[Effkay]

Hi all,

I am going to go have a look at the Nissan Leaf this Saturday – seems to have an affordable AP and OK millage (200+) on the bigger battery.

Any current owners on this forum? If so, how have you found the transition over to battery from petrol/diesel?

What are your biggest gripes / worries with the car?

Thanks in advance!

Effkay

 

Topic

[Elliot]

I’ve not driven one but my local dealer told me that I would be lucky to get around 180 miles range in reality.

[Rene]

I personally would argue that the “best” EV on the scheme, particularly for newcomers to electric motoring, would be the Kona EV. Most efficient one out there, with the most real world range, and very well equipped in Ultimate trim.

And half the price of the Leaf.

Just putting that out there, of course if you fancy the Leaf over the Kona, then that’s what it is.

Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.

[Elliot]

The Leaf just looks so much better than the Kona but it is now quite an old car.

[fwippers]

I considered the Leaf, the Kona, which I plumped for had a better ranger and better real world range and was a grand cheaper. I was put off a bit by the single pedal, however, I am sure I would have easily adjusted.

[Effkay]

Thank you all for your responses!

I am currently in the hyundai website looking at the Kona under the “mutability offers”  but they only seem to have the “KONA Electric SE Connect Electric 39 kWh Battery 136PS MotabilityOffer” listed, which is a smaller battery, whereas on the motability website they have also listed “HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC HATCHBACK 150KW ULTIMATE 64KWH 5DR AUTO”.

I will call the dealership and see what they say, perhaps its already been removed from the scheme?

Is it the leaf that has a single peddle or the Kona? How would someone who uses push/pull controls be impacted by only having a single peddle?

Thanks!

 

 

[Rene]

Well, just checked their brochure:

Not quite sure where you checked?

https://www.hyundai.co.uk/misc-pages/motability

Click on “Price Guide” and you’ll get the PDF.

The Leaf can be driven purely single pedal, or “one pedal” as it’s known. The Kona can’t. Well, let me amend that: the Kona can be driven one pedal for the most part, but not entirely. The Leaf comes to a full stop if you lift off the accelerator – the Kona doesn’t. The Kona will slow down if you lift, more so than what you might know from engine braking (depending on regeneration setting), but it will not come to a stop. I don’t think it would matter for hand controls, since it’s basically the same concept – the Leaf still does have a brake pedal of course, it just slows down faster than “normal” cars if you let off the accelerator.

Genuinely, if we leave “design” out of the picture (which is ironic since that’s, to me, the one downside of the Kona, i think it’s ugly both in and out – at least the EV), the Kona is by far the smartest choice on the scheme currently, if you can make the charging work (charge at home, reliable charger close by etc). Maybe not for the heart, but definitely for the wallet, the brain and really, the mind, since it just is a trooper and you can trust in the range.

[MarkF]

Transition from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to EV is something to behold.  You will have to change the way you pull away, you’ll find new ways to stop and then there’s the smooth ride.  To be more specific, acceleration in even economy mode is quicker than most comparable cars.  You lump your foot down to pull out of a junction as you may have needed to do in a small engined diesel and you’ll find your self wheel spinning much quicker than you’d like.  Then there’s one pedal driving.  It’s a button on the LEAF but comes under the labels of KERS (MG) or Regenerative Braking (Regen) and can bring the car to a complete halt (if set properly and in the right car). Once you get used to press down to go and lift up to stop, you really will wonder why you didn’t switch sooner, especially in traffic.  Then there’s a smooth quiet ride.  It’s very odd pulling away in complete (or near complete) silence, you get no audible cues to your speed so keep an eye on it until you’re used to driving it.

 

Then there’s everybody else.  Your car makes much less noise than something with an engine, people who listen then cross will appear to simply cross the road infront of you.  When you’ve parked in a car park and you’re ready to pull out, pedestrians will have no warning you’re ready to go.  Don’t expect them to wait as they might a car with the engine running, if you’re reversing out, they won’t even see you so be aware.

 

All that said, I have driven electric for 5 years now and wouldn’t switch back for any reason.  When you can charge at home and be ready to get to work and back with never worrying about petrol stations (and those big bills) or when you park to do your shopping and get free miles while you shop.  It all feels right.  I drove from Cornwall to Southampton, around the area for a few day then back again, all for £17.50 in charging fees.  I got to Southampton feeling much better than I did in anything but the most luxurious ice cars (my 530 was better but would have killed me in fuel) and I had absolutely no problems charging.

 

It’s an experience but the absolute majority who try it would never go back and those who go back do so for very specific reasons (huge family, colossal mileage or towing heavy caravans long distances).  I’d strongly suggest a long test drive, not the hour long experience you’re supposed to feel lucky to get.  Have it for a weekend or a couple of day so you can try with commute and see just how you get on.

[Effkay]

Thank you all for your responses!

I just had a look at it seems as if the Kona does not have a 360 camera, this is something I really benefit from. Nevertheless, I will have a look at it!

It’s a shame that I cannot test drive either because I need hand controls to drive

[Rene]

Yeah, the Kona does not offer a 360 camera, which is weird.

And, while you can’t test drive it, you can ask your salesman to drive it for you with you sitting in the passenger seat. Our first test drive with our current car, i couldn’t drive – so we had “our” guy drive it.

While you can’t judge how the steering feels etc, you can judge suspension, infotainment and all those things. It’s better than nothing.

Having looked at the reviews of the Leaf, i don’t know.. This is of course subjective, but the interior is surprisingly worse than the Kona. It’s also horribly inefficient (2kwh less capacity than the Kona, but almost 80 miles less range?), and the suspension on the 62kwh model appears to not be.. desirable.

I don’t particularly like slugging cars, but there’s better alternatives to the Leaf. Even on the scheme. And there potentially are more coming (new Niro EV).

Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.

[Author]

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