2014 Nissan Leaf: first impressions (2024)

I’ve had the same car, in the US, for 5+ years now. They’re amazing as an around-town car, and virtually free to drive. I can go to the next town over twice in a day, which is more than I want to. I just charge it overnight on a plain old 110v plug.

I think every family with 3+ cars should consider replacing one with a used Leaf - chances are you don’t really need more than 70 miles of range on more than 1-2 vehicles.

I don’t care at all about the environmental stuff, only about not going to gas stations and never doing any maintenance. And, as OP notes… they are surprisingly fun to drive.

We have a pair of 2015 Fiat 500Es on Kaua'i and have been very happy with our results. (Why two? Hit a pig nearly as big as the car in the first one, wasn't sure we were going to get it back from the shop [the car, not the pig] and bought a backup.) They are cute, peppy, and get about 120 miles per charge. And when they finally crap out the plan is to add their batteries to our house backup system.

Somewhat besides the point of the article, but I would never but a Nissan car for the sole reason of what they did to the Israeli owner of nissan.com.

I guess we are now entering the era of the affordable-affordable electric cars.

The Tesla 3 was marketed as “affordable” but only now that the government sponsored lease contracts are ending we will see a healthy supply of second hand model 3’s here in Holland.

ok, the author lost me at: "My first choice would have been a Mitsubishi i-MiEV ... Shame, because it is a much cooler car than a Nissan Leaf."

wow, this is a different country: "1600 kg! ... being about 2x as big and heavy as necessary." [i really butchered these quotes, fyi, not trying to do it dishonestly but to focus on these statements]. to me the leaf is a tiny little car. 1600kg is like 3500 lbs - not big or heavy at all to me.

Ioniq 5 is 4850 lbs or so. model 3 and y are almost identical in weight/range/etc.

the leaf is a very cool niche car in a way - but it's a "city car". something 1/2 step up from a golf cart. but, used, actually cheaper in most cases.