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The Nissan LEAF electric vehicle officially launches in the Philippines

After a long series of teasers, the electric vehicle has finally launched in the country

Autodeal on May 09, 2021

Exterior
Interior
Technology
Power and Range
Safety
Price

After many teasers and events showcasing the vehicle’s capabilities, the Nissan LEAF officially launches in the Philippines. The fully electric vehicle brings with it a new kind of clean mobility that offers zero emissions. As the electric vehicle (EV) does not come with a conventional engine, it gives interested buyers the opportunity to test out the feeling of instant torque thanks to the electric motors that it has. Aside from this, the LEAF (Leading Environmentally-friendly Affordable Family car) can also act as a backup source of power in case of an emergency making it more than just a clean mode of transportation.

Related: The Nissan LEAF is already here in the Philippines and it’s being tested

Exterior

On the outside, the Nissan LEAF comes with the Japanese brand’s signature V-Motion design. This is evident in the front of the vehicle thanks to its V-Motion grille and with its sharp-looking hood that arches back and extends to the A-pillars of the vehicle. It also comes with a sharp nose aiding the vehicle with its aerodynamically oriented shape. This is an important feature as the LEAF seeks to maximize every volt of electricity you feed it. As for its exterior lighting elements, the electrified hatchback comes with halogen projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED tail lamps.

Moving on to the side the electric hatchback and comes with a pretty straightforward design. It comes with a smooth flowing profile that lets it cut through the air as efficiently as possible. It also comes with a floating roof that gives it a sporty appearance. Aside from this, it has a clean-cut beltline and a striking character line at its rear quarter panel that helps give the hatchback a more angular appearance at the rear further complementing its subtle yet aggressive look. Completing its side profile is a set of 16-inch alloy wheels which blend well with its overall design.

At the back, the Nissan LEAF comes with a boxy rear end. It does come with sharp cuts and angles that, again help give it a subtle yet sporty look. It has angular tail lamps which are similar to what you can find on the Japanese brand’s line of crossovers like the Juke and Kicks and is complement by a black roof-mounted spoiler and a black accent found on the tailgate.

Interior

On the inside, the Nissan LEAF comes with a well-designed and ergonomic interior. The dashboard is straightforward and maintains a two-layered design. The electric hatchback comes with a flat-bottom steering wheel with a silver accent along with easy-to-use and tactile controls. While the interior can be considered plain, it does come with a few subtle accents that can be found on the dashboard and on the door cards. This elevates the hatchback’s interior design and helps give it a more premium feel.

While the interior of the LEAF focuses on a more utilitarian feel with touches of luxury here and there, space is abundant. The electric hatchback provides 668 liters worth of space at the rear with the second row up. This nearly doubles with the seats folded down allowing for more space for cargo.

Technology

As far as technology goes, the Nissan LEAF is fairly equipped. It comes with an 8-inch infotainment system that comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This puts it on par with other vehicles in its segment that don’t come powered by electricity. It also comes with an automatic climate control system that also features a heater.

Aside from its infotainment system, the LEAF also comes with certain features that are only available to EVs. One such feature is its e-pedal which lets the drive utilize only one pedal to drive the vehicle. When the driver wants to accelerate they can press down on the accelerator, but when they want to stop or brake, all they have to do is release the pedal and the car will slow down depending on the reduction of input.

As the Nissan LEAF is an EV it comes with a 6.6 kW Double Speed on-board charger along with a quick charger. This lets the user charge the vehicle slowly from a wall outlet or quickly from a designated charging station. With these two charges, the driver can maximize the electric range that the electric hatchback offers.

Power and Range

Powering the Nissan LEAF is an AC Synchronous electric motor that produces 148 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Unlike its gasoline or diesel-powered counterparts, the electric vehicle doesn’t need multiple gears to move. It instead utilizes a single-speed reduction gear transmission to power the front wheel and to get the vehicle moving. Giving power to the electric motor is a 40kWh battery pack that produces 350-Volts. In terms of range, Nissan claims that the LEAF can travel about 331 kilometers on one charge. However, your mileage may vary depending on the traffic conditions. Nissan has also given the battery pack inside the EV an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty giving interested buyers peace of mind when it comes to its electricfied drivetrain.

Safety

When it comes to safety, the Nissan LEAF is well equipped. The EV comes with the brand’s Intelligent Mobility safety suite of features that gives it an array of smart safety equipment. As part of the safety suite, the LEAF comes with Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent trace Control, and Rear Cross-traffic alert just to name a few key features. It also comes with other standard features such as ABS with EBD, ISOFIX anchor points for the front and rear, vehicle stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Topping off its safety features, the Nissan LEAF comes with Vehicle sound for pedestrians and dual front airbags and curtain airbags to further protect its occupants in the event of an accident.

Price

The Nissan LEAF comes competitively priced as it only comes available in a single variant in the Philippines. With a price tag of P2,798,000, the vehicle is already affordable for what it offers. For now, Nissan Philippines will only sell the LEAF at select dealerships, Nissan Global City, Nissan Mantrade, Nissan Otis, Nissan Cebu South, Nissan Matina, and Nissan Tagum with one facility to follow soon. As part of a new breed of vehicles slowly emerging in the market, the LEAF may take some time to get used to, however, rest assured that this a definitely a capable electric vehicle.