Nissan LEAF UK Test Drives

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That last review rated the Leaf down (4 out of 5) apparently in part because "the rear seats don't fold". This is the first review I've seen to say that, and I've seen pictures of the initial prototype that folded forwards. Has that feature been removed?
 
MikeD said:
That last review rated the Leaf down (4 out of 5) apparently in part because "the rear seats don't fold". This is the first review I've seen to say that, and I've seen pictures of the initial prototype that folded forwards. Has that feature been removed?
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I believe either the person is confused, or their complaint is more that the seats don't fold "flat" - you don't end up with one level surface in the back - it drops off once you get past the folded seats. On the Nissan site, the specs still read:
60/40–split fold-down rear seatbacks
Click to expand...
 
I just checked with the Chat (Ryan), and s/he stated that the back seats fold down as is conventional in most hatchbacks in a "40/60 split", and each side can be folded forward independently of the other. So I'm not sure what the UK review had in mind, unless they would have liked the back seats to have also been able to fold backwards...
 
Yeah, in the llewlyn video you see the seat knobs to lower the back seat....likely it is just that the person wants the seats to fold so there is a single long flat trunk space, and that isn't possible with the leaf.

Gavin
 
I folded down the back seats. They don't fold flat to give a totally flat luggage space, but they certainly fold.

Visibility is good. Although the nose of the car falls away in front of the windshield, it is easy to position the car on the road.
 
http://www.hippyshopper.com/2010/08/test_drive_niss.html

However, those wanting to pre-order a model for next Spring can do so from Nissan's website here. Be warned though the website is very annoying with lots of flash animation and electronic voices.
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Also the most high res under the hood photo i've seen

http://www.hippyshopper.com/Nissan%20Leaf%202.jpg
 
evnow said:
http://www.hippyshopper.com/2010/08/test_drive_niss.html
Click to expand...

Interesting in that Leaf is actually registered through a Nissan dealership rather than through Nissan corporate. I do know it's normal to road register press and demo cars, rather than run them on "trade plates", but I don't think I've seen it done through a dealership before.

http://www.ghnissan.co.uk/
 
I thought we had a separate thread going for test drives in Europe, but I can't find it.

Anyhow, since we haven't had a fresh report in a while (or so it seems), here is one from Ireland with a nice 8 minute video. I'm not sure there is much new to be learned, except that you can definitely go in and out of ECO mode from park or with the car in motion. Did we already know that? I don't remember.

http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/24637/the-zero-emissions-nissan-leaf-test-drive/
 
mwalsh said:
Anyhow, since we haven't had a fresh report in a while (or so it seems), here is one from Ireland with a nice 8 minute video. I'm not sure there is much new to be learned, except that you can definitely go in and out of ECO mode from park or with the car in motion. Did we already know that? I don't remember.
Click to expand...

One of the demos, perhaps the Japanese one, showed that the "gear shift" handle was a toggle for Eco-mode and Normal-mode. Odd clicks (1, 3, 5, ...) are drive in Normal Most, even clicks (2, 4, 6, ...) are Eco-mode.
 
mwalsh said:
Not very complementary when it comes to range:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/road-tests/nissan-leaf-2070628.html
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First of all, he didn't start with a full charge. He said he started with about 140km, instead of a full charge of 180km. And nowhere does he mention ECO mode to increase his mileage by around 10%. So what is driving keenly, but not speedily? :roll: The solar panel on the SL isn't an option (as he says). The only 'option' is the DC fast charge port. He contradicts himself from the article and the caption under the photo. First, the caption says warnings begin after only having a little less than 60km left, but in the article he says he gets a warning at around 10km left. He's just spreading more FUD plus he sounds really confused. IMO, it isn't a credible article about range. However, the best thing in the article that I read and implied, was that charging with a DC fast charger up to 80% won't damage your batteries, even if you have several a day as long as you don't exceed the 80%. So I hope there is a setting on those DC chargers or the car to stop charging when it reaches 80%.
 
http://www.topgear.com/UK/car-news/nissan-leaf-driven-2010-07-26

Top Gear drives Nissan Leaf and gives a thumbs up ? :shock:

The Leaf isn't for the one-car household. Long journeys would be an agony of stopovers. But for a two-car family, it'd be ideal. It'll do the commuting, and then the other car will do the long trips or the holidays.
Click to expand...
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/green-motoring/7986887/Nissan-Leaf-review.html

Impressions in a nutshell:

0-60 - ~12 seconds per Nissan (we'd already guessed 11.5'ish), yet the writer says "acceleration is fine".
Electric steering too light (by UK standards...but then they are used to heaver - or no - power steering)
Getting into ECO mode is supposedly "too fiddly" ( :? )
"Extraordinarily stable" due to suspension setup and low center of gravity. But LRR tires not the best for performance driving (that's not unheard of).
Plastics described as "low rent" (one of the things I was hoping against, but can live with).
 
mwalsh said:
Plastics described as "low rent" (one of the things I was hoping against, but can live with).
Click to expand...

Did they have the close to production model ?

Probably a question for all the people who checked out Leaf in San Diego. What do you guys think about the plastics ?
 
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/8394472.Echo___s_test_drive_proves_Leaf_is_no_lightweight/

Echo’s test drive proves Leaf is no lightweight

Yesterday’s sneak preview on the high-speed track showcased the vehicle’s impressive acceleration and handling.

Mr Richardson said: “Nissan claims the Leaf can reach a top speed of 90mph, but on the track it hovered just under the 100mph mark, cornered smoothly and negotiated steep hills with ease.”

Previously, Nissan has allowed only prototypes of the Leaf to be made available for test drives, but this model was almost identical to the one that will soon be rolling off the production line.
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no lightweight ? Duh ... not at 3,600 lb :lol:
 
I know you guys aren't getting enough test drive reports ...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3165217/Nissan-Leaf-is-like-driving-iPod.html

IT is billed as the world's first purpose-built, all-electric family car and goes on sale in March.

The Sun has got its hands on the first Nissan Leaf in the UK and asked The Stig, ex-Top Gear driver BEN COLLINS, to test-drive it.

CLIMBING aboard the Leaf is like stepping inside an iPod.
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...nor enough blue leaf pictutes.

SNF05STIGN-682_1137872a.jpg
 

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