- hatchback 29,725
- 1,045 below average
- 8,782 good
- Henderson, NV
-
- autoshopper.com
- 1,045 below average hatchback 29,725 black single speed
2013 nissan leaf review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. When it debuted for the 2011 model year, it was the first mass-production all-electric vehicle to go on sale in the u. With a starting price of more than $30,000. With newer electric cars nipping at the leaf's heels, nissan has introduced a new base model for 2013 that starts at just $28,800. The 2013 nissan leaf is assembled at nissan's plant in smyrna, tennessee, whereas 2011 and 2012 models were built in japan. Leaf is an acronym for low emission automobile of the future. A 24 kwh lithium-ion battery pack powers an 80-kilowatt electric motor, good for 107 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Improvements to the 2013 leaf include improved aerodynamics, more efficient regenerative braking, and better vehicle energy management, resulting in better environmental protection agency numbers to the tune of 130/102 mpge city/highway energy efficiency equivalent rating and an epa-estimated range of 75 miles. by comparison, the 2012 leaf was rated at 106/92 mpge with an estimated range of 73 miles. Also, the epa changed its methodologies this year for determining ev range, so the leaf's improvements are more significant than the numbers indicate. Under the old system, the 2013 nissan leaf would have received an epa range estimate rating of 84 miles. As with all electric vehicles, the actual range will vary based on driving style, speed, weather, temperature and battery age. in addition to improved efficiency and the new entry-level model, the 2013 nissan leaf gets a new 6. 6-kw onboard charger, which is optional on the base model and standard on upper trims. Several new standard and optional features are available on the 2013 leaf across all trim levels. the leaf is a zero-tailpipe-emissions vehicle; the tailpipe bit is important, since no vehicle is truly zero-emissions when production and distribution (and, in this case, charging) are taken into account. The leaf uses partially recycled materials in the fabric upholstery found in the mid-level sv trim, made in part from recycled water bottles. It also uses a range of other wood and plastic recycled and recyclable materials in its interior and exterior design. Nissan claims the leaf is the greenest production car ever built, and is about 94 percent recyclable. like other alternative fuel vehicles, the leaf qualifies for federal, and in some cases, state and/or local tax credits. The benefits of owning this type of vehicle may not all be measured in dollars and cents, however. Some states offer hov high-occupancy vehicle stickers for electric and hybrid vehicles, which give access to coveted carpool lanes even when the driver is solo. For those who slog through stop-and-go traffic twice a day, this perk could bring welcome relief. Although it's wise to keep in mind that in crowded cities like los angeles, the congested commute lanes don't move much faster. competitors were practically nonexistent when the nissan leaf debuted, but more automakers have stepped up with electric vehicle offerings. They include the ford focus electric, mitsubishi imiev, honda fit ev, and smart fortwo ev. Forthcoming electric models include the chevrolet spark ev and an electric version of mercedes-benz's newly announced cla-class. Standard wheels are 16-inch steel. The package also includes a rearview camera, a smart safety feature. leaf sv 31,820) adds the 6. 6 kw onboard charger, fabric upholstery partially made from recycled materials, cruise control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation with 7-inch touchscreen and an upgraded, six-speaker audio system with real-time traffic, pandora radio capability and google navigation support. Also included is the nissan carwings interface, which allows remote access to the vehicle via a smartphone. Standard wheels are 16-inch alloys. leaf sl 34,840) includes everything above plus leather upholstery, a cargo cover, homelink connectivity, automatic led headlights, foglamps, a spoiler-mounted solar panel, and a quick-charge port. Options include the premium package, which bundles an upgraded bose audio system with a 360-degree around view monitor. walkaroundbecause efficiency is crucial when it comes to evs, design tends to be less by imagination and more by wind tunnel. Designers and engineers took great care to make the leaf as aerodynamic as possible in order to achieve the least amount of drag, and subsequently, the maximum amount of range. we think the leaf is really cute, with a combination of japanese nissan and french renault design ideas inside and out. It is not a small car, even though it looks small. Epa rates it bigger than 100 cubic feet inside, qualifying it as a compact car. the underpinnings of the welded unibody chassis are mostly derived from nissan's worldwide network of b-sized cars including the nissan versa, with struts up front and a torsion beam suspension at the rear, simple, cheap to build, and largely effective. Everything in the car operates electrically, from the a/c system to the power steering, and it all works very well as a package. leaf's electric charging system terminal resides in a hatch in the nose. Those raised headlamp units that stand proud off the front fenders were designed to split the air into two paths, so that the two paths would go around the outside rearview mirrors as quietly as possible. A similar low-noise treatment was done to the antenna. Six-foot-tall drivers and passengers will have enough leg- and headroom, and the seats are comfortable and well fitting. The tilt steering wheel is comfortable to use, but it unfortunately does not telescope. Plenty of light comes into the car thanks to the large windows and narrow pillars, which also aids visibility. cargo space in the nissan leaf measures 24 cubic-feet with the rear seats in place, or 30 total cubes with the 60/40-split rear seats folded flat. special instruments include a large speedometer, battery temperature, power meter, remaining energy, capacity level, distance-to-empty, and an eco mode indicator. The leaf navigation system is programmed to show all available public charging stations as well as a continuously updated circle of driving range overlaid on the nav map. There is a separate screen for charging timer to take advantage of low electricity rates at night, and a climate control timer screen. on sv and sl trims, the leaf includes a system called carwings, a smartphone application that can check state of charge, charging status, a start-charging command, and a remote switch to start the heating or cooling system. It can also tell the driver if the charger has been inadvertently or deliberately disconnected. driving impressionthe leaf is fun to drive because it is so very different from driving a traditional, gas-powered car. Like all electric cars, the 2013 nissan leaf is extremely quiet. So quiet, in fact, that nissan worked with a number of groups to design and build a noise generator that operates between 1 mph and 18 mph, to warn visually impaired pedestrians that a car is nearby. At speeds over 18 mph, the car is loud enough on its own to be heard. the electric motor provides tons of silent torque to get away from stoplights, and still has plenty of power for 40-70 mph passing maneuvers. And it will go faster than 90 mph on level roads. Transient response, how the car behaves in hard left-right-left emergency lane-change maneuvers, is not nearly as good as that of the chevrolet volt. Leaf is front-wheel drive. the opera. Climate Control✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Player✔ Navigation System✔ Air Conditioning✔ Bluetooth
8,782 Henderson, NVHenderson, NV at autoshopper.com