So, what's it like, the 2011 Nissan Leaf, the world's first mass-produced, electric-powered family hatchback? Really, that's what we want to know. Ever since Nissan announced that the car will be available for purchase or lease from its U.S. dealers in December, there have been plenty of particulars about the technology and yet we're still a bit removed from the car itself.
That's why Nissan has been taking assorted prototypes of the Leaf to various places around the globe and offering controlled test-drives. Unfortunately the experiences have been largely arcade-style experiences, very limited in scope. First we were able to take a few laps of Dodger Stadium's parking lot in Los Angeles (one stop in a 22-city tour by the Leaf across America), and then we had a quick few circuits of a parking garage in London. We learned a few things, but not much.
Yes, we've already written extensively on the electric car technology that underpins the Leaf and have driven a number of early development mules that had the bodywork of the Nissan Versa. But here at Nissan's Oppama proving ground near Yokohama, we're standing next to a 2011 Nissan Leaf that's pretty close to production-ready.
More Car, Less EV
And it's impressive. Swift, near silent, easy and comfortable to drive, the 2011 Nissan Leaf certainly seems to be all this and more as it gathers pace and heads down the long straight at Oppama.
As we turn into the sharp bend at the end, the Leaf again stays right on line, tracking cleanly and progressively through the curve to begin the next lap. Throughout, it feels brisk, sure-footed and confident, with the electrics working seamlessly and effectively underneath. If Nissan wanted to introduce a totally new kind of scratch-built, battery-powered family car that's practical, smart and uncommonly user-friendly, then the Leaf is just that, so far as this showing is concerned.
Of course, the Nissan Leaf does have a very different feel to it, as you'd expect with an 80-kilowatt (109 hp) electric motor under the hood that powers the front wheels. And then there's the sizable pack of lithium-ion batteries beneath the floor that provides the juice.
No less clever is the Leaf's ability to keep you abreast 24/7 of where the nearest recharging stations are.
Yet it's those EV sensations that give the Leaf its futuristic feel and commercial edge. It would be very easy to buy a normal car, or even (whisper it) a Toyota Prius, but the Nissan Leaf with its zero tailpipe emissions gives you a different answer to the question of clean-air transportation.
U.S. Specification
The Nissan engineers at Oppama have managed to find us a 2011 Nissan Leaf that's in U.S. specification. While this isn't the full, final production car, it's very close.
An engineer suggests that some of the hard plastics on the fascia might be changed, and that sounds good to us. If you remember the K-Mart interiors of the first Ghosn-era Nissans, well, the prototype Leaf is rather reminiscent of that. There are broad expanses of plastic that seem more in character for a Japanese microcar than an automobile that carries an entry price of $32,780. In the end, maybe this is not such a big deal in a car of such social importance, but then it's hard to overlook when other aspects of the Leaf's spacious, airy cabin are so good.
In front of you is an electronic display that NASA would be proud of. Among other things, the twin-level LCD graphics offer a power meter, speedometer and battery temperature gauge, plus an eco meter that evaluates the efficiency of your driving habits. To the lower right, you'll find the all-important gauge for battery capacity and an indicator that shows how many miles you have to go before you're out of juice.
No less clever is the Leaf's ability to keep you abreast 24/7 of where the nearest recharging stations are, with the information screen for the satellite navigation system giving you the necessary directions. Nissan is talking about a driving range of over 100 miles as calibrated by the EPA's LA4 city driving mode, so the Leaf is essentially a short-range commute vehicle, a role for which it is more than adequately suited.
The Charging Thing
With a 220-volt home recharger, it takes the best part of 8 hours to get a full battery charge, but it's possible for an industrial-strength quick-charger to give you an 80 percent charge in less than a half hour.
The skillful packaging of the NEC-designed lithium-ion battery pack beneath the floor of the car's rear-seat compartment keeps the car's center of gravity low, which helps its agility. The combination of the heavy battery pack in the rear and a relatively lightweight electric motor up front also keeps the 2011 Nissan Leaf from being just another hatchback with a nose-heavy weight distribution. No doubt this is part of the reason why the Leaf doesn't drive like your typical nose-heavy hatchback.
