Used Nissan Leaf for sale: everything you need to know

The pioneering Nissan Leaf has been one of the UK’s best-selling electric cars for more than a decade. There are many more EVs available now than when the Nissan Leaf was first launched, but there is still much to recommend it.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about buying a used Nissan Leaf. We’ll run you through the full model range, outlining what you get with each version, plus the powertrain options available.

Other mid-size electric cars include the revolutionary Volkswagen ID.3, the impressive Kia Niro EV and the refreshed MG 5. The competition is stiff, but the Nissan Leaf’s ergonomic excellence and safety credentials make it worth considering.

Having been so popular for so long, there are plenty of Nissan Leafs on the used market. Take a look at a Nissan Leaf for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.

Should you buy a Nissan Leaf? 

With its futuristic styling, the Nissan Leaf certainly stands out from the crowd. High-spec models have black trim details that give a bit of a sportier look. Inside, you’ll find an interior that’s user-friendly, well-equipped, well-made and really spacious. 

Because electric cars don’t have a conventional engine or gearbox to take up lots of room, they generally provide more space than an equivalent petrol or diesel car. And the Nissan Leaf is noticeably roomier than many similar mid-size hatchbacks.

Electric cars are generally also really nice to drive and, again, that’s true of the Nissan Leaf. It’s virtually silent and has a ‘one-pedal’ driving mode, which means you almost never need to touch the brake pedal. Nissan also puts a heavy emphasis on safety, so every Nissan Leaf comes loaded with features that help reduce the likelihood of an accident.

There’s a relatively small choice of models, including two battery capacities that give different amounts of range. Working out how much range you need will likely be the deciding factor in choosing which Nissan Leaf to buy.

Being an electric car, running costs are generally lower than those of a petrol or diesel model, especially if you mostly charge the batteries at home. The Nissan Leaf has a strong reliability record and retained values are good.

A Nissan Leaf not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What's the best used Nissan Leaf model to buy?

Trim-wise, we doubt many buyers will feel the need to upgrade beyond the entry-level Nissan Leaf Acenta. It comes with all the features you're likely to need, though it does miss heated seats and parking sensors.

If the Nissan Leaf is going to be your only car, then it's definitely worth considering the long-range e+ version. Having a high-capacity battery will really come in handy on a longer commute involving a lot of motorway, or if you live quite far out.

For most buyers, the standard Nissan Leaf provides ample performance, decent (if not exactly class-leading) electric range and the same smooth, responsive driving experience as the pricier Leaf. Plus it charges quicker. It's also cheaper to buy as a result.

Used Nissan Leaf fuel economy and performance

Being an electric car, the Nissan Leaf doesn’t have an engine as such. Rather, it has a battery and an electric motor. ‘Standard’ Leaf models have a 39kWh battery, while the Nissan Leaf e+ has a higher capacity 59kWh battery that provides more range. The Nissan Leaf e+ also has a more powerful electric motor that delivers surprisingly swift performance. All Leaf models are classified as having an automatic gearbox, but all the gear lever actually does is tell the electric motor whether to spin forwards or backwards.

• Nissan Leaf electric – The basic Nissan Leaf has a 39kWh battery capacity that gives a range of up to 168 miles when fully charged. Recharging fully at home using a 7kW wallbox takes around 7.5 hours, or one hour using a 50kW public rapid charger. The electric motor produces 150PS, which is enough for a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds.
• Nissan Leaf e+ electric – In e+ form, the Nissan Leaf has a higher capacity, 59kWh battery that increases range to 239 miles when fully charged. A full charge using a 7kW wallbox at home takes around 11 hours, or 1.5 hours using a 50kW public rapid charger. The Nissan Leaf e+ also has a more powerful electric motor that produces 217PS: good for 0-62mph in a rapid 6.9 seconds. 

What used Nissan Leaf trim levels are available?

The Nissan Leaf is available in a number of trim levels. The Acenta may be a lower trim level but is actually pretty well-equipped. The trims were revised in late 2020 to offer a simpler range with fewer trim levels. There was also a 2.ZERO special edition limited to just 1500 cars with a specification sitting in between N-Connecta and Tekna.

Nissan also puts a heavy emphasis on safety, so all Nissan Leaf models have a very comprehensive suite of tech designed to avoid an accident happening – or at least mitigate the consequences of one. Models further up the range look and feel more upmarket.  

• Nissan Leaf Visia - This was the original entry-level Leaf and came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and sat-nav with TomTom Live updates. This trim was dropped in late 2020.
• Nissan Leaf Acenta – This Nissan Leaf has rather more standard features than you might expect for a car in its position. These include adaptive cruise control, air conditioning, a touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus a host of safety features. It’s only available with the smaller 39kWh battery.
• Nissan Leaf N-Connecta – The mid-range Nissan Leaf has bigger wheels and gloss-black styling details, plus extra features including sat-nav, heated seats front and rear, front and rear parking sensors, and climate control air-con. Choose from either the 39kWh or 59kWh batteries.
• Nissan Leaf Tekna – The top-of-the-range Nissan Leaf’s part-leatherette, part-suede seats give a more luxurious feel. It also has LED headlights, a BOSE audio system and advanced cruise control that can accelerate, brake and steer in stop-start traffic jams. Again, there’s a choice of 39kWh or 59 kWh batteries.

Used Nissan Leaf dimensions and boot size

The Nissan Leaf’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4490mm
• Width: 1788mm
• Height: 1540mm

The Nissan Leaf’s boot space is:

• 435 litres (Tekna: 426 litres)
• 1176 litres with rear seats folded (Tekna: 1,167 litres)

Used Nissan Leaf road tax

Want some good news? Well, the Nissan Leaf won't cost you anything for a year's road tax at the time of writing. As a zero emissions vehicle, it qualifies for free road tax.

How much is it to insure a Nissan Leaf? 

Electric cars generally cost more to insure than an equivalent petrol or diesel car because their batteries can be expensive to replace if they get damaged. That explains why the Nissan Leaf is rated in insurance groups 21-28 (out of 50), which is fairly high for a mid-size hatchback. 

Read our full Nissan Leaf review