The Nissan Leaf was one of the first mass-produced electric vehicles to go on sale. Nissan unveiled the car back in 2011, and a lot has changed since then, including the addition of a long-range Leaf Plus model. With more range than before, more high-tech safety features, and a more stylish design, the 2019 Nissan Leaf and 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus, make strong cases for themselves. Not to mention, the regular Leaf is cheaper than a lot of its competitors.
What's New for 2019
After a redesign last year, not much changes for the standard 2019 Leaf. The big news is the introduction of the Leaf Plus, which has more range, power, and standard equipment than the standard model. Nissan has also added their Rear Door Alert safety feature, which warns drivers to double check the rear seats before exiting the vehicle, as standard.
Choosing Your Nissan LEAF
The Leaf, which Nissan claims is still the best-selling electric vehicle of all time, features a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor. The 40-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides the Leaf with a range of up to 150 miles on a single charge, according to the EPA. The vehicle's 110-kW electric motor provides a decent amount of power, as it's rated at 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.
New for 2019 is the Leaf Plus, which features a 62-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that boasts a range of 226 miles on a single charge. Power for the Leaf Plus comes from a 160-kW electric motor that pumps out 214 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque.
These are noticeable increases over the regular Leaf and greatly improve the model’s ability to get to 60 mph, reducing the figure by a second over the standard version. Nissan also claims that the Leaf Plus is 13 percent quicker when it comes to passing at speeds from 50 to 70 mph than the regular model.
When it comes to charge times, both the Leaf and the Leaf Plus have the same 6.6-kW onboard charger. Filling up with a Level 2 connection takes 7.5 hours with the 40-kWh model and 11.5 hours with the 62-kWh battery pack. The Leaf Plus, though, can handle charging at stations with a 100-kW DC quicker charger, which allows the battery to get up to 80 percent of its charge in 45 minutes.
Both the Leaf and the Leaf Plus have an e-Pedal feature that allows for one-pedal braking. The feature also allows for a higher level of regenerative braking, letting drivers regenerate miles without touching the brake pedal.
Nissan's e-Pedal feature isn't the only trick the Leaf has up its sleeve, as it also has the Japanese automaker's ProPilot Assist system as an option. The semi-autonomous system can automatically keep a safe distance from any vehicles driving in front of it, keep the vehicle within its lane, and brake on its own. All of the latest safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera, and lane departure warning are present, as well.
There are three Leaf trims and three Leaf Plus trims available:
One of the strongest upsides of the 2019 Nissan Leaf is its affordable price tag, and now buyers can also choose the 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus with its longer range. The SV trim is reasonably priced and comes with a good list of features. Adding the Technology Package ensures that you get the latest safety features and some convenience ones, too.