2020 Nissan Leaf SL Plus Pros and Cons – Is It Better than Tesla Model 3?
While the whole world watches what Tesla does, we’ll focus on another car, which has evolved from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan in several years. No one will recognize the car which was introduced to the market in 2010. You might have thought: “Why do automobile producers make electric cars so ugly? Why can’t they do that as designers of futuristic films like Bladerunner?” Well, we still don’t know why until this time only Tesla tried to produce beautiful cars. The good news is that the last Nissan Leaf looks pretty good, even its design is still far from GTR’s or even Maxima’s.
So, this is the most obvious positive feature from the list of Nissan Leaf pros and cons! Let’s see what else the manufacturer offers!
Brief Overview
What do you need to know about the pros and cons of Nissan Leaf to fall in love with it in 2020? Most importantly, they have expanded its range twice — from 120 km to 240 km for the second generation, and later the world saw a Plus model that had a 364 km range. Some of our readers might argue that 364 km is great, still, it is quite enough for a city car. What’s more, for a European consumer, it’s ok to have short travels using this car, as it’s not the US, when you need to drive 1000 km across several states. And the infrastructure has greatly improved lately — people can charge their electric cars in most of the parking lots of malls, at gas stations, and so on.
So, keep calm and get your 2020 Nissan Leaf right away!
Oh, sure, the price! How can you decide whether you want it or not before learning its price? Believe us, it’s more than democratic, taking into account all the pros and cons of Nissan Leaf SL Plus 2020. The car costs only $45 000.
Considering that it looks more stylish than even Tesla Model 3 (of course, we are talking about Long Range, which costs over $49 000), and the service is cheaper, a new Leaf is a perfect choice!
Agreed? Let’s go to the details, finally!
2020 Nissan Leaf Pros
Greater range
As long as it is main for decision-making for almost 90% of consumers, we should repeat ourselves. 364 kilometers on one charge! You can get from Copenhagen, Denmark to Hamburg, Germany, then charge your stylish electric car and continue traveling across Europe with zero-emission. Sounds awesome!
Good-looking design
Despite all 2020 Nissan Leaf pros and cons, it is far from getting a design award. Nevertheless, even people who are not fond of cars can see the difference between the first model and the last one. The vehicle looks modern, not odd, and it’s just pleasant to have a look at it.
You know, they say that if you don’t turn back to have a look at your car while leaving a parking lot, you’ve chosen the wrong car. Well, we consider the 2020 Nissan Leaf SL Plus worthy looking!
The manufacturer has also added closed-off grille and ergonomic hood, which work well both for aerodynamics and design.
Auto-Pilot
Starting with the Japanese market in February, the 2020 Nissan Leaf launches the next-generation ProPilot, which offers optimized speed control and a smart parking system. For the first time in history, this vehicle will be equipped with an intelligent blind spot monitoring system, as well as Canto – a proprietary warning system for pedestrians and other vehicles.
In general, this is a hands-on system that can be easily compared to Volvo PilotAssist and is a bit far from Tesla AutoPilot. Alas, you won’t check messengers while driving. Still, this point is a pro from the list of all Nissan Leaf pros and cons.
Technology Is Everywhere
Another feature of the new electric hatchback is Door-to-Door Navigation. Leaf now supports wireless map updates, and thanks to the integrated Docomo system, its cab turns into a Wi-Fi zone.
Google tools are finally introduced in this electric car, and the owner has access to My Car Check/Remote Door Lock app to double-check whether they have closed the door. If not, this can be done remotely. Leaf status can also be checked with a special application.
Special Autech Version
A unique Autech version of Nissan Leaf has also been upgraded and will be launched at dealerships in Japan with the same driver assistance features as the basic model. Additionally, it will have an updated color scheme, combining a deep pearl blue body color with a black roof.
Recall that Leaf Autech is the fourth model in the Nissan Autech class after Serena, Note, and X-Trail.
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Well, the comfortability, good steering remain from the 2020 Leaf ancestors, so let’s continue the list of pros and cons of Nissan Leaf with possible negative sides of this car!
2020 Nissan Leaf Cons
Limited Charging Options
DC fast charger of 100 kilowatts can charge the car’s 62 KwH battery from 0% to 80% in only 45 minutes. Well, you might wonder if it’s a con. All in all, you can enjoy lunch in a cafe while your car replenishes its energy stocks, and continue your trip. Not bad at all, BUT…
2020 Nissan Leaf SL Plus uses only the CHAdeMO standard for charging in forty minutes! Another problem is that the majority of charging points can’t offer Leaf drivers 100-kW CHAdeMO chargers. This means that 50-kW chargers are the only option so far. So, you will need to enjoy your dinner longer until the car is being charged.
As for home charging stations, they can replenish the car’s battery in nearly 11 hours (11.5, to be precise).
So, the first con in the list of Nissan Leaf pros and cons is rather serious and can keep people from getting the car from the auto salon.
Dull Driving
For some people, such kind of driving might seem relaxed and calm. Others will say: “OMG, it is perfect for my granny but not me, give me a GTR or at least 370Z, please!”
Although the new Leaf offers drivers 214 horsepower with 250 pound-feet of torque, Tesla will make it faster.
Still, if you need a comfortable city car for having short trips to your office and back home, this can be a positive thing in the list of pros and cons of Nissan Leaf!
Lots of Alternatives
The last thing in Nissan Leaf pros and cons is a great variety of alternatives, all of which have something interesting to offer to drivers.
Hyundai Kona EV, Chevrolet Bolt EV, and Kia Niro EV offer a greater range than 364 km.
As for the main competitor for Nissan Leaf SL Plus and all other electric cars, it is Tesla Model 3! The all-wheel-drive version is stylish, faster, and offers to drive longer. Yet all this is about only its Long Range version.
So, it’s time to end our journey to the world of 2020 Nissan Leaf pros and cons. To sum everything up, we can state that it’s not the worst car among modern electric vehicles, though it has strong competitors with a great variety of features, one thing we know for sure—if you buy a 2020 Nissan Leaf SL Plus, you will enjoy your electric rides in any case! 😉
