The Nissan LEAF Has Soared for More Than a Decade

For more than a decade, the Nissan LEAF has been making a name for itself as one of the most popular all-electric vehicles here in Canada—and throughout the world. With its sleek design and sporty performance, it’s no surprise the LEAF has been so well received, though it’s certainly been through some changes over the years. That being said, it’s remained true to its original vision as a compact battery-electric vehicle (BEV) that’s accessible to a wide range of drivers. As electric infrastructure expands with more charging stations than ever, having such a great car within reach of so many drivers has become even better.

Whether you’re interested in a new or used Nissan LEAF for sale, it’s worth taking a little time to get to know the LEAF and everything it’s been through. You won’t find as many different model years and generations for the LEAF as some other Nissan models—the Altima’s been around for over 30 years, and the Maxima and Sentra both date back to the 1980s—but there are still plenty of differences between the LEAFs that are out there. Let’s take a look at where the Nissan LEAF has been and some of the milestone model years and major updates worthy of note.

The 2011/2012 Nissan LEAF

Although you can find a 2011 Nissan LEAF when looking at used models, they’re quite rare here in Canada. Nissan only sold 100 examples for the 2011 model year, and just 40 of them were available for your average driver to purchase. The 2021 LEAF is another rare find, though fortunately, more of them were available. Since only about 240 LEAF models were sold in all of Canada for 2012, you won’t find a lot of them out there when shopping used, but this is still a great place to start to see the kinds of features it launched with a decade ago.

The 2012 Nissan LEAF featured a 107 hp motor powered by a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it an estimated range of 117 km from a full charge. When plugged into a 120-volt outlet, charging from empty took about 21 hours, but it could recharge in about eight hours through a 240-volt connection. Even though this model is over a decade old, it supports CHAdeMO DC Fast Charging, letting it recharge to 80% in just 30 minutes. Overall, the performance of this model is quite sporty, and its success is largely due to how affordable and fun to drive it is.

Two trim levels are available for this early model: the standard SV and the available SL, which has a number of improvements and additional features. The SV features alloy wheels, automatic climate control, cruise control, an Intelligent Key system with push-button start, and more. Moving up to the SL adds features like a universal garage door opener and a rearview monitor for a more refined overall driving experience.

The 2013 Nissan LEAF

If you’re interested in a pre-owned LEAF, the 2013 model year is important for a few reasons, though the most notable is that Nissan added a third trim to the LEAF lineup. The S became the entry-level trim, creating a more accessible option for this model, featuring a Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button start, heated front and rear seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, a four-speaker sound system, and more. Moving up to the SV trim adds an 18 cm infotainment display with a Nissan Navigation System, a six-speaker sound system, and a hybrid heater system to help improve EV performance in cold weather. The SL trim adds leather seating, LED headlights, and a seven-speaker Bose sound system.

One particularly noteworthy detail about the 2013 model is that Nissan enhanced its charging functionality by adding an improved 6.6 kW charger. This cut charging time with a 240-volt outlet by half, letting drivers get a full charge in about four hours rather than eight. Otherwise, overall performance and functionality were essentially unchanged from the previous year.

The 2016 Nissan LEAF

Changes to the LEAF were pretty minimal for 2014 and 2015, but for 2016, the SV and SL trims received a larger 30 kWh battery pack that improved the LEAF’s overall range to an estimated 172 km, while the S kept the 24 kWh pack with 135 km of range. This model year also added an improved 13 cm infotainment display for the starting S trim; the SL and SV retained their 18 cm screens, but the software on them was updated and improved.

The 2018 Nissan LEAF

For 2017, the larger 30 kWh battery pack became standard on all LEAF models, but otherwise, there weren’t many changes as it ended its first generation. A redesigned second-generation LEAF was launched by Nissan for 2018, making this a fantastic model year to look for while shopping for a used LEAF. Exterior updates like a V-Motion grille and revised tail lights brought the looks of the LEAF more in line with the rest of Nissan’s lineup.

An even larger 40 kWh battery greatly enhanced the second-generation LEAF’s performance. The 2018 model offers an estimated 242 km range from a full charge, which is a huge boost from the previous year. A new ProPilot driver assist feature was introduced for 2018, along with an e-Pedal system for one-pedal driving utilizing the LEAF’s regenerative braking. A Cold Weather package is standard on all Canadian models, giving you heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a battery heater to help maintain performance even in the winter.

The 2019/2020 Nissan LEAF

In 2019, Nissan introduced new PLUS versions of the standard trims, delivering even more range from a 62 kWh battery. While the S, SV, and SL offer an estimated range of 243 km as part of the second generation, the S PLUS trim gets an estimated 363 km of range from a full charge. This is another huge boost, and it’s worth looking for as you consider different 2019 and later LEAF models.

In addition to these PLUS models, the 2020 LEAF is noteworthy because Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assist features became standard on every trim. This includes Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Blind Spot Intervention, and more. If you’re as interested in safety as we are, then 2020 LEAF models are impossible to beat for how they ensure you get some of the best technology available.

The 2023 Nissan LEAF

For the 2023 model year, Nissan updated the LEAF in several key ways: for starters, the exterior of the LEAF received a refresh with new styling and design details like a new front bumper and grille. The headlights have also been updated, along with more touches throughout just about every part of the exterior. Nissan simplified the LEAF lineup by eliminating the S trim and offering just three options: the SV, SV PLUS, and SL PLUS. This lets you choose the SV for the standard range and great features, the SV PLUS to extend its range, or the SL PLUS for optimal range and improved features like leather seating and an upgraded sound system.

Find the Right Nissan LEAF Today

No matter what you’re looking for in a Nissan LEAF, there’s sure to be a new or used model that can deliver what you need. You can see, however, that over the last decade, there have been a lot of changes in what the LEAF can do and what comes with it. Ten years ago, the LEAF offered only 117 km of range and lacked much in the way of tech or safety features. Now, you can get a LEAF with nearly three times that range, featuring a large infotainment display and innovative driver assist technology. It’s clear how much of an impact on your overall experience the model year of a vehicle can have, which is why it’s so important that you understand what you’ll get and then shop accordingly. It also helps to choose a dealership you can trust, with friendly people ready to help you get the right EV with everything you need, which is exactly what you’ll find here at Northside Nissan.