But the Leaf is heavy, weighing in at more than 3,307 pounds, according to what one engineer told us. That's far heavier than most four-door hatchbacks of this package size. The good news is that the 206 pound-feet of torque available from the Leaf's electric motor is available as soon as you press the accelerator, so the Leaf feels anything but slow as it moves off the line.
That Whole EV Thing
Starting the Leaf is something cool in itself. Press the "Start" button and you're greeted with a catchy jingle, just like a mobile phone (or some Hello Kitty toy from the Akihabara district in Tokyo). Then, nothing. The car just sits there, waiting for you to make the first move. Because, of course, it's an EV.
Move the transmission lever into Drive, watch for the green "Go" light on the instrument panel, release the brake and you're ready to roll. Throttle action is noticeably sharp so the car jumps forward, but then it pulls smoothly and powerfully away, with just the faintest whirr of the electric motor in the background. Because the car uses a single-speed transmission, there are no gears to worry about, so the acceleration seems strong, seamless and extraordinarily smooth as the Leaf whooshes up to speed.
Once above 50 or 60 mph, acceleration then starts to trail off, just when a gas engine would still normally be building up steam. Still, the Leaf cruises beautifully, virtually in silence and with impressive body and suspension control. All-around refinement, in fact, is outstanding. If this Nissan was a tad more exciting to drive, it would be even better. But again, in the green car universe such things are perhaps not such an urgent priority.
There is also an Eco mode that produces softer acceleration response. It improves the cruising range by 10 percent, Nissan tells us.
Driving Like a Car
As our Leaf tackled the turns, hills, slopes and straights of Oppama, we noticed that while the steering is accurate and linear, the effort level feels a bit light and artificial. The 2011 Nissan Leaf handles well, though, with understeer and roll kept well in check.
Ride? We really have no idea, as Nissan's test track at the proving ground is peerlessly flat and smooth. Even so, the Leaf feels supple and nicely damped. How it will deal with Detroit-style potholes, however, we'll find out in some six months' time.
As with so many electric and hybrid vehicles, the Leaf's braking system feels a bit odd, as the transition from regenerative braking to mechanical braking is a little clumsy. Pedal action is decidedly short and heavy, rather like the first-generation Toyota Prius (the one that looked like a Toyota Echo), if you can remember back that far.
We were keen to experience Nissan's tweaky "Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians system," so designed as to warn that the otherwise silent Leaf is coming. A loudspeaker in the nose emits a sweeping high-low sound at start-up and then cuts out above 12 mph. No doubt it works, but for better or worse it's inaudible inside the car.
Just a Start
So the 2011 Nissan Leaf appears to be quite some car. It's more than just a promise, more than just the usual vaporware. Even so, there's the promise of improvement, as Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan alliance, has staked his company's future on the development of the electric car. Step by step, improving battery technology is expected to extend the cruising range. Nissan also already has a family of Leaf-based models in the planning stage, including a premium Infiniti model and a Nissan minivan.
So far, a lot of Americans are interested. It's a kind of math challenge, though, and you have to balance the cost of ownership versus the price of use. First you'll look at the 2011 Nissan Leaf's $32,780 MRSP. Then you'll consider the impact of the $7,000 federal subsidy, which brings the cost down to $25,280. And then there's the $2,200 cost of installing a home charging dock. You'll consider whether the car's 100-mile cruising range is enough for you (it'll probably decline a bit if the weather is either too hot or cold), and whether this will be your only car, a second car or perhaps a third car. And finally you'll consider the low cost of a "fill up" (less than $3) and the negligible maintenance costs (aside from battery replacement, of course).
Doing the math will be a part of the program for almost everybody, we think. With the 2011 Nissan Leaf, the EV concept has passed the curiosity stage. Now an EV will have to measure up as a real car, and that will pose some new challenges. So far, the Nissan Leaf appears to be up to the task.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Add A Comment »
artsy3 says:
12:18 PM, 06/30/2010
All this armchair quarterbacking amuses me. NOBODY who is in the market for an EV gives a rip if it doesn't look like a Zagonda. Yes, the car has a 100 mile range and your results may vary. This isn't going to be anyone's ONLY vehicle anymore than their Harley is.
