2020 Nissan Leaf review
Nissan Leaf highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Solid range estimates
- Tranquil and peaceful driving experience
- Array of driver assistance features
Cons
- Elevated driver's seat position
- Restricted small-item storage
- Non-flat-folding rear seats limit cargo flexibility
149 - 226 miles
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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Great hatchback with electric spirit
Now is a great time to consider electric vehicle (EV) ownership and the Nissan Leaf is one of the pioneers, consistently ranking in our best-of articles. The 2020 Leaf is a great option and comes in a standard version with an EPA-estimated range of 149 miles (S and SV trim) and an optional version, dubbed the "Leaf Plus" (S, SV, and SL trim), with an EPA-estimated range of 215-226 miles depending on trim (all when fully charged).1 The do-it-all Leaf comes in a practical compact five-door hatchback layout and has a lot of standard features. So whether you need a daily commuter or a family hauler for soccer practice, the 2020 Nissan Leaf should be on your list.
All Nissan Leaf years
What is new for the 2020 Nissan Leaf?
- The SL trim has been discontinued for 2020.
- Leaf trims have been upgraded with Parking Sensors as standard equipment this year.
- The SV Plus trim now comes with Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitor as standard equipment.
- The SV trim now comes with Blind Spot Monitor and Lane Departure Warning as standard equipment.
- The S trim now comes with Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitor as standard equipment.
- The S Plus trim now comes with Blind Spot Monitor and Lane Departure Warning as standard equipment.
2020 Nissan Leaf trims
S (Standard and Plus):
The base Leaf starts with cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, keyless ignition and entry, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, proximity key, auto emergency braking front and rear, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, LED taillights, and a rear spoiler.
SV (Standard and Plus):
Adds fog lights, quick charge port, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-speaker audio, integrated navigation, satellite radio capability, NissanConnect® EV telematics, and adaptive cruise control
SL (Plus only):
The top-spec Leaf has heated side mirrors, LED headlights and daytime running lights, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-way power driver's seats with adjustable lumbar, leather seating with heated front seats, rear climate control vents, seven-speaker Bose® audio, cargo cover, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 360-degree camera system, ProPilot® Assist semi-autonomous driving, and a driver alertness monitor
Nissan Leaf photos
5 reasons to buy the 2020 Nissan Leaf
1. Hatchback practicality
The 2020 Leaf comes in a great five-door hatchback layout to help maximize utility. You'll get a generous 23.6 cu-ft of cargo space with all seats in place, which increases to 30 cu-ft of maximum space with the seats folded. So, not only do you get a cool tech-heavy EV, but it's ready for a long weekend as well.
2 . Standard driver aids
Even the base 2020 Leaf S includes Nissan's suite of driver aids. That means standard tech like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and high beam assist. So whether you are using it to commute to the office, or trusting a new teen driver with their first vehicle, the 2020 Leaf has you covered.
3. Tech heavy
The technology isn't limited to the EV powertrain. The 2020 Leaf has a well-laid-out eight-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect® technologies built-in. That includes a host of connected tech like Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration, Bluetooth® connectivity, as well as three USB ports, and one USB-C port—all standard on the 2020 Nissan Leaf.
4. Quick electric power
The future of transportation doesn't have to be boring. The instant power from the Leaf's electric motor will help you cut through rush-hour traffic with ease. The base version will hit 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds, while the optional Leaf Plus is properly quick at 6.4 seconds to 60 mph (all according to the manufacturer, when new).
5. One-pedal driving
Imagine a driving experience where you press the accelerator to go and let off to stop. The 2020 Leaf features the option to switch between one and two-pedal driving. It's more than just a gimmick, the "e-pedal" function also helps improve your range as well.
