Nissan LEAF 2021 electric car owner review

‘Economy Electric Motoring’ drives a Nissan LEAF Acenta 40kWh 2021.

This is EEM’s first electric car, they’ve owned the Nissan LEAF 2-3 years and drive under 5,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 1,000-5,000 miles and they achieve 180 miles from a full charge.

Why did you choose the Nissan LEAF?

Nissan were the leaders in EVs 10 years ago so I thought they would have got it right and I was not disappointed.

Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this electric car

I like the body which I think is very stylish, as is the interior
I love the one pedal driving
The ride and steering are so precise.

Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this electric car

The bonnet is extremely heavy to lift and secure on the strut, why Nissan did not use telescopic struts puzzles me
the sat nav is rubbish
my local Nissan dealer has informed me that to access charging stations I have to pay a subscription to Nissan, which does not worry me because I have the excellent Zapmap app on my phone
to access Android Auto on the centre screen is a bit hit and miss.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

The sat nav was giving me concerns but was rectified by the Nissan Dealer.

What are the standout technological features of the car?

The one pedal driving which brakes the car automatically. The B and D modes which allows you to coast down hills in D mode which saves electricity.

Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car

The one pedal driving which gives you a whole new driving experience.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

Any of the new Chinese models which are cheaper and have a longer range.

Do you charge your electric car from home?

Do you use public charging networks?

Yes

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

Pod Point is widely available, reasonably priced and easy to access on the phone app. InstaVolt is easy to use but is expensive. I also use Co Charger, which is a system where you use a neighbour’s home charger. You book an appointment on your phone app and leave your car for as many hours you need at a cost of 47p per kilowatt.

Insurer – outline both positive & negative elements

I was with Adrian Flux but this year they wanted to increase my insurance from £647 a year to £1,600 a year so I changed to the AA at what I was paying.

Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running an electric car

Energy costs approx. £15 every 2 weeks
no road tax until 2025
servicing at Nissan £200 a year which includes RAC membership and complimentary wash and interior clean
monthly lease £246 a month.