Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) - Used buyer’s guide and review with Nicki Shields / Electrifying
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2020
- Read our full review of the used Nissan Leaf here: www.electrifying.com/reviews/...
Join Nicki Shields as she looks at a more affordable way to go electric with a used Nissan Leaf.
Launched in 2011, it was the first mass-produced electric car to have a sensible range, decent performance and practical space for a family. It went on to become the best-selling EV in Britain - and the world.
That means there are thousands for sale to choose from now, ranging from £3,000 up to £30,000. But what should you look for when buying a car like this? Nicki takes an in-depth and detailed look at a typical 2015 second-hand model.
Here's our full guide to used electric cars over on Electrifying.com:
www.electrifying.com/blog/pos...
Thanks for joining us as the start of our journey to 'Clear the Air' around hybrid and electric cars, we have new videos arriving every Monday, Wednesday and Friday so please subscribe to the channel to find out more!
And if you like the videos check out Electrifying.com where you'll find the latest reviews, our EV Dictionary and the latest news about Formula E from Nicki Shields.
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My nearly 10 year old Nissan Leaf is still going strong on the original battery. So far in that time I've only had to replace a flat tire, accessory battery, and the key fob battery (twice) which including taking in for battery checks has been around $500 total in maintenance. No gas vehicle can match the maintenance cost of electrics.
You forgot to mention how many miles are on your 10 yr old Leaf.
@@rzu7120 Not many only 12k, since all I use it for are short errand trips. Low mileage saves on insurance big time.
@@madmotorcyclist how much range have you lost? Or how many bars have you lost? Thanks
@@mostlymessingabout Full charge (still get 13 bars) I'm down to mid 60s sometimes I get 70 miles. NOTE: I've never left the car fully charged for more than an hour and I only have 15k miles on it (all short trips). Long trips I ride my Harley.
@@madmotorcyclist wow. That's terrible 😨 I was hoping for at least a hundred to be usable. How much was it originally for you?
I have a 2012, I bought it in 2016. I got the traction battery replaced under warranty in 2017, just a scant 3 months before the 5yr/60,000 mile warranty ran out. I love the car. That replacement, a new set of tires, annual inspection is all I’ve done (outside of wiper blades). There’s a Nissan dealer near my house that has a free Chademo charger. I work 2nd shift so I just drop by every day or so for 15-30 minutes. I can charge at home if I need to via the 110 cord. It has its limitations because of the 24 kWh battery, but for most days, it’s awesome!
Sounds like you made out like a bandit with it. Fantastic local use cars really.
Any idea what the cost to replace battery is? If I needed it done out of warranty.
@The Time is Now thanks!
As a former Nissan LEAF owner, great review and accurate...
I picked one up for dirt cheap, a 2015 model with 15% loss, that top bar is 15% so a 12 bar can be 86% :) If buying one, ask if you can do a full battery test run , with leafspy. See how many miles it do down to the low battery alarm from full. Just keep driving around the dealership streets until u hit the alarm, it’s the only way to prove what’s left in the battery. Check for cell levels on leaf spy, especially when low :)
So does the car has to be charged 100% to use the leaf spy plug, do I plug it in and then drive car and for how long?? Or do I just need to plug it in without driving it and does it needs to be fully charge to use the leaf spy?? Whatbdo I look for when I get results before buying car?? Sorry for all the questions. I will be driving 40 miles round trip about 75% freeway and the rest city Monday through friday.
I have a used 2017... It is my all time favorite vehicle that I have waited for, for 30 years. It is my first/second electric and I have had it for 2 years. The first one I had was totaled by a guy on his cell phone. I charge at 220 V. in my garage and feel so happy not to have to go to the gas station. I am looking forward to an electric car that has more range though.
Best review alot of tipes thinking of getting one your video really helped me what to look for , thanks 👍
Hello There, this is a really useful and informative guide, thank you for sharing this, it's much appreciated. Cheers Peter :)
Nice video on this car. Looks fun to drive
Great car, great review and a great reviewer
Thanks for uploading 👍
Don't forget to check to top of the front strut towers. They accumulate water there and rust.
