‘Tis the season. School is back in session. Relieved parents can take a breather after a summer of fun with the kids. Teachers are re-charged after a restful couple of months away from other people’s kiddos. It’s a tradition.
Teachers aren’t the only things being re-charged this summer, enter the new 2019 Nissan LEAF®. With its new 62 kWh battery option providing 226 miles of range between charges, it has become the go-to EV (electric vehicle) for many consumers.
Click here for a global map of charging stations. Nissan provides charging across the United States at its dealerships, click here for that information.
I spent some time with the LEAF, the 2019 Nissan LEAF® PLUS, SV to be exact, and was very impressed not only with its range, but style and versatility.
The “PLUS” is in reference to the “increased energy density” of that 62 kWh battery and “higher powertrain output”, according to Nissan. A range increase of over 50% has perked the ears of car shoppers who may have wanted an EV in the past, but needed more range.
Launched almost ten years ago, more than 400,000 Nissan LEAF® models have been sold worldwide and over 130,000 in the U.S. alone. This EV is carving a large spot in the market and it’s easy to see why.
Have it your way when it comes to trim packages on the standard LEAF®. S, SV, and SL come with the less powerful, but still efficient 40 kWh battery pack and EPA range of approximately 150 miles. No worries about that battery either, with Nissan’s standard on all models, 8 years/100,000 warranty (whichever comes first), drive with confidence.
Sporting more range, the LEAF® PLUS boasts the same trim levels as the standard LEAF®, but powers up to that 214 hp, which made for my very responsive drive. Pleasantly surprised, I found other EVs were not up to the power of the LEAF® PLUS. Forgetting that I was driving an EV, I believe, is one of the highest compliments I could give when it came to the Nissan LEAF® PLUS.
Range aside, the LEAF® was comfortable. I’m almost 6 ft. tall and was easily seated. Controls were simple and reached easily. Blue tones on the instrument panel and shifting column were added bonuses. Dash displays make sure you always know where you stand on range as well. See below.
Nissan Intelligent Mobility is featured in every LEAF®, starting at $36,550. ProPILOT Assist guides drivers to safe traveling distances between vehicles and also provides lane centering alerts. Short stops by other drivers in front of the LEAF® brings automatic braking into play through ProPILOT Assist for added safety.
e-Pedal technology works with the driver to better start, accelerate, decelerate and stop. Its features have been re-programmed to adjust for the LEAF® PLUS’ added horsepower and increased mass. Click here to watch Nissan’s video on e-Pedal technology.
The NissanConnect® smartphone app may just be another reason to go for the LEAF® PLUS. It monitors charging levels, can help schedule the most economical charging options, find the nearest charging station, and remotely start the car to heat/cool. A full-color 8 inch display centers controls with your smartphone as well.
Nissan Energy provides current and future options for connectivity between not just the car and driver, but to the EV community as a whole, by launching initiatives to better understand and serve the needs of its drivers. Go to nissanusa.com for more information.
Sharpen those pencils and stock up on those notebooks to record all that information folks, fall is just around the corner.
Nissan has sharpened its EV offerings just in time…take good notes.
*As equipped, the 2019 Nissan LEAF® PLUS, SV that I drove, printed a price-tag of $38,510.
julesonwheelz
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