Used 2016 Nissan LEAF for Sale nearNorth Bergen, NJ

Is the 2016 Nissan LEAF a good car?

The 3.33/5 user rating and 7.00/10 expert rating point to a car that makes the most sense if you want an affordable, practical EV for everyday driving rather than a standout all-rounder. The overview says the 2016 LEAF is more usable than before thanks to the larger battery in the SV and SL trims, which brings 104 miles of range and improves real-world convenience, while the expert summary notes that it is getting long in the tooth and faces plenty of capable alternatives. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10. For shoppers focused on short commutes and lower running costs, that mix can still work well, and 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2016 Nissan LEAF reliable?

The overview and expert test-drive notes frame the 2016 LEAF as a mature EV that has been on the market for years, which helps explain why it is best approached as a used-car value play rather than a cutting-edge choice. The expert cost-effectiveness notes say reliability has been rated as about average, and the performance write-up emphasizes that the quick-charge setup improves usability even if real-world charging results can vary. The cost-effectiveness content also notes an 8-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty and an additional battery capacity warranty for 2016, which is helpful for used buyers. Long-term ownership risk is mainly tied to battery condition and the car’s age, so you should pay close attention to how much usable range remains.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Nissan LEAF?

At 69.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important. You should start with a vehicle-history report, then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on battery condition, charging equipment, and any signs of prior body or electrical repair. Because range and charging are central to the LEAF’s value, you should also make sure the car still fits your daily driving needs in the real world.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: Base S trims keep the older battery and 84-mile range, but they still include a larger touchscreen for 2016, 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry and ignition, cloth upholstery, heated mirrors and seats, automatic climate control, and a 5-inch touchscreen with Nissan Connect and a rear-view camera. The SV adds 17-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, heated power side mirrors, recycled cloth upholstery, an upgraded 7-inch touchscreen with navigation, HD Radio, Nissan Connect EV telematics, and a more-efficient heating system. The SL adds automatic LED headlights, leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats, foglights, and a solar panel.
• Powertrain: The SV and SL trims use the larger battery pack for 104 miles of range, while the base S keeps the older pack. The expert notes say acceleration is modest, with 0-60 mph taking more than 10 seconds, but the battery placement helps the car feel composed through turns.
• Safety package: The LEAF includes front, front-side, and full-length curtain airbags, plus antilock brakes and traction and stability control. It also has a rear-view camera standard, while blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure and frontal-collision warning systems are absent.
• Infotainment: The base car gets a 5-inch touchscreen, while SV and SL trims upgrade to a 7-inch screen with navigation. Wireless smartphone mirroring is not part of the setup, and the system relies on Nissan Connect EV telematics for remote monitoring and control.
• Range & charging: The larger battery in SV and SL trims delivers 104 miles of range. The quick-charge port can bring the battery to 80% in about 30 minutes, while a 240-volt charge with the 6.6kW onboard charger can take about 5 hours.
• Battery health: You should check battery state-of-health carefully, confirm how the car has been charged over time, and look for signs of heavy DC fast-charging use versus gentler home charging. Also verify how much of the battery warranty remains, since that can matter a lot on an older EV.

Which 2016 Nissan LEAF trim should I buy?

The 2016 Nissan LEAF is offered in 3 trim levels: S, SV, SL.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the value-focused choice if you want the lowest entry point, but it keeps the older battery and 84-mile range. It still brings useful everyday equipment, including a rear-view camera, automatic climate control, heated seats, and keyless entry and ignition, but it is the trim where the charging and range compromises are most obvious.
• SV: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds the larger battery, 104 miles of range, the 7-inch touchscreen with navigation, Nissan Connect EV telematics, the more-efficient heating system, and the 6.6kW onboard charger with quick-charge capability. It also gets the upgraded wheels and heated steering wheel, making it the most balanced pick.
• SL: This is the most feature-rich version, adding automatic LED headlights, leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats, foglights, and the solar panel. It makes sense if you want the most comfort and convenience equipment, but the extra gear is less important than the SV’s core range and charging upgrades.

The safety content also notes that blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure and frontal-collision warning systems are not included.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Nissan LEAF?

This is a moderate, selective-buyer market: there are enough listings to shop carefully, but you should still compare condition and equipment closely before moving quickly.

• Deal availability: 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 95 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 69.5% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2016 Nissan LEAF safe?

The 2016 Nissan LEAF earns a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Poor rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in small-overlap crash tests, while all other IIHS tests earned Good ratings. It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

The LEAF comes with front, front-side, and full-length curtain airbags, plus antilock brakes and traction and stability control. It also includes a rear-view camera standard, while blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure and frontal-collision warning systems are not part of the package. The main safety caveat is the poor small-overlap result, so you should weigh that carefully if crash protection is a top priority.

Should I buy a 2016 Nissan LEAF or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 69.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• The 2016 model year improves everyday EV usability with the larger battery for the SV and SL trims and the added quick-charge port.

The bottom line: The 2016 LEAF makes the most sense if you want a used EV with better range and charging convenience than earlier versions, especially in SV or SL form. If you are shopping mainly on price, you can still find value here, but you should be selective about condition, battery health, and accident history before buying.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.