At first I found my LEAF to be F$#king ugly. But over time I came to realise it its modern design take on the classic Citroen DS. The large front lights, the rear curve window and the high rear lights are all inspired by the Citroen DS.
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I now get it: the unique design is relatively timeless. The new LEAF design is too fashion related and will look too dated in a couple of years. I actually want to convert my LEAF into a form of compact SUV (raise the suspensions, put bigger wheels and and some rim skirts).
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I look forward to the developments in after market batteries currently happening. As the price of aftermarket batteries continues to plummet so these cars will become more valuable.
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I have 100,030 kms on the clock and have lost 1 bar on the battery, mine is 6 years old. To date I had to replace the ball joints and I now have a 'sticky sensor' that keeps the fan running permanently (a new sensor will cost me $45)... oh and I replaced the tyres. Other than that I haven't had to pay for anything else. None of the maintenance costs that I had with my previous cars at this age (I would have normally thrown thousand of $$$ at my petrol/gas cars).
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The beauty of this car: it still feels exactly the same as it did when it was brand new: all cars seems to mechanically show their age over time and you have to start baby'ing the car a little (warm it up when you start it, keeps revs low, etc). All cars become sluggish over the years. The LEAF.... turn it on and floor it, it goes like a bomb in absolute silence. It just feels great driving it. I thrown this car into corners like an F1 driver (slight exaggeration) because of the heavy battery and the perfect centre of gravity, nothing can touch me in the corners (many BMWs have tried). It's bundles of fun driving this thing.
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I was a total petrol head. Worked on all my cars and loved all the mechanics of a car. I bought this car second hand for the experience of an EV. I am fully converted now, I can't see myself owning anything but an EV now.
Tha is for this amazing review!!
Solid advice thank you
Bought one for just over 6k Was at ten bar dropped to 9 but still charges to 70 miles? getting around 60 real world, we just use locally to dog walk and potter around. Drives lovely perfect working order and very comfortable. Looking at newer ev models in general this brit built one feels more solid and well screwed together. In other countries apparently Nissan are starting an exchange refabricated battery pack scheme which has improved better performing chemical compisition for about under 5k or less! if it becomes available and ours degrades further would certainly just replace pack. Still would work out less than half price of the cheapest new EV !!
Get the 40 kwh or even 62 kwh.
I want to get a need for Nissan leaf or cheap ev and charge it solar panels off my garage roof
my husband only goes 28 round trip to work so this would be perfect just for a work vehicle and keep our prius for long trips
Just got rid of our used 2015 Leaf, the passive battery cooling ruins them in my opinion. Moved on to a 2013 Tesla Model S P85. Paid over twice what the used leaf cost us three years ago. Worth every bit of it so far. No range anxiety anymore.
Just be careful, unlike other cars the door knobs in these older teslas are all electric without mechanic connection. So if something goes wrong with your battery, like fire and the car loses power you're stuck inside. The doors won't open without power and the only way to open the doors when no power is the mechanical lock which is under the carpet in a very hard to reach spot. You might not have a chance to reach it in case of accident. So make sure to remember their place.
Hey I have the same belt, my leaf is 2013 and will suggest to charge using the 3 pin mains cable and do it in 2 stages to not heat up the batteries. The street chargers will destroy the battery quicker, look after it
Chademo DC charging is what hurts the battery most, but it depends on the battery capacity. With the 24KWh battery, charging with an L2 charger should not really affect anything. Even full 6.6Kw AC charging is only a .275C charge rate. The Chademo charging peaks around 48KW, which is much higher. That would equate to a 2C charge rate. Anything higher than .5C will start to degrade most lithium-ion batteries, and it gets worse the faster it is.
Eco does NOT help you with extending range. 85-100 miles for a 24kWh battery that's 5 years old is also optimistic. Fantastic car and good review overall.
As a current 24 Kw Leaf owner 100 miles is a pipe dream, please don't mislead prospective buyers...