Some of you need to read the book "Who Moved my Cheese?" Nissan is moving your cheese, and while most enlightened people applaud the chance to thumb their nose at the Saudis and the people fouling the Gulf of Mexico, the timid and change averse are having a fit. You can fade into history just like the folks who railed against the first cars because they spooked the horses.
david216 says:
09:45 AM, 06/30/2010
What happens to the range of this thing when it's 95 degrees out and you have the A/C blasting? The A/C compressor alone requires about 5hp (3.7kw) when it's running. And for those who live in the northern states: since there's no engine to provide a source of heat, what kind of interior heater does it have? When it's 10 degrees outside, how are the windows defrosted? If electric resistance heat is used it would severly reduce this car's range and usefulness. The article says a "fillup" costs $3 which sounds great but if you get only 50 miles out of it- which is likely in a real world situation with the A/C or heat blasting-that's not much cheaper than a gas powered car that gets 40mpg- and you don't have to put up with severe inconveniences like a 50 mile range.
travai says:
05:57 PM, 06/26/2010
@phoenixc
First of all, I should probably thank a superior being that there are people who can have complex discussions on a topic without devolving into childishness and oversimplification.
Yes. The Xsara Picasso, expecially the first generation, was startlingly unattractive -- by all accounts. I do sympathize with the idiosyncracy that French car design is known for though. I admire the C4 and C6 for their relaxed, space-age, contrariness. Of course, I can still separate my admiration for those two cars from my definition of timeless (important, revolutionary) design.
I suppose timeless design is hard to define, but it seems to sit at the midpoint between conservative classicism (E39 BMW 5-series) and bold sex-appeal (Alfa Romeo "2uettottanta" concept). I concur with the list you gave ... and who knew the Lancia Aurelia was so well conceived? Very nice.
I'm halfway through a double major: Studio Art (Digital and Sculpture) and Media Studies (Production); so, like you, I'm not just pulling these opinions out of my ass. I've got a whole banker's box full of old design concepts. I swear I designed the exterior of Audi's second-generation A4 before it was ever shown in public. Seriously. :)
Good talking to you.
phoenixc says:
06:20 PM, 06/24/2010
@travai
I hear what you're saying, and must concede - nationlism plays a large part in what many consider an attractive machine. While I have had more than 30 cars, four being Subaru wagons, I know I'm in the American minority with my love of cars that are utilitarian -wagons, hatchbacks, fastbacks, etc., without requiring an SUV badge to hide behind. I also agree American cars have not been 'beautifying America' at all times, and until recently they were rarely inspiring. I've studied car design at Art Center in Pasadena so my opinions are shaped by more than what I've owned or driven and are rooted in observations of the planes, DLO, DRG and other dynamic elements of a cars design.
What bothers me most is with the Leaf, Nissan chose a gimmicky design language over clean lines that will age well - think VW Golf, Mini Cooper (minus the interior), 1988 300 SEC, or 1984 320i, original G35 coupe, or even a Lancia Aurelia. While cars like the Picasso in Paris are to me hideous, I have traveled enough to know design takes shape very differntly in other countries. Were this car to have pushed the envelope in a way like the much loved DS or used edges in a startlingly efficient way such as the XT-6 (still has one the lowest Cd's of any production car), I could embrace it completely as the technological leap that it is.
Instead I will be seeing this car on the road, packed with 21st century technology wrapped in a package that could have been drawn in crayon. It's another missed opportunity (CR-Z), one that deserved to be ground-breaking on all fronts. Knowing that it's shape is not wholly dictated by FMVSS or the wind tunnel, I consider it a lazy and loose expression of a modern people mover.
I am hopeful the mechanicals will be leased/used/cross-branded into more attractive designs, so that 'electric car' stops being synonymous with 'weird' - as a guy who works in branding I know all too well the role of perception in creating a market success. While this will sell if it's functional claims are validated in the real world it will still be a car that uses it's underlying value as an excuse for uninspired design.
