2011 Nissan Leaf Drive Review: A Real Electric Car for Real People Page 3

By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield

Contributing Writer BIO

Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield is a self-confessed petrol head. She grew up in a carless family but was able at a very early age to name cars passing her on... More

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Sound? What Sound?

As the car pulls away very little noise is heard inside, although we did wind down a window to see if we could detect the now infamous audible alert played through external facing speakers to alert other road users of the Leaf's presence.

While we were testing, we listened hard for the low-speed audible warning. From inside the car it was barely heard, and outside it was not much louder. The Leaf we drove, a European specification left-hand drive model, had a switch to turn the alert off.

At the moment we're unsure if the production model will allow the sound to be switched off, but it creates much less noise than we had thought it would.

Inside the car, with windows up and radio off, there is very little rumble or road noise. Yes, the 2011 Nissan Leaf is noisier than some luxury cars on the market, but for a family car noise levels are excellent. Even at freeway speeds, conversation can be held at living-room level and babies can soundly sleep on the back seat.

Gadgets, Gadgets, Gadgets

2011 Nissan Leaf Energy Display

Enlarge Photo

A USB and headphone jack provide easy access to the car's stereo system, and full Bluetooth capabilities including hands-free calling are all accessible from the driver's seat. Steering wheel controls for cruise control, climate control, stereo and telephone system ensure that hands stay on the wheel.

We particularly liked the climate control system, which gives an estimation of the impact the climate system will have on the car's range when used. In our case, with a fully charged car and an outside temperature in the low 80s, turning on the AC would have resulted in an 8 mile drop in the Leaf's range.

In Conclusion

While the 2011 Nissan Leaf isn't the prettiest car on the block and certainly isn't the most macho, it does live up to its promise of practical electric motoring. It's no Tesla Roadster, but it does offer enough speed, acceleration and spirited driving experience to prove fun and capable as a daily driver.

Until recently, electric cars have been considered the playthings of the rich and wealthy, or the political statements of the extreme environmentalist keen to bring down demonic oil barons.

And until recently, excuses have always been made about why electric cars haven't performed as well as their gasoline counterparts, or made sacrifices on comfort, cost or style.

But Nissan haven't made any such excuses.  And there's not a Birkenstock, oversized poncho or political argument in sight.

With a range of around 100 miles per charge, fast charging possible to 80% full in 30 minutes when using a fast charge station and a top speed well above any freeway limit, the 2011 Nissan Leaf is a real car.

A real car for real people. Let us not forget that the car's name, the Nissan LEAF, is actually an acronym.

Leading, Environmentally-friendly, Affordable, Family car.

While some may argue that before any tax credits and other incentives are applied the Leaf is hardly affordable, we think Nissan has done a great job to help the car live up to its name.