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Nissan Leaf an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Nissan Leaf 1st out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Nissan LeafNissan Leaf features and specs
SV 2WD 4D Hatchback
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Lane Departure Warning
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Parking Sensors
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Spoiler
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Front Seat Heaters
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Lane Departure Warning
- Power Seat(s)
Battery details Size
40.0 kWh
Range when new (EPA estimate)
149 - 150 miles
Estimated range today
124 - 161 miles
Est. range in 3 years
112 - 148 miles
Is this battery range helpful?Other specifications Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
0.0L
Engine type
Electric
Wheelbase
106.3"
Overall length
176.4"
Width
70.5"
Height
61.6"
Leg room
F 42.1"/R 33.5"
Head room
F 41.2"/R 37.3"
Front tires
P215/50VR17
Rear tires
P215/50VR17
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2020 Nissan Leaf FAQ
No, the Leaf is a compact five-door hatchback battery electric vehicle (BEV). It's available in front-wheel-drive only and the shape lends itself nicely to city driving. It might not be as spacious as an SUV, but the maximum 30 cu-ft of cargo space is plenty for around-town errands and weekend getaways.
The base 40 kWh version will hit 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds, while the optional Leaf Plus and its 62 kWh setup is a bit quicker at around 6.4 seconds to 60 mph—according to the manufacturer, when new. You also get off-the-line acceleration thanks to the electric motor's instant torque.
No, the 2020 Nissan Leaf and the optional Leaf Plus are both front-wheel-drive vehicles. There are currently no all-wheel-drive Nissan Leafs out there.
More about the 2020 Nissan Leaf
Color options
Exterior colors:
Brilliant Silver Metallic
Deep Blue Pearl
Glacier White
Gun Metallic
Pearl White TriCoat
Pearl White TriCoat/Super Black (Two-tone)
Scarlet Ember Tintcoat
Sunset Drift ChromaFlair®
Super Black
Interior colors:
Black Cloth (S and SV)
Black Leather (SL)
Light Gray Leather (SL)
Interior details
The 2020 Nissan Leaf features standard interior features like cloth upholstery, an eight-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, 60/40 split-folding backs, and more. The 2020 Leaf has 23.6 cu-ft of cargo space with all seats in place, which increases to 30 cu-ft of maximum storage space with the seats folded.
Child seat details
The 2020 Nissan Leaf has two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child car seats on the driver and passenger side with one additional seating position in the middle with a tether anchor only. This makes it suitable for a range of different car seat types.
Performance
The base 40 kWh 2020 Nissan Leaf has 147 hp and will hit 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds, while the optional Leaf Plus—with its upgraded 62 kWh battery and powertrain with 214 hp—will get there around 6.4 seconds (when new).
The base S trim with the 40 kWh setup starts at an EPA-estimated 149 miles of electric range on a full charge and an EPA-estimated 111 MPGe combined, while that number drops a bit to an EPA-estimated 108 MPGe combined for the 62 kWh battery on the base trim.
Year comparison
2011-2017 Nissan Leaf (first generation)
The Nissan Leaf went on sale for the 2011 model year and represents one of the first mass-produced all-electric cars. The Leaf has always been a five-door hatchback and all model years are front-wheel drive. Early versions used a smaller 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with an EPA-estimated 99 MPGe and a real-world driving range of 70 to 100 miles on a full charge.
However, Nissan continued to add features and trim levels across the first generation. A new base trim, the S, was added for 2013, and for 2014 a standard backup camera was added to all trim levels. After some light updates for 2015, Nissan added a bigger battery pack and a larger (five-inch) standard touchscreen for the 2016 model year. 2017 was the last year of the first generation, but Nissan still upgraded the battery packs again, now up to 30 kWh, which gave all Leaf trim levels an EPA-estimated 107 miles of range on a full charge.
2018-Present Nissan Leaf (second generation)
The Leaf was all-new for 2018 with a fresh new design and better EV tech underneath. For 2018, only a 40 kWh battery pack was available, which powered an electric motor with 147 hp. Standard features included things like a seven-inch driver's display screen, automatic temperature control, and more.
Notably, for 2019 the more powerful, and longer-range Leaf Plus model was added featuring a 62 kWh battery. 2020 saw standard tech upgrades like an eight-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Knee and side-impact airbags also became standard across all trims for the 2020 model year. After no significant changes for 2021, Nissan added a level 3 fast-charging port to all Leaf models for 2022.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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