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As part of the EV mobility tour, Nissan South Africa had a couple of ‘leaves’ for motoring media to take for a brief drive.
The Leaf is eerily quiet and has a comfortable ride, far better than any other Nissan I've driven.
So what is there to know about the Leaf?
The facts
The 40kWh battery that powers the Leaf develops 110kW/320Nm and boasts a 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds. Nissan claim a range of 378km, and charging time to 80% (quick charging – 50kw) takes 40 to 60 minutes, while it’s of seven and a half hours from 0 to 100% with a 7kW wallbox.
I enjoyed how sharp the Leaf handled the twisty Rhodes Drive where I drove it and was impressed by how good it powered out of corners with a dollop of torque accessible instantly.
Inside, the Leaf has a 17cm, full-colour (TFT) display highlights key features, including information from the audio and navigation systems.
A longer stint in the Leaf is definitely needed to get a better impression, but I was impressed. All we need now is for the government to invest in more charging stations and reduce the tax on electric vehicles imported by foreign automakers.
A new charging station is also now available at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town, and it can charge any one of the three electric vehicle models.
Nissan South Africa says the new Leaf will be available locally during 2020.
