2019 Nissan Leaf SL Plus

We find the Nissan Leaf SL Plus is just too little, too late, and too expensive.

When the Nissan Leaf was first introduced to the world in 2011, it came equipped with a 24 kWh battery providing an EPA estimated range of only 73 miles. That isn’t much for today’s EVs, but it was enough to get the job done at the time. While the first generation Leaf was loved by owners and enthusiasts alike, the redesign in 2017 was a welcome refresh for the model. Nissan added the top trim "SL Plus", offering a 62 kWh battery with 215 miles of range in 2019... a late arrival to the 200-mile club for the company that provided the world with one of the first mass produced electric vehicles.

What we like:

• Smooth, and comfortable
• Spacious interior
• Tons of cargo room
• 200+ miles of range.
• Updated styling
• ProPILOT e-Pedal

What we dislike:

• Slow charging speeds
• No active thermal management
• Pricey
• Soft steering
• Soft suspension
• Heavy
• Generally boring

Bottom Line:

The Nissan Leaf SL Plus is a good car if looked at in a vacuum, but with so many competitors to chose from we find that it falls well short of our expectations of what a $42,000 car should be.

The Nissan Leaf is a car we want to like more. After all, its legacy deserves respect similar to the way you should respect your elders. And perhaps that’s the problem. Even with the recent refresh and updates to the model's styling, we find the car is just not appealing compared to its competition. It’s quietly fading away into the ever growing field of other electric vehicle choices.

Let’s start by examining what we do like. We found the overall ride and experience with the Leaf SL Plus to be quite comfortable compared to other EVs we’ve tested. The build quality is solid and the ride smooth. Nissan has certainly demonstrated they have experience bringing quality vehicles to the marketplace. If you were looking for a spacious family vehicle to take on road trips, we feel like this EV would be perfectly capable of handling the job. Space for luggage in the rear is bountiful and doesn’t encroach on the legroom for rear passengers. With 215 miles of range (according to the Monroney Sticker) you have more than enough battery to get you between cities. It’s styling is a lot less controversial this time around and shouldn’t alienate potential buyers like the first generation Leaf.

When it comes to technology, the Leaf SL Plus doesn’t surprise us, which is a good thing. The 8-inch infotainment system included with the Plus makes it very easy to pair your mobile device and even includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The HD radio and a seven speaker Bose premium audio system provide your ears with a quality listening experience. The model we test drove also included heated seats and steering wheel although in the heat of summer we didn’t verify how well they worked.

​We were delighted with both Nissan’s e-Pedal (one pedal driving) and their ProPILOT driver assist feature, but found that the latter was sometimes unpredictable and when left to its own devices could be hazardous. Even still, we love that Nissan is making an effort to offer semi-autonomous features in their vehicles and applaud them for the progress they have made so far. Very few manufacturers outside the luxury brands have even attempted to include these features.

However, for all that we liked about the Nissan Leaf, we found as much that we didn’t like. Nissan STILL hasn’t included active thermal management on their battery pack, leading to increased degradation. This means a decreasing of real world range more quickly than its competitors, and when the vehicle already falls short on range compared to that of other vehicles in the segment, this is an issue we simply can’t overlook.

The Nissan Leaf SL Plus that we tested was $42,550 MSRP, and after dealer installed extras was being offered for $44,395.

Even after a tax incentive of $7,500 (for those who would qualify for it) this car simply doesn’t live up to the expectations we would have for a car of that price. When the Leaf was one of the very few electric vehicles on the market (in its early days) Nissan could get away with this unbalanced value proposition. But now with so many other models available from its competitors we feel that the Leaf is overpriced by $10,000.

Because of the smooth power delivery, it lacks the gut-punch of instant torque that we’ve grown to love about so many EVs, and we might even go as far to say that it lacks that automotive “soul” that causes you to fall in love with your car. The motor does put out 215 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque which allowed it to sprint to 60 mph in 6.97 seconds, but it took advantage of a slight downhill. Completing the 1/4 mi in 15.27s at 91.71 mph puts it in line with our time for the Chevy Bolt.
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We do have to keep in mind that the Nissan Leaf was not designed to be a performance vehicle, but even so, we were left wanting more from it. The suspension is soft, handling can be described as mediocre at best, and the steering just doesn’t provide the connection with the road that we were hoping to feel.

Our feeling about the Leaf is that it is mediocre and generally just not special enough to capture our interest. There are definitely people with an interest for this EV but it’s likely a shrinking group as even Nissan seems to be focusing their energy on the upcoming Ariya crossover.

With that said, maybe it is time to retire the Leaf and remember it for what it really is, a relic of the past that just hasn’t been able to keep up with the ever changing EV landscape. 

We find the Nissan Leaf SL Plus is just too little, too late, and too expensive.