2012 Nissan Leaf - Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 10 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
2012 nissan leaf Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...A rearview camera is optional on the SL. In Edmunds brake testing, the Leaf came to a stop from 60 mph in 126 feet, which is a bit longer than average for a compact hatchback like the Leaf. In government crash testing, the Leaf received five out of five stars for overall protection, with four stars for frontal-impact protection and five stars for side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Leaf its highest rating of "Good" in frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests. Interior Design and Special Features: The Leaf's battery pack is located under the... |
| #2 |
2011 Nissan LEAF: Flash DriveSource: MSN Autos...While 100 miles is more than the average driver needs in a day, a full charge takes 15 hours using a standard 110-volt outlet. Since you're used to leaving home with more gas than you'll need for the day, driving the Leaf feels like the low-fuel light is on; you always have one eye on the gauge. –Mike MeredithIt may not be the fastest, the best-handling and certainly not the most beautiful vehicle, but the Leaf is one of the coolest cars on the road. With its purely electric powertrain, the novelty of driving silently never seems to wear off. The Leaf is much more than a glorified golf... |
| #3 |
2012 Nissan Leaf Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Interior features include: Standard cloth upholstery Standard navigation system, satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity Dash screen can show a graphical range indicator on the map and provide multiple energy-readout screens to help gauge energy use and remaining range Available backup camera Under the Hood The Leaf uses a 340-volt battery pack to power an electric drive motor, which drives the front wheels with 107 horsepower and 207 pounds-feet of torque. The charging port is in the car's nose under a door. Mechanical features include: Depleted battery can recharge in eight hours at 240... |
| #4 |
2011 Nissan Leaf Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The Leaf has manually adjustable cloth front seats, which are made partly from recycled materials. Both my husband and I were able to find a great fit, which is a challenge sometimes since I'm 5 feet 3 inches and he's 6 feet 2 inches. However, the steering wheel only adjusts up and down. It doesn't telescope, which is surprising in a car where seemingly everything else was so well thought out. The backseat had plenty of space for my two daughters and their high-back booster seats. While the Leaf seats five, squeezing three kiddos in the backseat would be uncomfortable but doable in a pinch... |
| #5 |
CarGurus' Review for 2012 nissan leafSource: CarGurus
...Despite some worries about range, a lack of charging points, tepid cargo capacity and a curio-shop design, the 2012 Leaf points to the future of everyday road travel. |
| #6 |
2011 Nissan Leaf Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com..." The top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph. I found myself speeding inadvertently — a lot . This is always a good sign in a car. It reflects low noise levels, stability and confidence, things you don't always get in typical cars, much less in efficient ones. As I said of the Volt, the Leaf isn't merely quiet as it accelerates from a stop, it's admirably quiet at high speeds. Only when you hit around 60-70 mph does wind noise begin to become intrusive, especially when you encounter crosswinds. The car's bizarre, bulging headlights are designed to deflect air around the side... |
| #7 |
2011 Nissan Leaf Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...For a compact hatch, the Leaf's ride is supple, and while you're not going to win an autocross competition, the steering and suspension can take a hard corner without fuss. Headroom is great, but seat height can't be adjusted since the batteries are fitted underneath the carpet. Standard LED headlamps are piercingly bright, as are the rear LED tail lamps. Brake feel is superb, and not at all loose like some regenerative systems. But the Leaf is no moonshot. When the last GM EV1s were ripped from customer hands and crushed, they had a nearly 140-mile range, zipped to 60 miles per hour in under... |
| #8 |
2011 Nissan Leaf Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Cloth upholstery is the only choice, and the interior is almost indistinguishable from a regular car's, with the exception of the drive mode selector, which looks like a computer mouse. The usual cupholders, center storage console, door pockets and glove compartment are all present. The standard touch-screen navigation system superimposes a graphical range indicator on the map. It also provides multiple energy-readout screens to help gauge energy use and remaining range. Under the Hood The Leaf uses a 340-volt battery pack under the floor to power an electric drive motor, which drives the... |
| #9 |
CarGurus' Review for 2011 nissan leafSource: CarGurus
...The Nissan Leaf may not rocket us toward some utopian World of Tomorrow, but it sure feels like a piece of that world has come to life. |
| #10 |
2011 nissan leaf Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...Safety: The 2011 Nissan Leaf comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. A rearview camera is optional on the SL. Interior Design and Special Features: Because the Leaf's battery pack resides under the floor beneath the seats, the rear seat is quite comfortable for adults. The front seat provides no shortage of space for even tall drivers and the seats themselves are quite supportive and comfortable, though the vehicle's short range makes sure they'll never be enjoyed during a long-haul road trip. The cargo area is on... |
Nissan Leaf Related News
Rinspeed Dock+Go, Another 458 Crash, Smart For-Us: Today's Car News
Things are getting a bit weird today as the oddballs of the upcoming show season make their first appearances. First up, we have the 2012 Smart For-Us Concept, a micro-pickup... December 7, 2011 by Nelson Ireson
Nissan Unveils 10-Minute Electric Car Charger, But It's Still 10 Years Away
There are at least three obstacles standing between electric cars and mainstream drivers: range-anxiety, battery recharge times, and the fledgling charging infrastructure... October 11, 2011 by Richard Read
iPhone 4S Hitches Its Wagon To The 2012 Nissan Leaf
As everyone knows by now, Apple did not launch the iPhone 5 at yesterday's press event. This was bad news for Apple (shares slid after the meet-up), bad news for iOS... October 5, 2011 by Richard Read
The Nissan Leaf Takes On The Cannonball... Ireland
In America, the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash holds a special place in our automotive culture. The creation of esteemed auto journalist Brock... September 7, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
2011 Nissan Leaf Electric Car Finally Gets Android App
2011 Nissan Leaf owners are right on the cutting edge of car technology, but so far only Apple iPhone users have been able to enjoy the full experience of controlling the... August 1, 2011 by Antony Ingram
Why should I also consider these?
The 2012 Nissan Leaf now faces a pair of competing battery-electric vehicles, the Ford Focus Electric and the Mitsubishi i, with more on the way in future years.
The Focus Electric hatchback is likely to be sold in much smaller numbers than the Leaf, leading some to question Ford's commitment, and the Mitsubishi 'i' four-seat minicar is significantly smaller inside.
As for the Chevy Volt, its range-extending engine removes concerns over range anxiety but adds complexity, not to mention price--it's almost $5K more expensive than the Leaf.
The largest volume competitor to the Leaf may be the plug-in version of the iconic Toyota Prius hybrid that will go on sale early in 2012.
It offers an electric range of just 9 to 13 miles, after which it becomes a standard hybrid, but it may be the "safest" way to start plugging in for part of your driving, and it has the Prius name as a guarantee of security.
Among conventional hybrids, not only the standard Prius but also the Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid hatchback are roughly comparable to the Leaf range in size and price.
- New Car Price Quote
Updating results
subject to our Car Quotes Privacy Policy
