2016 Nissan LEAF Overview
When you think of electric cars, the Nissan LEAF is always one of the first vehicles that comes to mind. Nissan LEAF fans have racked up more than 1.2 billion miles in EV driving, and at only five years old it is the world’s most popular and successful EV. Its sleek styling, compact size, and affordable fuel make this car perfect for city driving or the open road. Take a look below at all of its trim levels and features to see if an EV is the right choice for your driveway.
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What’s New for the 2016 Nissan LEAF?
The Nissan LEAF comes with a new standard battery pack that significantly increases the vehicle’s range for the 2016 model year.
2016 Nissan LEAF Photos:
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2016 Nissan LEAF Exterior
Overall, the Nissan LEAF’s exterior is just as distinctive as it was when it was unveiled in the 2011 model year. A five-door compact hatchback, it’s considered a midsize vehicle as far as safety is concerned. Unlike conventional vehicles, the LEAF doesn’t have a grille and the headlights nearly meet the windshield. The roof is smooth, effectively reducing drag, until it reaches the spoiler at the rear.
2016 Nissan LEAF Photos:
Exterior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF S
- 16-inch Steel Wheels, Tire repair kit, Body-color front and rear bumpers, Aerodynamic Halogen Headlights, Rear spoiler, Chrome door handles, Aerodynamic underbody cover and rear diffuser, Unique Zero Emission exterior badging, Front UV-reducing solar glass, Charge port with light and lock, One-touch rear hatch release
Additional exterior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF SV
- Bio suede PET cloth seat trim, 17-inch 5-Spoke Aluminum-Alloy Wheels, Dual power body-color heated outside mirrors, Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
Additional exterior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF SL
- Photovoltaic solar-panel rear spoiler, Aerodynamic LED low-beam headlights, Fog lights, Automatic on/off headlights
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2016 Nissan LEAF Performance
The 2016 Nissan LEAF boasts smooth, quiet, and somewhat slow acceleration. The electric motor is capable of producing 107 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. The motor is powered by a battery pack located under the cabin floor. In order to get serious acceleration, drivers will have to put serious pressure on the gas pedal. Acceleration is particularly lacking when heading towards highway speeds despite the 90 mph cap. Once up to speed, highway driving is a breeze but the LEAF is better suited for city and country driving.
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2016 Nissan LEAF Efficiency
The 2016 Nissan LEAF is powered entirely by electricity, no gas required. The electric motor earns an EPA-estimated 114 mpge. While the base LEAF only has an 84-mile range, the higher trims boast a new, larger battery that’s capable of 107 miles on a single charge. Efficiency decreases slightly with a larger battery pack, falling to 112 mpge.
The LEAF uses grid electricity, effectively saving drivers thousands of dollars. The base LEAF takes around eight hours to charge with the 3.3-kw charger. The higher trims, equipped with a 6.6-kw charger, take closer to four hours to charge.
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2016 Nissan LEAF Interior
Inside, the Nissan LEAF boasts a somewhat radical design while maintaining Nissan’s technology. The gauges are located directly behind the wheel and a touchscreen takes up the center of the dashboard. There, the driving range, energy usage, maps, and other real time data is displayed. In order to decrease noise, Nissan added quiet windshield wipers, among other seemingly invisible technology.
2016 Nissan LEAF Interior Photos:
Interior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF S
- Cloth seat trim, RearView Monitor, Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Start, Automatic Temperature Control, 6-way manual adjustable driver’s seat, Trip computer, cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls, Variable intermittent windshield wipers, Rear intermittent wiper with washer, Auxiliary 12-volt DC power outlet, Rear windown defroster, Two front map lights, Sun visors with vanity mirrors and extensions, Front and rear assist grips, Remote charge door release, Heated front seats, 4-way manual adjustable front passenger’s seat, Rear seat heating and cooling ducts
- Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, NissanConnect with Mobile Apps and 5.0-inch color monitor, Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month subscription, MP3/WMA CD playback capability, Four speakers, Auxiliary audio input jack, USB connection port for iPod interface, Spiral roof antenna
Additional interior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF SV
- Passenger’s seatback pocket, Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- NavTraffic and NavWeather with 3-month trial subscription provided by SiriusXM, NissanConnect with Mobile Apps and Navigation and 7.0-inch multi-touch control color monitor, Hands-free text messaging assistant, Six speakers
Additional interior available on the 2016 Nissan LEAF SL
- Leather-appointed seats
- HomeLink Universal Transceiver
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2016 Nissan LEAF Safety
The 2016 Nissan LEAF falls short in the safety category, landing a “Poor” rating on the new small-overlap front crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Prior to the addition of that test, the LEAF was a Top Safety Pick. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Leaf a four out of five stars.
Standard safety features include a rearview camera, six air bags, and pedestrian-alert. The electronic safety systems suite includes braking assist, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and tire pressure monitor.
Standard Safety Features
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) and Child-safety rear door locks
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
- Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) –dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and an occupant-classification sensor, Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags, Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection.
New for 2016 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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