Inserting our car into the main power supply when we return home at night may still tend to look as natural as shoveling coal to them before departing in the morning, but all the signs are the ones that will change.Hybrid cars are the first step towards increased power use to drive our vehicles, and full power models will be next.
Have a vehicle that will never go near the front page filling station except for using Jet wash or inflate tires that may take some familiarize for.
Still, Nissan has long been convinced that all-electric leaves Hatch family Can make a painful transition one.
As of 2013, this brand enhances the first generation version of this design with an increased range and faster charging time. This is the version we see here as the potential purchase used.
Model
5DR family Hatchback (EV [Viía, Acenta, Tekna])History
The ' LEAF ' name stands for ' an environmentally friendly leading family of affordable cars ' – which is precisely what this is when the first time we see it launched in 2011 as the first purpose-designed purely electric vehicle on the market.At the time, the only other offerings in this segment hastily changed the design of Citycar sold under different badges by Mitsubishi, Peugeot, and Citroen.
In comparison, the prospect of spending similar money on a larger, more advanced Nissan LEAF looks like a no-brainer decision for anyone seriously considering the type of car.
The problem for Nissan, in the UK at least, is that at the beginning of the 21st century from the second decade, hardly anyone is considered buying a full-electric family vehicle.
And of course not one cost close to £30.000. A Leaf may be better than anything else offered in this era, but it is still being exposed to the usual EV problem of low operating range and Patchy public charging infrastructure. In short, a car ahead of time.
By 2013 though, there are signs that everything can change and that the public may be warming this model.
At this time, the cost of electrical technology has dropped, and the number of public charging points has increased dramatically.
Plus, the whole idea of having a pure electric car has been more acceptable. That is a change in the mindset Nissan aims to utilize by re-launching the leaves with a smarter, more practical interior and more extended operating range.
This model is sold until the all-new leaf second generation is a much longer operating range introduced at the end of 2017.
What you get
The LEAF is the first mass-production electric vehicle to be designed from the ground up by pure battery power.Early EVs only convertible cars were initially made with gasoline engines. Even if you don't know this, you can probably guess the fact at a glance this Nissan looks dramatic.
For example, because, as an all-electric car, there is no need to fit a large machine on the front, having a fleshy nose and a sharp-elbow that generates an intelligent wedge profile and helps strong aerodynamic performance.
With the revision of post-' 13-era model-UK-built in Sunderland-the nose should also accommodate a large charger and Inverter that previously took up space in the boot. Still, the designer managed to sort that without affecting the Bonnet line.
So, like the original version of this MK1 model, the so-called ' intelligent fluidity ' seems to remain a little unorthodox-subtle change Grille is the only visual update over the 2011-era model.
This and the addition of LED lamps under the filler lid make it a little easier to connect at night. Otherwise, Noah is very different, and the futuristic styling remains unchanged – but then many will feel that to be a suitable theme for such a breakthrough car.
Your details may be a lifted profile of the blue LED light, positioned to channel air from the wing mirror and reduce road noise.
Things get a little more rounded behind the end dominated by kicking-up the roofline and gently curved vertical tail light – and of course, well known for its absence of total exhaust pipes.
Of course, there are batteries instead, like the previous 48-PowerPack Lithium-ion module that was not placed in the boot but under the vehicle floor, helping to create a low center of gravity that helps so much with handling.
But perhaps the most important thing is the overall size.
About 4.5 m long, this is the first pure electric car big enough for proper family use, not more than about 200Kgs heavier than a conventional model of the same shape and offering a cabin space, and an overall dimension is very comparable to that of a traditional Ford Focus-style family hatchback.
Back in 2013, no other EV in the market could offer more back seat space. Thanks to the redesigned front seat of the freed other 53mm legroom for the person backward, the bench behind the post-' 13-era model can comfortably accommodate three adults in a short trip, two on an older and child Trio throughout the day — the essential practical news with this revised model left, though, which lies further back.
