What name would you like to appear in the review?
Mark Thompson
What is the make and model of your EV?
Nissan LEAF Tekna 40kWh
What year was your EV registered?
2018
How long have you owned your EV?
2 – 3 years
What is your estimated annual mileage?
5,000-10,000
What is the mileage on your EV?
20,000 – 30,000 miles
How many EVs have you owned?
This is my 3rd
What is the average mileage range you achieve from your EV when fully charged?
140
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Why did you choose this car?
I wanted to lead by example, as I knew the move to EVs was absolutely the right thing. Plus, after a test drive I was blown away by the driving experience. I chose a LEAF because at the time (early 2014), it was the only truly affordable high quality EV on the market and also had a high level of equipment on it (including a heat pump which was very important to me).
Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this car.
- Incredibly relaxing to drive (like driving a car and having a bath at the same time)
- It isn’t a huge car to look at but is surprising how much stuff you can get in it
- Although it gets criticised as ‘old’ tech and dull to drive, I think there is a lot of prejudice out there because of its old underpinnings but the Mk 2 LEAF in particular is very nimble and fun to drive (noticeably better than the Mk1) and the e-Pedal is FABULOUS!
Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this car.
- Although the rear seats fold forward the boot floor isn’t flat (far from it) which makes it awkward for transporting bulky items e.g. furniture
- The dynamic range prediction is poor, overestimating the remaining range (especially at lower battery states of charge) which is something you have to allow for
- The infotainment system is quirky with numerous different interfaces and menus that don’t feel at all thought through from the point of view of the user experience.
Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?
I’ve had LEAFs over 8 years and covered about 90,000 miles with no faults and no warranty claims.
What are the standout tech features of the car?
The Tekna has IMO an outstanding level of equipment on it and for anyone looking to buy their first EV you can get some amazing deals on them new. The e-Pedal is fantastic as is the ability to turn the heating or aircon on remotely.
Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this car.
I did 70,000 miles in my last LEAF from new. Brake wear was so low that when I sold it, its original brake pads and discs (even on the front) probably still had 50,000 miles left in them.
Rate your EV out of 5.
What car are you interested in next and why?
Kia EV6 – I want to treat myself to an EV with a circa 5 second 0-60 time so will be very tempted by the high power AWD version of the EV6. I think it is a stunning looking car too with in interior that is far more interesting to some new EVs such as Tesla which has the most boring interior I’ve ever seen.
What home charging unit do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
I have a 7kW charger but the way we now use our drive means its more convenient to charge off the granny lead, which is ultimately slightly better for the battery. So I charge off the granny lead 99% of the time.
Rate your home charging unit out of 5.
What home electricity supplier & tariff do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
Bulb standard tariff (not an EV tariff).
Rate your electricity supplier out of 5.
What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?
We have definitely had our best experiences with Instavolt with best reliability and easiest to work out what to do.
List your top 3 favourite public charging networks (in order of preference).
- Instavolt
- Gridserve
- bp.
Who do you insure your EV with? Would you recommend them to others and why?
I am with LV. The insurance question is irrelevant as from an insurance point of view an EV is ”just a car”.
Rate your insurance provider out of 5.
Estimate how much money you save per month owning and running an EV compared to a petrol/diesel car.
£60.
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