In trying to find an angle I like on this car I did not succeed, however the 'shifter' (pic 14) expresses the kind of elegent and finely crafter aesthetic that I believe is proof they could have, and should have, done a better job making people WANT this car, DESIRE this car, and TALK about this car in aspirational terms. The gentle confluence of lines, and neatly integrated parking brake with the, albeit trendy - piano-black finish really does a good job capturing the elegance that makes a machine a work of art; it's a small sign that perhaps the next version, (hopefully not called Leaf) may become a car kids dream about, while feeling part of something revolutionary.
Cheers!
judokid says:
06:08 PM, 06/24/2010
I think they purposefully gave it an unusual look. They WANTED it to stand out in the crowd (so as to gain extra attention), and I think they succeeded in that venue. Whether it is attractive or not is a subjective matter.
Good numbers, good execution. If I were looking to buy a second vehicle, I'd take this over the Volt.
saintviper says:
09:35 AM, 06/24/2010
The Prius is just as ugly and people buy tons of them. As long as there is a $7K rebate bring the price down to $25K, I think this will catch on big time. And it's only the first try. Newer versions will get better and better.
artsy3 says:
06:48 AM, 06/24/2010
@stingray454. Even using 100% coal-fired electricity in a worst-case scenario, the LEAF is 60% cleaner than a comparably sized hatchback. Many states out west and in the south generate very little electricity from coal.
travai says:
04:21 AM, 06/24/2010
@phoenixc
Ha. Points taken. I didn't say this was a beautiful car. You're right, it is a bit nose heavy.
I feel relatively comfortable saying that BMW's new 5-Series Touring (the one the U.S. won't be getting) is, in an objective sense, a good design. Good design is timeless and can supercede the subjective "tastes" of an era. So, in this sense, the best designs are empirically, objectively attractive. It all depends on the person doing the judging. The best "opinions" come from people who really can look at designs objectively (taking into context all aesthetic modes). The majority, are others who are, in the Leaf's case, simply comparing an admittedly outlandish design to their own primarily subjective criteria.
My use of the word "xenophobic" was contextually accurate. I say there *is* a connection between politics, and the way people judge car design. Did you happen to catch Sarah Palin's speech in which she trashed liberals for driving Subarus? I think it's pretty obvious why alot of Americans don't like hatchbacks and wagons, even though they'd be more practical than the pick-ups many of them inevitably buy. I do think that some of that socio-cultural perspective is coloring the reaction to this car's design.
Overall, my comment was directed at rodger_victor's comment: "Nissan and Honda please stop selling these ugly designed vehicles in the states. Whatever happend to beutifying America?". Oh, sure, because if I ever design cars I'll have to be extra careful to please middle-American tastes instead of just designing something intrinsically attractive. Since when has a Chevy Cavalier made anyone's driveway look better? The Big Three have conflated car design with nationalism for decades, so I guess I can't blame people for being disappointed that they can't drive around in cars that look like an anthropomorphization of George Washington's monolithic visage. (Look ma, no thesaurus!)
Thanks for the opportunity to clarify my bitchiness.
n2guru says:
07:41 PM, 06/23/2010
From Ugly to Fugly:
1) Cube
2) Rogue
3) Leaf
4) Juke
Now, go on and PUKE...lol...They should have at least looked at Tesla and their upcoming Model S???
It's simply beautiful. I don't understand why they have to make FUGLY vehicles for the masses??? Maybe because it's cheaper???
financeman2 says:
07:18 PM, 06/23/2010
I applaud Nissan for giving the consumer another choice. While the Leaf may not be appropriate for many, there is a demographic that will very much appreciate the car. Once the range can be extended to 200+ miles, it becomes a realistic alternative to anyone wanting a commuter vehicle. Supposedly it only costs $3 to charge.....that's equivalent to paying .60 cents per gallon to fuel a car that gets 20 mpg. That rocks, making a Prius look comparitively expensive to operate!!