She said 100KM not miles…
The benefits of no engine in the car outweigh the inconvenience of charging
I’m thinking to buy a leaf Japanese one
I want to get a 62 kW Nissan LEAF battery, and how much is it
The fact concerning how many moving parts there are in an electric car compared to a piston car only tells part of the story. Think about how easy a life the parts in the electric car have. They only rotate smoothly and there lubricants remain free of contaminants. In a fossil car, many components are reciprocating and have their lubricants diluted with combustion products. Neither of these things helps promote a long life.
Why is the service so expensive? No oil change etc.
I have a 2012 Leaf and have just moved. At my new Apt the outdoor plugs are GFIs and will trip after 4 seconds of charging it. This building was built in 2019. What can I do to troubleshoot my issue? Would you mess with the wiring or can I try something different with my cable?
I know this is an old post. GfcI plugs get warn out after time most common reason they trip. It’s easy to change to a new one. Home Owner can easily do this just turn the power off. Take a picture of wiring and wire the same.
you can replace a faulty battery cell.....
Yes. It takes a mechanic who knows what he's doing though.
Much cheaper than replacing the whole battery.
@@ronlugbill1400how much is a full battery replacement ?
Glad you touched on it. Battery degradation issues. Buyer beware...
Looks alone, is to beware. It’s ugly as hell!
@@WuBloodKin09 Ugly cars are cheaper and you don't have to worry about em. Old leaf is a perfect around-town car for errands and commuting to keep another vehicle in nice shape.
MUSTANG MACH E BEST AND TURKISH TOGG SUV's
Have a '13 and '14 in the family, cars are average but local Nissan dealers can be a nightmare, do your research before getting the car..!
Today my Nissan Leaf has to go to Nissan heaven 2013 MK1 Purchased from Nissan Dealership, full service history and all repairs completed at Nissan and today at only 48k, yes 48k! miles the error code of inverter and motor was found with an estimated repair bill of £9800 pounds. Nissans response was car is over 8 years old so we cant help.
Sorry to hear of your loss, what did you do? Any Idea why it failed so early?
@@philipripper7 2 years later and still going through ombudsman, I still have it. Will change this year regardless.
Great video. Every time I hear people day electric cars are too expensive, I want to shout "what about second hand!" It's not like new petrol cars are that cheap either. Never bought a new car in my life. Got a 14 plate Leaf with 16k on the clock in 2016 for 10k, still going strong at 75k and range at 70 miles. Think I must have saved nearly 10k on fuel, servicing and road tax by now!
That seems like a significant exaggeration Ben?
@@stuartburns8657 not at all… England gas is like $8.50 a gallon
@@skepticalmechanic I'll trust your math Brian.
Guess the biggest single factor is the mileage you do which makes the savings
@@stuartburns8657 And always have electric ready to go… more stable prices… no oil changes… no air filters… lots of advantages!
Nicki
I am looking to buy my first ev. I'm thinking 2016 Nissan leaf or 2016 Kia Soul. The more I look..the more unsure I become. Any thoughts, opinions would be greatly appreciated. I'm in Canada.. so winter driving is a consideration. I have to make a decision soon.
ez. Why in the world would you buy a kia
They are selling me a 2015 leaf s for $9000 at a dealer with 66,230 miles...or should I buy a 2019 SL with 18,994 miles for $18,197 with one accident though.?? My commute is sometimes 40 miles and other days 60 miles round trip Monday through Friday. Car will be park in driveway here in Fresno California. I will be trading my 2009 Prius for a Nissan leaf
Wouldn't the 2014/15 LEAF be the sweet spot (heat pump, LizardTech battery, some other advantage I can't remember)?
From what I've seen online, the 2015 version seems to be regarded as the best value.
Shall I get the 24kwh or 30kwh I'll be doing about 35 miles a day with a longer journey here and there
Go bigger if possible, using the heating and AC swallow up too much energy
The 24kWh (note it's a Kilowatt hour, not Kilowatt) traction battery has a 8 year warranty, so saying a 2015 models traction battery is out of warranty now is incorrect. What would of been out of warranty are the drive train components which only had a 5 year warranty.
