The cabin is as conventional and familiar as any budget-minded hatchback. The large greenhouse lets in plenty of light. Comfortable seats are upholstered in soft cloth made from recycled plastic bottles. There's plenty of leg room both fore and aft, but despite claims that it comfortably seats five, three people would find the back seat way too close for comfort.
There are plenty of cheap hard plastics, but they're moulded into an aesthetically attractive two-tone swooping split-cockpit design. The centre stack is well-designed, with large NAV screen and backup camera.
Push the "start" button and the instruments light up… but there's no sound whatsoever.
The Honda Civic-like stacked centre binnacle presents speed and range info behind the steering wheel. Frugal drivers are rewarded with a little tree display when in Eco mode, which extends the range by 10% by reducing power output and increasing regenerative braking.
A large, mouse-like control dial on the centre console toggles between Drive and Reverse, with a centre button for Park.
Other than its eery silence, there's nothing very remarkable about driving the LEAF. Despite not having a transmission, it accelerates smoothly like any other car, there are no weird smart-car lurches and there's more than adequate get up and go.
The electric motor produces 80-kW/107-hp, with an impressive 206 lb. ft. of torque. The LEAF has a respectable top speed of 140 km/h. The power is electronically doled out in a linear progression, so the immediately available torque doesn't slingshot you into the nearest overpass. The slight whirring escalates to a whine as we accelerate. Steering is light but accurate and makes no pretensions of feedback. Under the floor, the 250 kg. battery pack creates a low centre of gravity, and with the perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the car is quite planted and balanced.
Exiting the car, I conclude that the LEAF is an agreeable, but largely forgettable driving experience.
So why is the Nissan Life so industry-altering exciting?
It's our first-real world, totally useable vehicle that confirms we can indeed do without fossil fuels.
 |
| Push the "start" button and the instruments light up… but there's no sound whatsoever. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
There are plenty of cheap hard plastics, but they're moulded into an aesthetically attractive two-tone swooping split-cockpit design. The centre stack is well-designed, with large NAV screen and backup camera.
Push the "start" button and the instruments light up… but there's no sound whatsoever.
The Honda Civic-like stacked centre binnacle presents speed and range info behind the steering wheel. Frugal drivers are rewarded with a little tree display when in Eco mode, which extends the range by 10% by reducing power output and increasing regenerative braking.
A large, mouse-like control dial on the centre console toggles between Drive and Reverse, with a centre button for Park.
Other than its eery silence, there's nothing very remarkable about driving the LEAF. Despite not having a transmission, it accelerates smoothly like any other car, there are no weird smart-car lurches and there's more than adequate get up and go.
The electric motor produces 80-kW/107-hp, with an impressive 206 lb. ft. of torque. The LEAF has a respectable top speed of 140 km/h. The power is electronically doled out in a linear progression, so the immediately available torque doesn't slingshot you into the nearest overpass. The slight whirring escalates to a whine as we accelerate. Steering is light but accurate and makes no pretensions of feedback. Under the floor, the 250 kg. battery pack creates a low centre of gravity, and with the perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the car is quite planted and balanced.
Exiting the car, I conclude that the LEAF is an agreeable, but largely forgettable driving experience.
So why is the Nissan Life so industry-altering exciting?
It's our first-real world, totally useable vehicle that confirms we can indeed do without fossil fuels.
 |
| The electric motor produces 80-kW/107-hp, with an impressive 206 lb. ft. of torque. (Photo: Nissan) |