We have mentioned earlier that the charger and Inverter need a battery pack that moves forward from Boot to Hood in MK1 of this revised model.
Well, that makes a big difference to the cargo area. This post-' 13-era luggage space design was rated at 330 liters, a 40-liter ride above the original car-about the size of a piece carrying the airline carrying-on baggage (although the model over 15 liters of loss is more critical when you press 60/40 Split-fold back the front bench (something you can not do in the rival Renault Fluence ZE All-Electric hatch model of this era), you get a real flat loading floor exact, Total cargo space offered is not too big: 1,100-liter total potency Seat-folded luggage area you expect when traveling two-up in a conventional family hatch is reduced here by only 680 liters. But we can not see that too annoying too many potential buyers.
The reason the boot is not more significant is that the lithium-ion Battery Pack is installed under the floor of the vehicle, the more pleasant consequences are the slightly lifting driving positions you get behind the wheel.
On this model of a top MK1 leaf, there is also a bonus that you can tailor your seat to the height you should want.
Unfortunately, more urgent changes are needed in this cabin – the adoption of the Reach-Adjustable Steering Wheel – is in 2013 still on the Nissan to-do list.
However, you can move the object up and down, and with a bit swaying about, it's possible to reach the driving position quite comfortably.
In taxis that seem very different from the original models-until you realize that aside from the adoption of hand brakes operated by the feet, the only significant change is the adoption of a darker plastic palette.
The original light-colored Trim looks very modern but proves to be very impractical for the cold, muddy climate of northern Europe and Scandinavia.
As with the original leaf design MK1, there is a precise futuristically Split-level Dash, with blue-colored graphics that look pretty conventional until you peek closer and find that they are primarily directed advising you how far you can go before filling up the necessary up-ups. The phone style percentage reading is also included in this revised model.
The graphics tell you about your success in power regeneration, and there is an eco-indicator to display the status of electricity consumption, with little Yamaguchi-like trees growing on the screen, depending on how your store is driving.
Further, the range of information provided by the various functions that are on the large telematics screen is positioned in the center of the central console, powered by the Nissan Carwings calling system.
Mid and Top-spec models get it as standard and priced from new to include a five-year subscription to the system, which is updated in the post-' 13 revision of the model era becomes more useful.
As well as regular stereo, Sat NAV and Bluetooth functions you will get with a conventional Infotainment set-up, this one also knows where any public charging point is and is always ready to redirect you to one.
You can also access the Carwings remotely via PC or smartphone, plan a trip or set a timer to cool or warm the car before the trip, so you don't have to use the precious battery power to do it move.
The heaters and evil windshield are not as ' off-limits ' in this regard because they are in the original Leaf model, though, thanks to the heating system in the mid and Top-Range models that in this revised version are 70% less power-hungry.
What to look for
The reported reliability so far has been perfect, as there is no small portion for simplicity attached to the leaves longer drivetrain again.The leaves do not have such transmissions, do not rely on reduction gear. Motors are always connected to the drive shaft.
This makes it very simple and very reliable – far more than all types of transmissions in other vehicles.
Check that an annual battery check has been done, but also, there is very not too much to look out for in addition to the usual supermarket and sidewalk bumps and scratches.
If possible, check the car's battery health before buying it. One that has a lot of general costs is better than that has stood at 100% for the day in the end.
This raises the leaves back to the traditional hand brakes that appear harder. It also seems to have a harder battery. Some of the buyers in our survey report leaked the sealed roof, and many have reported some uneven tire wear.
There is a withdrawal to check the steering wheel on this earlier version of the LEAF boost: check it done.
One of the buyers we found had a brake regeneration sensor failing about 50,000 miles. The other owner suffered a slight suspension of vibrating at 70mph.
Look for uneven tire wear, especially on the back, because some cars are known to have hard-to-fix tracking issues. Also, listen to the sound of cloning a bit from the rear wheels when reversing slowly.