The interior colour isn't 100% guaranteed as the Sunderland built model also for a period did offer the light grey interior. You are better off looking at Eco button and handbrake, Japanese models had electronic handbrake and the Sunderland built has the Eco button on the steering wheel instead of the Japanese on the drive selector. The Japanese built models also had the large electronics and charge unit in the boot between the wheel arches.
Some good advice there Colin, but the beige interior was never available from Sunderland - we checked! And the 8 year warranty is only on 40 and 62kWh batteries. The 24kWh has 5 year cover.
@@Electrifyingcom It was available with the Grey interior, I was a Nissan Innovation Specialist and many were ordered and sold to UK customers.
@@Electrifyingcom Just to clarify, here is the UK 2013-2014 sales brochure I had saved in my Dropbox showing the option of having the grey interior and was at some point sold and delivered from the Sunderland factory.
For the battery warranty, I stand corrected, it was indeed 5 years, 60,000 mile only.
www.dropbox.com/s/5mu4p65b5tfaktd/Nissan%20LEAF%202013_2014%20Brochure_with%20in-lieu%20option.pdf?dl=0
Well filmed review although the battery problem was mentioned it made it seem like it's something that can avoid. Sadly it can't all of them will have the problem. They were generally well built cars but corners were cut with the battery management. Even the newer Leafs still don't have active battery cooling. They overheat while charging & kill the cells. The older ones are now worthless since they need replacement batteries.
Not sure 'worthless' is the word you were looking for Chris?
I drive our 2013 model and get 80-95 miles from it. Certainly it has value for us, for the school run, popping to the shops, going on day trips to the seaside etc.
Glad to hear the car is still meeting your needs and I hope that continues. Sadly yes 'worthless' is the word many people use for a car when a repair bill is close to the 2nd hand value. Not saying I agree with it but that's how a lot of people think. To give an example, my 17 year car is worth £500. So any repair bill over £300 would make it almost unsalable so basically worthless - other than the scrap value.
@@Chriswales ok understood - thankyou for the knowledge :-) ... autotrader does have a few of the original 2011/12 leafs at £5-6k and they look like they are ready to go with no repair (eg they have passed their MOT recently)... but if you mean that the value of the car is less than the cost to replace the battery then I see where you are coming from, but even with somewhat degraded batteries there will be lots of applications for it - so I guess they would be worthless for some people but not for others who needed the full range? ... good on you for running your car so long!
You can swap in a used battery pack from a wreaked leaf.
how long did you own the leaf for and what where the main day to day issues you found with it other than the battery thing that seems extreme to be fair
Did the models 2013-2017 come with a DAB+ radio, or is that only from 2018?
Not on my 2016 Tekna
@@jameswestwood Are you sure? After doing some further research it seems to me that DAB+ was introduced from M.Y. 2016, as part of the new "Nissan Connect" system. Have a look at this video: czcams.com/video/ZGtQ0H1RtUM/video.html
problem with Leaf is range and no cooling system for battery
Solutin charging infrastructure, colder climate
nissan ariya electric for win.
I watched another honest review. At the end, the owner said had she known what she knows now, she would not buy an electric vehicle at this time..
another review video, a man bought a used Nissan leaf for $3500 with 40,000 miles on it. It was a 2013. The battery would only charge up to 40% capacity. He didn’t care because that would get him to and from work every day. I looked up what the cost of replacing the battery is for a 2013 Nissan leaf in 2021. It’s approximately $15,000, that’s for a car that’s worth about $4000.
I believe the Chinese car maker, NIO has a better plan. I watched a video , where an owner of that car pulls into a battery change station. The car pulls in, the tires are on a lift. The owner gets out of the car. The car lifts in the air about 2 feet. A machine comes out and removes the battery under the car, another machine comes out and installs the new fully charged battery. Less than 4 1/2 minutes later. The car is ready to go. NIO Electric car company gives you sixfree battery changes per month. I believe that is a better plan. 4 1/2 minutes is about how long it takes to fill the fuel tank on my truck, And that’s not free.
