2017 Nissan LEAF Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Nissan Leaf has become an increasingly common sight on the streets of America’s cities—as have electric vehicles (EV) in general. Nissan was fairly ahead of the game when it introduced the Leaf in 2011, but the competition has quickly caught up. Especially with the new Chevrolet Bolt’s advertised range of 200-plus miles, the Leaf, which can barely match half that, is starting to feel a bit long in the tooth. And it’s due for an update, so 2017 may very well be the last year of this initial design.
The Leaf hasn’t changed much since its debut (and hasn’t really needed to so far)—but for 2017, all trims receive the upgraded 30-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with 107 miles of range, previously available only for the two upper trims. The Leaf still comes in three trims: the base S starts at $30,680, the SV raises the price to $34,200, and the range-topping SL will set you back $36,790. That’s a lot for a small commuter car, but that’s the price of never having to stop at the gas station again. Plus, buying an EV will earn you tax incentives.
Like most hatchbacks of its size and price, the Leaf comes exclusively with front-wheel drive (FWD). The powertrain similarities end there, of course, as the Leaf is outfitted with an 80-kilowatt (kW) electric motor backed by a 30-kWh lithium-ion battery pack underneath the cabin floor. The EPA rates the 2017 model at 112 MPGe, and its 107 miles of range is enough for almost any commute, but will still barely get you from New York to Philadelphia.
Unlike the Tesla Model S, the Leaf is hardly a beast off the line. With a total output of just 107 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque, it takes almost 10 seconds for the Leaf to reach 60 mph, and it starts to run out of steam at anything much faster than highway speeds. Thanks to the immediately available torque from its electric motor and the lack of gears to change, however, it provides satisfying spurts of acceleration in traffic, which is precisely where the majority of Leaf owners will be driving. As for charging, SV and SL trims come with an upgraded onboard charger, which cuts charging time from 7 to 6 hours.
Nissan engineered the Leaf to ride and drive like a normal hatchback. It has been criticized for its slightly numb feel and lack of feedback, but for the most part, it’s a satisfactory driver. The Leaf is a tall, slab-sided car on low-rolling-resistance tires, so it’s sensitive to crosswinds on the highway. One plus, though, is that like other EVs, most of its heavy powertrain components sit low in the chassis, so it doesn’t have much body roll through corners.
The Leaf’s external dimensions are those of a compact car, but its compact, well-placed powertrain components (and the absence of a gas tank and transmission) mean that it provides as much interior room as many larger cars. Unlike the quirky BMW i3, the Leaf’s interior looks pretty conventional, although it has been criticized for feeling a bit cheap given its sticker price.
All Leaf trims come standard with heated front seats, while the SV gets a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, a surround-view camera, and the option of upgrading to a Bose audio system. The range-topping SL trim further adds heated rear seats and leather upholstery. The base S trim comes with a 5-inch LCD screen, while the other two trims get a 7-inch touchscreen, the NissanConnect infotainment system, and a handy NissanConnect EV app that transmits operating information about the car, like charging status, to your smartphone.
When the Nissan Leaf was introduced, it scored fairly high on safety tests, but standards have risen since then, and the Leaf has unfortunately not received any real upgrades in this department. The 2016 model earned a passable 4-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2017 Leaf a Poor rating in its tough frontal small-overlap test. Admittedly, many cars don’t receive high scores in this relatively new category, but a Poor rating is far from ideal. As for equipment, the Leaf comes standard with a reversing camera, and because EVs are virtually silent, it emits a moderate sound when driving under 20 mph to alert pedestrians. Otherwise, the car is very quiet on the road thanks to ample sound-deadening material.
The Leaf hasn’t sold as well as Nissan had hoped, and low gas prices haven’t helped, but it is still undoubtedly responsible for bringing EVs into the mainstream—arguably more so than Tesla’s expensive Model S. Its general design may need a refresh, but the 2017 Leaf remains relevant in today’s market—particularly with the appeal of tax credits and no more trips to the gas station.
User reviews for 2017 Nissan LEAF
Write a review2017 Nissan LEAF Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · Pandora internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.1 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: urethane
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 7.94
Engine
EV battery capacity: 24 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 107 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 80 · Electric Motor Torque: 187 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 8 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 107
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Facebook · Infotainment: NissanConnect · Infotainment screen size: 5 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: Halogen
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: tire sealant
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: intermittent · Solar-tinted glass: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.1 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: cargo area carpet · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 7.94
Engine
EV battery capacity: 30 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 107 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 80 · Electric Motor Torque: 187 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: CHAdeMO · Electric motor charging time: 6 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 107
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google search · Infotainment: NissanConnect · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Headlights: Halogen
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth · Upholstery accents: faux suede
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: engine start
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: with washer · Solar-tinted glass: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.1 · Front brake width: 1.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brake width: .63 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: cargo area carpet · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Solar panel charger: rear spoiler · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 7.94
Engine
EV battery capacity: 30 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 107 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 80 · Electric Motor Torque: 187 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: CHAdeMO · Electric motor charging time: 6 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 107
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: SiriusXM Travel Link · Infotainment: NissanConnect · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: engine start
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: intermittent · Solar-tinted glass: front
