The second-generation Leaf ranks great for usability, likability and affordability. But can the new Nissan Leaf tow?

The second-generation Leaf ranks great for usability, likability and affordability. But can the new Nissan Leaf tow?

Now in its second generation and is a much better all-rounder than the original Nissan Leaf. It’s faster, better to drive, bigger inside and, the most important upgrade is it can travel much longer distances between charges. The top  e+ version comes with a bigger battery that ensures a longer range (385kms) and faster acceleration (0–100km/h taking 6.9 seconds). 

The Nissan Leaf impresses in pretty much every area. It’s easy to drive and comfortable, especially around town, and it has a decent range. Given its price, there’s an impressive amount of tech and it has enough space for all the family.

Nissan has made the CHAdeMO quick-charging port standard across the Leaf lineup for 2021 - which will take the Leaf 40kWh from 10-80% in about 40mins; it's also including the ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode on the SV Plus trim. The big news, though, is the Leaf's substantial drop in price. The Leaf is now probably the cheapest new electric vehicle you can buy.

The Leaf can be plugged into a regular 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt outlet, but the charging times vary dramatically between the two. On a 240-volt connection, Nissan says both the standard Leaf's battery and the larger one in the Leaf Plus can be replenished in seven hours. 

The standard Leaf models come with a 147-horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels; a 40.0-kWh battery pack provides the juice. Leaf Plus models come with a gutsier, 214-hp electric motor and a larger 62.0-kWh battery. The Nissan Leaf’s 40kWh battery provides 270 kilometres of range and it can zoom to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The Leaf's e-Pedal feature allows the driver to toggle back and forth between regenerative braking modes, one of which allows the car to coast when the driver lifts off the throttle and another that slows the car when you take your foot off the gas and uses that energy to recharge the battery.

Unlike some electric cars, the Nissan Leaf is perfectly capable of heading far enough away for a weekend break. Need to take your bikes along?  Why not fit a Laf towbar.  All "ball" mounted bike carriers are compatible.

As you probably guessed, the Leaf has no tow rating so you cannot tow anything.  We do have a towbar available that will allow you to fit a bike carrier though.

Although the cabin of the Leaf S and SVs has a lot of black plastic, the well-assembled and uniform textures help it avoid looking cheap.

All Leaf models come with an 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; navigation is optional. The latest Nissan Connect software interface is intuitive and quick to respond.  The Nissan smartphone app lets you check things remotely, such as the Leaf's battery charge, or you can switch on the climate control in advance of getting in.

The front and rear seats offer plenty of room. The Leaf’s rear seatbacks fold down in a 60/40 split. Despite the fact that the Leaf's back seat doesn't create a flat load floor when folded, its boot is quite long and the cargo capacity is among the best in its class. 405-litres which expands to 1176 litres with seats down.

Safety: every Leaf comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection as standard, along with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The latter will warn you about passing cars when you’re reversing out onto a busy road.

The Nissan Leaf is reasonable to drive, well equipped and pretty easy to live with - a great budget EV.
If you want to carry your bikes along on your next trip, why not fit a Nissan Leaf Towbar.