Car Review Nissan Leaf 2020

Review

When I first got behind the wheel of the 2020 Leaf, I felt like an astronaut: no engine jolts, no rumble – just smooth acceleration, and off you go. But here’s a story. One of my first days, still getting used to the electric motor’s ‘did I move or not’ feel, I was playing the parking-lot hammock game (you know, trying to perfectly slot between two cars). I turned the wheel, lightly pressed the gas, and the car silently glided forward. I was expecting a vroom-vroom, but nothing. Then, out of nowhere: ping! – from the multimedia touchscreen I accidentally tapped, cranking the radio louder. Neighbors stared. I blushed. The Leaf was quiet, but I was loud.

In the city, the Leaf performs great: good visibility, comfortable seating, and the electric motor is peppier than it seems. Per the specs, the base version has about 147 horsepower and a range of around 149 miles. The Plus version with a bigger battery goes up to 226 miles in ideal conditions.

But there’s a flip side: on the highway or in rain and ice, you realize this isn’t a supercar. The suspension is soft but not sporty, and noise insulation is average. And when the car didn’t deliver that zip I was hoping for on a fast stretch, I had to accept the reality of a quiet, city-oriented electric vehicle.

The 2020 Nissan Leaf is a solid choice if you want to switch to an electric car with minimal compromises. But if you’re dreaming of thrills or long highway trips without recharging, you might need to brace for some cringe-worthy moments, like my parking-lot ping-radio fiasco.