Check also the small rust point in the door frame when the door is open and where the rear screen meets the boot lid. It seems the paint is very gentle and prone to scratches, so ideally; you'll get a leaf in the color that disguises it – it's not black!
Replacement parts
(approx value for leaf 2014) What replacement parts would you use correctly? No clutch, no exhaust, no spark plugs, no filters, no alternator, and no Starter motors need to worry.Brakes and tires are the only consumables you need to stay on top, and they are relatively inexpensive with the front brake pads costing about £20 per set while the Bridgestone ECOPIA tires in the simple leaves of 205/55R16 measure around £67 per angle.
We found a pair of brake discs around £56, which seemed reasonable. The Wiper Blades are in the £10 for the £12 marking and the glass mirror wings will be around £15 for £20.
The wheel bearing Kit starts from about £186.
On the way
Let's start with the Headline. This post-' 13-era corrective model of MK1 leaves can travel almost 20% further than the previous version could at one cost, and if you get the right model specced, you can finish that fill in half the time.If that's enough to get your interest, then let's get behind the wheel and see how it feels like driving.
Get yourself settled, and if you've tried the initial model of 2011 or 2012-era-MK1 LEAF, you will find that the thing here is not very different.
If you haven't, then the whole experience will look very futuristic. Initially, it tasted as a family-size hatchback focused.
But releasing the parking brake (transformed into a foot-operated function in the post-car ' 13-era) then pushes the starter experience, and power started.
A cheerful chime accompanies the virtual instruments of the spring graphics in front of you before a few seconds later; you are ready to draw a mouse-shaped automatic gear selector into a ' drive ' (electric car is, of course, always automatic) and set off.
But before you do so, a quick check is required from a significant range indicator, which is determined by the instrument bar graph display and the mileage number displayed underneath.
This is a view that will be highly used to stare as it will learn precisely how and when you can use this car.
In the mid-part of the 21st century of the second decade, brands like Tesla show that a range of 250 miles or more is quite possible with a costly electric vehicle.
The EVs were affordable though from this period, couldn't get anywhere close to it, but among these, this Nissan could claim the coat of ' Best of The Rest ' thanks to an increased range of claimed operations from 110 to 129 miles for The revision of post-' 13-era leaf models.
The blessing is achieved for 30kg of bodyweight and installation (on Mid and Top-Range variants) of heat pumps using smart three times less energy than is usually required to heat the car.
How? By drawing power from outside the air, the technological approach is well established in domestic use.
In the real world, of course, you will not regularly reach the type of complete range Nissan talks about unless you are accustomed to driving like a nun.
But the difference in the model year 2013 change is allowed allowing the operating range of three figures to the owner less than the pipe of dreams and more of the fact achieved, especially if they can make good use of the useful ' B ' mode in the gearbox.
Choose from a regular ' drive ' setting, and you'll increase the energy that can be harvested from regenerative braking and therefore extend the distance you can travel.
In our tests, we usually get around 80 miles of a single cost, but will still be enough to meet 80% of drivers whose daily mileage is less than that.
Of course, the range is less of a problem if charging is quick and easy. When one day, a 50kW fast charger that can charge a battery runs out of about 80% of its capacity in just 30 minutes that is usual on our main route, no one will think twice about taking an EV vehicle on a more extended trip.
Currently, though, travel is like taking a bit more advanced planning – although some things make the process easier.
First, if you get to the point of sweat when, 7-8 miles from empty, you find a voice that asks you to find the charging point as ' low cost ' turtle ' appearing on the dash, there is always Carwings telematics system which is mostly leaf Trim Level offers to help you.
It always knows where a public charging point is nearby and can redirect you right to it. Some owners help themselves to avoid the scenario by paying extra for the optional 6.6 kW onboard charging system designed for Halve charging time for as little as four hours-and none, providing you can find a 7- Pin socket to connect it to.