You can buy a used battery pack and put in it.
No mention of Leaf Spy!
The issue is, it’s extremely easy to Reset the battery health meter 😖
thought nissan guaranteed their batteries for 8 yrs or 100,000 miles
Silly question, but can you drive this on a highway around 65-70mph for an hour or more?
It will go 94 and then the computer won't let it go any faster. (so I heard)
Depends on battery condition. Early ones had bad battery management and only started with around 70 miles of real-world range. If you can plug them in at home and need something for local errands they're not bad, or if you feel like investing in a new battery.
If you go that fast, the range will go down. If you drove slightly slower, 55-60 mph, then yes, you could drive for an hour on the highway. The range is better in the city because of slower speeds. I had a Leaf for 3 years. If you drive at high speeds on a highway for an hour or more on a regular basis, a used Leaf is probably not the car for you. The new models have twice the range.
But how did they manage to make its exterior look.. ..so different?
IMO it looks like that because it’s supposed to be very aerodynamic , better to get more range. Everyone bitched about the looks , so they toned it down to look like other Nissans for the 2nd generation. I for one never thought it looked that bad.
@@Lovejazz01 yeah that I understand and functionality over looks because this is not pretending to be a sports car. However, no need to make it ugly just because. And tesla is aerodynamic and not that ugly to look at. Anyways, a good car for the city!
Is this a push start car
Yes. You push a button to start it. Just need to have the key somewhere in the car, such as in your pocket.
Plenty more Leafs in the gutter.. To be fair, the original Leaf is still a very appealing car.
There's nothing quite like good sax . . . . . . if you like good sax , check out the audio at the end of this video ! ! ! AND , I really like my 2015 Leaf SV . Going on owning it now for 3.75 years and have only added washer fluid . Have checked and maintained tire pressure , and washed it 2 or 3 times . . . but in S. Calif. conditions are rather mild . Am going back to the video end for some more sax . . . . . bye ! ! RH
our 2011 died about 3 weeks after it's 10 year birthday. Had it since new. 99K km. Disappointing.. 8000USD to fix, they said.
hot !!
Thank You for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤
2:00 A "24 kilowatt" battery? Maybe these EV experts could explain what that is.
Well posted Peter, sometimes even the experts made a mistake when they're recording voice over! Thanks for pointing it out.
These just do not hold value and that's precisely why I am putting serious consideration into making a used one my daily driver. I have a 5 mile commute daily to and from work. Needless to say, a tank of gas will last me nearly a month in my aging 2006 Ford Taurus. I have 2 other vehicles and one is a V8 luxury sedan and one is a V8 muscle car. I just need a commuter vehicle to and from work, and a grocery getter. The EV range on this will be more than adequate and maintenance costs will be minimal. These can be had in the United States for less than $10,000 USD for as new as a 2017 model with only 16,000 miles.
They need to be selling these for 5k to be worth putting up with the the junk battery
Owned a leaf for over a year the sold it because there is no infrastructure worth a dam, and Nissan did not want to trade it in. These cars are like owning a mobile phone nobody wants to buy an old phone. Don't bother keep your petrol or diesel car
Can you be more attractive than that? possibly Not... And I'm not talking about the leaf
I LOVE Nicki and your reviews but I’m here to tell what garbage company Nissan is.....BOTH my Nissan’s were rust buckets and my Juke was in warranty that bubbled up under the hood and Nissan refused to cover it....nice corrosion warranty....I’d never trust their battery warranty either......FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME.....WON’T GET ANOTHER CHANCE NISSAN!!!!
Why dont you talk about the tires? What the best brand? Distance? Lame
♻🔋👏💪🔝❤
MUSTANG MACH E BEST AND TURKISH TOGG SUV's
Lol i dont like them.. love diesel .. and petrol