8 Things You Need to Know About the 2018 Nissan Leaf
The 2018 Nissan Leaf was just revealed to the world and here eight important things you should know about this next-generation electric vehicle.
A popular choice in the nascent vehicle segment, the Leaf nonetheless needed a little attention, having debuted for the 2011 model year, it’s been past due for an update. Fortunately, that’s just what it’s received and then some.
SEE ALSO: What’s New in the 2017 Nissan GT-R?
Stronger, longer and lower than before, this vehicle has been totally overhauled, gaining more power, greater range and even a more attractive price. But that’s not all…
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8. Concept Car Styling
Conventionally handsome and not awkwardly overwrought, the exterior design of the new Leaf was inspired by Nissan’s IDS concept car that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show two years ago. There are undeniable parallels between these two vehicles, especially up front where their grilles are colored blue and have a similar diamond texture.
7. It has a 150-Mile Range
This Leaf will offer an EPA-estimated 150-mile range courtesy of its 40-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. That’s considerably less than the Chevrolet Bolt’s 238 or the 310 a Tesla Model 3 can muster, but there’s a reason for this disparity. Folks at Nissan claim the 150 figure is adequate for 90 percent of driving situations faced by Leaf customers, plus it’s money in the bank…
6. It Costs Less
That’s because this newest Nissan is less expensive than these primary rivals. Base price for the 2018 iteration is about $31,000, including delivery fees, which makes it nearly $700 cheaper than today’s version. Also, that five-figure sum doesn’t include any U.S. tax credits, meaning this car could significantly undercut both the Model 3 and Bolt.
5. An Extended-Range Model is Coming
Plus, if you want a Leaf with greater range, all you need to do is be patient. An enhanced version with more power and a bigger battery is in the works, scheduled to launch for model year 2019. Other than an approximate on-sale date, company representatives haven’t shared any details about this upcoming variant, so your guess is as good as ours as to what it will be capable of.
4. Power and Torque are Both Up
Speaking of power, the Leaf’s EM57 electric motor delivers 147 ponies and 236 pound-feet of torque. These figures have increased by 38 and 26 percent, respectively, impressive and welcome gains. Performance should be nicely improved as well, though no acceleration figures have been released by the company.
3. There’s Plenty of Advanced Technology
Practically every new car available in the U.S. today offers some sort of advanced driver aids and Nissan is not content allowing its latest EV to fall behind the pack. Features like lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and more are all available, ditto for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Pushing further, there are at least two other items that should raise the bar even higher. One is ProPILOT Assist, Nissan’s latest adaptive cruise-control system, which features lane-centering technology to keep vehicles driving down the straight and narrow. This brings us one step closer to self-driving cars.
SEE ALSO: Nissan ProPILOT Assist Takes Adaptive Cruise Control to the Next Level
Additionally, something called e-Pedal is offered. This feature allows you to drive the Leaf by just using the accelerator. Designed to ease the burden of stop-and-go traffic, it automatically slows the vehicle down via regenerative braking when your foot is lifted off the pedal, gradually bringing it to a stop, where it will be held until you begin accelerating again. If rapid stopping is required it’s still necessary to use the friction brakes. If desired, e-Pedal can be deactivated at the push of a button.
2. A Continued Sales Leader?
According to Nissan, the Leaf is the world’s best-selling mass-produced electric vehicle with more than 283,000 copies having been delivered globally since it went on sale in December of 2010. Of that total, more than 112,000 have been sold in the U.S. alone.
1. It’s Available Soon
The 2018 Nissan Leaf will be available in Japan starting on October 2. Following closely behind, it goes on sale in all 50 states and Europe early next year, so look for it at dealerships in the coming months.
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Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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