As you might have guessed, over-workout your right foot drains the battery very quickly and means inserting more often.
It's more tempting than you think to drive this car sooner than you want. Or at least it is lethal from rest. It comes to the leaves with the hope of electricity based around the free milk and golf cart and the way that 100% of the available torque directly from the bat never fails to feel surprising.
From a break of up to 30mph, this Nissan accelerated faster than the V6 diesel. Still, the progress slowed as rising revs peaked at 11.5 s 0-62mph time was no better-but a no worse model of conventional powered diesel Rival.
The derived power of the courtesy of 360-volt electric motor that extinguishes the equivalent of 109PS and a torque 280Nm pokey as this unit revs, is somewhat promisingly, for more than 10,000 RPM. This will only do Flat-Out 90mph, but of course, the linear speed is not the point of this car.
No, its natural habitat is one of the cities that will see you Tram together in scary silence. It's not entirely silent.
While the conventional car designer Bust the intestines to get the noise level down, Nissan had to add a vote for this one to counter the public fears that a quiet electric vehicle Possible, as they approached, unpleasant surprises and blind surprises.
Therefore the speaker is installed in the bay machine, which generates low whining at below 15mph to warn you of upcoming sidewalk-bound arrivals. The owner leaves an evil disposition can disable this.
In the city, it makes the most sense to drive this car in the ' Eco ' setting, which on the original version of this car combined a slow throttle response with additional regenerative braking to increase operation span of about 10%.
The problem with that is that on the open road, where you do not want a slow throttle response, the owner can not benefit from the extra regenerative braking.
That's why on these revision models, both systems are redesigned, so they operate independently. Get beyond city limits, and you can disable a sluggish throttle response via the ' ECO ' steering wheel button, but at the same time, Snick The gear lever from ' to ' B ' to keep harvesting extra braking energy.
And the handling on the winding road faster? On the original version of this car, this should be pretty good thanks to the same center of gravity as that in Nissan's SportsCar 370Z and the close-perfect weight distribution.
The problem is with the steering car so ridiculously light and without feeling that in the wheel, you feel absolutely no tendency at all to repel with any kind of passion.
With the revised MK1 model, engineers fixed the thing, with a revised Dampening arrangement that enhanced high-speed stability and ensured that cars were no longer ' hovering ' somewhat strange when encountered Mid-Angle bumps.
Slightly heavier is added to the steering wheel as well. It is still not what you call responsive, but you at least get a little more feeling for what the bike is below you than that done with the original MK1 model.
The Turn-in is quite sharp, and there is a lot of clutches-although also still a lot of Body roll. The most important though for potential buyers, the journey is excellent.
Overall
Nissan is a brand that knows what is talking about when it comes to electric power, with the history of EV stretching back to 1947.Only with the introduction of lithium-ion battery technology in the 1990s, though, is the development of their EV very take off and cars as their original leaves become possible.
The initial adoption of all-Electric liked it but hoped it was cheaper, better to drive, and could be further at a faster cost.
So, in 2013, Nissan delivered this upgraded model offering small but significant improvements in all areas.
Of course, the various operations, enhanced despite that, remain a problem. Nissan wouldn't get around to properly improve that until the second generation of this design version was launched in 2017.
It may not be necessary for you, especially if your leaf is to be the second or third family car used for short journeys only.
Even with that warning, the leaves will not be for everyone, of course. Those who are without a garage will join a family of one car and long commuter distances in rejecting it from hand.
But then, there is no car for everyone. As a Japanese brand show, you will not buy a GTR Supercar for family use or Navara pick-up as a city walk-around.
Where Nissan succeeds with this model better than MK1 LEAF though, being in a relatively affordable family offering of a pure size electric car that is much more free of compromise, your model can be quite a painful switching to from something Conventional.
For the right type of customers, this is a very advanced type of thinking to buy a used car.
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