Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Compact electric car with a 435-litre boot, rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2018, offered in 40 kWh (150 hp) and then e+ 62 kWh (217 hp) versions. Its battery has no liquid cooling: insist on a state-of-health (SOH) measurement and test AC and CHAdeMO charging. Also check the recall of the parking lock plate (certain 2019 Leafs).
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Indicative prices
- €10,480 – €21,900
- Monthly cost
- €274
- Euro NCAP
- 5/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch, Leaf e+ 62 kWh 217 ch.
Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch
✓ RecommendedElectric · Automatic · 150 hp · 16.6 kWh/100 km · Crit'Air green
40 kWh battery, 150 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 s and WLTP range of 270 km (Sports-cars.fr). The battery has no liquid cooling: back-to-back fast charges reduce the charging power.
Leaf e+ 62 kWh 217 ch
✓ RecommendedElectric · Automatic · 217 hp · Crit'Air green
62 kWh battery, 217 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 s and WLTP range of 385 km (Sports-cars.fr). Nissan presents it as better prepared for successive fast charges than the 40 kWh (Automobile Propre).
Market prices
€10,480 – €21,900
Indicative range: 2018 to 2024, yearly medians of 85 online listings collected by AutoUncle (years with at least 3 listings).
Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Slowed fast charging ('Rapidgate')
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingThe battery of the 40 kWh Leaf has no liquid cooling: when fast charges are carried out back to back, its temperature rises and the charging power drops. A Norwegian YouTuber recorded 22 kW from the second fast charge, instead of the 50 kW announced. Nissan offered a software update for 40 kWh Leafs built between 8 December 2017 and 9 May 2018; more recent cars already have the new software.
- Versions
- Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Battery ageing (SOH)
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingThe battery, which is cooled passively, ages faster than on some other electric cars. An Aviloo study cites a median SOH of around 86% after 150,000 km for the 40 kWh Leaf. One owner of a 2018 40 kWh Leaf measures 10% loss after 4 years and 60,000 km (an isolated case). Have the SOH measured before buying.
- Versions
- Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Flat 12 V battery (cannot start, error messages)
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingOwners describe a 12 V battery that is completely flat and prevents the car from being switched on, and a fault with no warning signs, with many warning lights and error codes. According to the Nissan manual, the 12 V charge warning light indicates a flat battery or a system fault, possibly the DC/DC converter.
- Versions
- Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch, Leaf e+ 62 kWh 217 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Parking lock: faulty weld on the actuator plate (recall)
Manufacturer recallOn certain ZE1 Leafs, the weld of the parking lock actuator plate can be faulty: the lock may not engage in P, and the car may move. According to car-recalls.eu (Rapex alert of 30 October 2020, Nissan code PG0C9), the Leafs concerned were built in the United Kingdom between 19 July and 22 September 2019. The remedy is replacing the plate. In Australia, the same code led to advice to apply the handbrake in the meantime.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch, Leaf e+ 62 kWh 217 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Nissan Leaf”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Electricity | €37 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €58 |
| Maintenance | €29 |
| Depreciation | €150 |
| Total per month | €274 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Electricity€37
Leaf 40 kWh 150 ch version: combined consumption of 16.6 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.
16.6 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €37
Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).
Consumption: technical data for the version (sources at the bottom of the guide).
- Insurance€58
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€29
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€150
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Nissan Leaf II (ZE1, 2017-2024) — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Have the traction battery's SOH measured (certificate or diagnosis): the battery is passively cooled.
- Test an AC charge and a CHAdeMO fast charge: check that charging starts, does not stop, and that the power remains correct.
- When switching on, check the warning lights, in particular the 12 V battery charge light, and ask whether the battery has been replaced.
- For a 2019 Leaf, have Nissan check with the serial number whether the parking lock plate recall has been carried out.
- For a 40 kWh built late 2017 or early 2018, check that the software update linked to Rapidgate has been carried out.
Questions to ask the seller
- Do you have a recent measurement of the battery SOH?
- Did you use CHAdeMO fast charging often? Has there been an error message or an interrupted charge?
- Have the recalls and software updates been carried out at Nissan? Do you have the paperwork?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Volkswagen ID.3
I · since 2020
- Price
- €20,000 – €32,500
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Peugeot e-208
II · since 2019
- Price
- €14,390 – €24,490
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
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Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Renault Zoe
I (2012-2024, facelifted in 2019) · 2012–2024
- Price
- €6,000 – €19,000
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Nissan Leaf II (ZE1, 2017-2024) (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Euro NCAP rating of the Nissan Leaf II?
Five stars in 2018: 93% for adult protection, 86% for child protection and 71% for vulnerable road users and safety assist (Motor1 France). It was the first car assessed under the 2018 Euro NCAP protocols.
What is the boot size of the Leaf II?
435 litres for the 40 kWh Business (L'argus) and for the 217 hp 62 kWh Business+; the L'argus listing for the e+ Tekna 22 gives 420 litres.
What is Rapidgate?
A reduction in the fast-charging power of the 40 kWh Leaf after back-to-back charges, because the battery has no liquid cooling. Nissan offered a software update, and Nissan presents the 62 kWh as better prepared (Automobile Propre).
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