiet and generally effortless to drive. The interior feels large, with plenty of room in the back for adults. The storage area is ample for the around-town usage dictated by the range. The range is occasionally a nuisance, but thats increasingly mitigated by charge stations. When my trips are well within the range, I have fun with the torque and the low center of gravity. So far its getting about 30 miles per dollar, a fascinating new metric that really puts the sucking sound in the front of our minivan in perspective. (Its five times more expensive to drive that one a mile.)