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2011 Nissan Leaf: One-Year Drive Report Page 2

 
4,047 views Mar 26, 2012
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2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

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Durability

With two grade-school children and a dog, the inside of our 2011 Leaf has been given a tough time.


So far, everything from weekly grocery soccer practice runs to family vacations have been handled well, with no torn seats, carpets or trim. 

However, even with Scotch-Guarded seats, our Leaf has begun to show signs of a year’s worth of abuse from the family. This is especially noticeable in the rear, where the unusually thin carpet has started to show signs of scuff marks and regular vacuuming. 

Regular seat-cleaning with detailing wipes has helped keep the seats themselves fairly unscathed, although dark patches are now appearing around door pulls, the front arm-rest and seat squibs. 

We’ve also noticed exterior paint, while generally of good quality, seems also thin. In fact, our car has just picked up a thin scratch from the local automated carwash’s rotating brushes. Despite being shallow, it looks to have caused some minor paint damage. 

2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

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Performance, Handling

As the months have progressed, our 2011 Nissan Leaf has loosened up significantly, leaving us with excellent road manners, handling and performance. 

Acceleration is, if anything, a little better than when the car was new, which we assume is down to a healthy, bedded-in battery pack. 

The same is true from the car’s suspension and steering system, although we would note that the car’s stock energy-saving tires are fairly easily damaged under aggressive driving and require regular 6,000 mile rotation to give optimum performance. 

Like other Leaf owners, we have yet to notice any deterioration in range or battery capacity after one year, despite regular rapid charging. 

Our Verdict

After one year, our 2011 Nissan Leaf is still operating well within our own -- and Nissan’s -- expectations. 

So far our dealer experience has been good, with our local dealer loaning us a courtesy Leaf whenever warranty or recall work has been carried out. 

Moreover, based on European gas prices over the past year, we’ve saved an estimated $5,454 in gasoline over the fuel cost of our previous car, a 1992 Volvo 240 Wagon. 

2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

2011 Nissan Leaf: One Year Drive Report

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Still, it should be noted that we’ve also had to pay nearly $1000 $10,000 in combined loan payments, insurance and electricity costs, while our maintenance bill so far stands at just $160.

Stay tuned over the coming few weeks as we tell you more about our first year owning the 2011 Nissan Leaf, including the five things we hate about it, five things we love, and five things that we’d like Nissan to change.

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Comments (27)

  1. PaloAltoWorldView avatar Anton Wahlman Posted: 3/26/2012 7:28am PDT

    3 tows because of inability to charge? Ouch. I wonder how the average Joe Six Pack would have tolerated a single tow for this reason. For most people, a range extender (such as in the Volt) is the only acceptable way to go.
     
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  2. fb_100000921538449 avatar fb_100000921538449 Posted: 3/26/2012 8:03am PDT

    The volt is simply a plug in hybrid and is unnecessary. Electric is the future. If Nissan's thing was reliable it wouldn't be a problem. I don't see people needing towed any more often than a gas car. Gas cars are much more likely to break down because all of the stuff in them. What is an electric car other than a big battery, motor, and some tires?
     
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  3. cracovian avatar Red Baron Posted: 3/26/2012 8:40am PDT

    It has a cooling system and tons of electronics that are just begging for trouble eventually :-)
     
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  4. jdstone1 avatar Jeremy Stonehouse Posted: 3/26/2012 10:19am PDT

    Nissan's "thing" IS reliable. If you re-read Nikki's piece, it's the public charging infrastructure that has let her down.

    In my year of LEAF ownership I've charged away from the standard "overnight" home charge less than 10 times.
     
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  5. fb_1127953203 avatar Trevor Hall Posted: 3/26/2012 8:20am PDT

    For what it's worth, we've had our Leaf for 14 months and 10K miles, and have never even come close to running out of charge. Journalists like to test the limits. Joe Six Pack just wants to get to work and home without drama.
     
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  6. fb_535830066 avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 3/26/2012 10:12am PDT

    Hi Trevor.

    For the record, this particular car is my own personal car, one I paid nearly $40,000 for (U.K. list price).

    Believe me, I haven't tried pushing the limits! ;)

    Regards

    Nikki.
     
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  7. JRP3 avatar JRP3 Posted: 3/27/2012 4:43pm PDT

    In a sense you have by depending on an unreliable infant charging network for some of your drives. At this stage of the game you cannot expect to be able to charge reliably away from home, as you've discovered. I'm sure early ICE drivers experienced much of the same.
     
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  8. cracovian avatar Red Baron Posted: 3/26/2012 8:27am PDT

    True, claiming that you never ran out of charge and then mentioning the tows is deceptive at best but, granted, it's not the car's fault... But the rusted caliper and faulty window mechanism is, so I wouldn't call it bulletproof either. My 10-year old Trooper is (had it since new) which had one unscheduled dealer visit for a leaking seal last year. As far as the carpet goes, you should have bought the all weather rubber mats that protect and cover the interior perfectly and are easy to clean and vaccum. They're supposedly not for 2012s but they work fine in my case (the fit is only slightly imperfect on the passenger side due to the new vent duct I guess.) How did the battery check go?
     
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  9. stevecindy avatar steve boua Posted: 3/26/2012 10:00am PDT

    Does the Europeean model come with a 220 volt portable brick charger? In the usa, the Leaf only comes with a 110 volt charger. There is an after market "upgrade" available for a few hundred dollars though...
     
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  10. jdstone1 avatar Jeremy Stonehouse Posted: 3/26/2012 10:29am PDT

    Yes, a 10A 220v EVSE comes with the UK car. I believe different European LEAF markets get different EVSE's from 8A to 16A.
     
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  11. stevecindy avatar steve boua Posted: 3/26/2012 10:07am PDT

    I mean 240 volt...
     
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  12. fb_777100439 avatar Charlie Styr Posted: 3/26/2012 10:16am PDT

    I'm afraid if you drive the car through an automatic car 'wash' you cannot expect anything but damage! They will scratch anything, probably glass even. If you don't want a swirled to death finish on your car you cannot ever use automated washers.
     
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  13. Chris O avatar Chris O Posted: 3/26/2012 10:33am PDT

    Very interesting report, particularly the real world range experience. The rather poor sub 50 miles winter range indicates that a bigger battery is needed for this car to have any serious all weather commuting range. The poorly functioning charging point locator is a rather inexcusable mistake of Nissan and out of order charging stations must be a nightmare for EV owners who had planned their trip around them.

    Clearly it isn't always easy to be an early adopter....
     
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  14. fb_655270933 avatar Mark Chatterley Posted: 3/26/2012 10:43am PDT

    I have to say that in the winter I never got less than 73 miles with the heater on. It all depends on how much heat you use, I guess.
     
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  15. cracovian avatar Red Baron Posted: 3/26/2012 1:56pm PDT

    I can take it on the highway right now and get fewer than 60 miles in no time at all. The heat is one thing but the speed is what really matters. Highway range sucks.
     
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  16. fb_535830066 avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 3/26/2012 3:03pm PDT

    Agreed. In the case I was getting very low range, the car was full, it was -5, and I was climbing a large, long hill at 70+ mph.
     
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  17. johnnymars avatar johnny mars Posted: 3/26/2012 10:39am PDT

    If you do get left dead in the water, is there a tow truck that can come and give your Leaf an instant charge to get you home?
     
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  18. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 3/26/2012 11:10am PDT

    In the U.S., AAA is experimenting with such a service:
    http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1063459_feeling-flat-the-aaa-will-soon-be-able-to-charge-you-up
     
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  19. fb_1001015277 avatar John Briggs Posted: 3/26/2012 11:51am PDT

    "...saved an estimated $5,454 in gasoline over the fuel cost of our previous car,..."

    So that is over one year. Right?

    "also had to pay nearly $1000 in combined loan payments, insurance and electricity costs,"

    So $1000, in loan payments over the same one year period? Seems doubtful unless you put down a huge down payment. Seems more likely that the loan would be $1000 every two months.
     
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  20. fb_535830066 avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 3/26/2012 3:01pm PDT

    Well spotted John,

    I actually meant $10,000! Thanks for spotting that. And yes, This is over a 1 year period.
     
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  21. prberg avatar prberg Posted: 3/26/2012 12:34pm PDT

    Thanks for the report Nikki.

    Can you tell us more about the window motor problem? I noticed that the windows in my car to roll up and down pretty slowly when it's cold outside. Did they replace the motors, or is that the way they work? I've never had the windows not work, but I don't think it gets at cold here as it does for you.

    thanks,
    Peter
     
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  22. salvadordc avatar Alex Salvador Posted: 3/26/2012 12:54pm PDT

    Nikki, mind telling us just how low you've taken the battery pack, please? Low Battery warning? Very Low battery warning? Remaining number of bars/mi(km) etc? I used to think that 70 or so miles was all I could get, too, but learned that the bottom of the pack holds a greater reserve - you just have to be a little daring is all. Much thanks for your posts.
     
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  23. fb_535830066 avatar Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Posted: 3/26/2012 3:03pm PDT

    Alex,

    So far, the lowest I've ever got is the Very Low Battery Warning, which I've experienced a handful of times in the past year. I've never got to below that, or experienced turtle mode.

    The lowest miles remaining has been a flashing 4 miles, followed by a flashing dash.
     
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  24. fb_100000679142001 avatar Nelson Cicchitto Posted: 3/26/2012 11:32pm PDT

    I have had mine for a year as well. It flat out rocks. Handling, performance, and comfort.

    It is my daily car used for transporting kids to school and all daily chores.

    Give me an infrastructure and I would not drive any other car.
     
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  25. fb_679158781 avatar JP White Posted: 3/27/2012 4:48am PDT

    Good report. I read with interest the bit on the windows not rising properly in the winter.

    I had warranty work done on my passenger door this last winter, they replaced the window track, but it didn't seem to address the issue. I waited until tire rotation time to point out the fault only to find the window was working normally in March. I never considered the cold in the winter might be involved. I'll be interested if my window issue returns again this coming winter.

    You said you never ran out of charge, but three tows is a lot IMHO. I rely upon PlugShare in the US to keep track of reliable charging stations. Are there any good 3rd party charging network apps available in the UK?
     
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  26. fitela avatar James Fidler Posted: 3/30/2012 1:44pm PDT

    3 tows...interesting. Begs the question, wheels up or wheels down? If wheels down then was the battery not recharged before reaching your destination?
     
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  27. fb_1519546048 avatar Jiminy StAck Posted: 4/7/2012 5:00pm PDT

    We've had ours for 1 year and 10K miles. Not a single problems range from 80-140 depending on temps and speed. Never needed a tow. Worked great even in 110F teperatures this summer in Arizona, love it.
    No electric bill since we have GRID Tied solar that makes more than we use for the home and LEAF.
     
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