Why we love the Leaf
The Nissan Leaf ticks so many boxes when it comes to quality and affordability.
And we think you'll love yours too :)
Proven performance and reliability you can trust
FUN FACT: The Nissan Leaf has been in production and engineered since 2010! This makes it one of the first mass-produced electric cars with a longstanding reputation as one of the most successful electric vehicles on the market.
As of the middle of 2022, more than 600,000 Nissan Leaf vehicles have been sold globally since the model launched.
This is where we think the quality comes into the design and build.
Affordability and a range of car and price options
The Nissan Leaf ZE1 is well known for its affordable price compared to many other EVs on the market.
That ticks a HUGE Good Car Co. box ✅
Another big reason the Leaf is awesome is it comes in different battery size - and therefore price - options.
You can choose the range and price that suits your needs and budget and get the balance between range and cost that works for you.
Ahead of its time in innovation and features
Since the Nissan Leaf has been around for a very long time and manufactured in Japan it's a pretty clever car. You may even say it's ahead of its time 😀
In fact at the moment the Nissan Leaf is only one of two EVs capable of vehicle to grid functionality.
The Leaf ZE1 incorporates advanced technology features to enhance the driving experience - while also maintaining its familiar feel of driving 'just like a car'. It includes Nissan's Intelligent Mobility system, which integrates features like ProPILOT Assist for semi-autonomous driving and e-Pedal for one-pedal driving, simplifying acceleration and braking.
Its battery diagnostics are easy to access and firmware updates are available. Battery upgrades are possible and very easy.
Surprisingly spacious :)
It's one of the first things so many people say (even big people) when they first hop in a Leaf..."It's surprisingly roomy"
Despite being what people would describe as a compact car, the Leaf ZE1 offers a spacious interior with comfortable seating for both the driver and four passengers and it's not bad in the back seat as well. The rear seats can be folded down, providing additional cargo space for larger items. Roof racks can be fitted, and so can a tow hitch on the back, enabling the car to carry camping gear, bikes, surfboards and the like.
See for yourself how the Leaf stacks up against others like MG4 and BYD Atto 3
Just for the record we love all EVs so this is only to drop all the key stats people ask us about in one easy place. Take a look and you'll see again why we love the Leaf - and the price ;)
Nissan Leaf 40kw (G Trim) | BYD ATTO 3 (standard range) | MG ZS Excite | MG 4 Excite | |
Price | from $28,000 | $48,000 | $44,990 | $39,000 |
Battery size | 40 kWh | 50 kWh | 44.5 kWh | 51 kWh |
WLTP score | 270 km | 345 km | 262 km | 350 km |
Ground clearance | 155 mm | 175 mm | 161 mm | 150 mm |
Cameras | 360° | 360° | 360° | standard |
One Pedal Driving | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Airbags | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
ANCAP rating | 5 star | 5 star | 5 star | 5 star |
Entertainment | Carplay / Android Auto | Carplay / Android Auto | Carplay / Android Auto | Carplay / Android Auto |
Drive modes | Normal/ Eco / B mode (regen) | Normal / Eco / Sport | Normal / Eco / Sport | 6 modes |
Heated seats | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Heated steering wheel | Yes | No | No | No |
Weight | 1520 kg | 1680 kg | 1570 kg | 1685 kg |
Boot volume | 405 litres | 359 litres | 440 litres | 363 litres |
Boot seats folded down | 1176 litres | 1187 litres | 1340 litres | 1177 litres |
The Leaf has some of the lowest emissions and cost of ownership across its entire life!
The Leaf has some of lowest total lifetime emissions levels across a broad range of cars. This graph from Carbon Counter not only shows a great story when it comes to cost of ownership (purchase, fuel and maintenance) but also emissions levels over the lifetime of the car.
NOTE: the best cars are down the bottom left corner. Just wave over the dots to find the Leaf.
It's a US graph by the way but it's still relative :)
Battery and servicing
All Good Car Co. EVs receive our stringent battery testing and diagnostics treatment. Each of our Leafs has its state of battery health reported so you know exactly what you are buying. Your EVs battery will last a very long time. It can be regarded as needing replacement after the car is no longer doing what you need it to do in terms of range. This may take five to ten years or more!
Having said that, yes, you can upgrade the battery, for example a 40kw battery can be placed into an original 24kw Leaf, providing greater driving range and hugely reducing your carbon footprint compared to buying a new car.
As with all EVs, the motor goes forever, and overall maintenance is cheap and easy compared to internal combustion engines.
We have a servicing agreement with an amazing network of service centres across Australia who are able to provide the same level of service for the imported vehicles as for locally procured vehicles (FACT - all vehicles are imported).
Safety features to rival any EV in this space.
For such an affordable option Nissan has done an amazing job for a long time in relation to safety in the Leaf ZE1.
It's equipped with various advanced safety features, including:
- intelligent cruise control
- blind-spot warning
- rear cross-traffic alert
- lane departure warning
- 360° camera options, among others.
The Leaf has a 5 star ANCAP safety rating.
Amazing around town and on the highway
And much to people's surprise this car holds its own on the highway. See the blog below where our Ambassador in SA Dan Hockin, a long standing EV enthusiast, put the Leaf through its paces driving halfway to Melbourne and back from Adelaide
See his adventures outlined here
Meet the AZEO and ZE1
We know there's a lot to take in when thinking about your next car purchase. So below we've tried to sum up the differences, choices and options across both models to help you in finding the best car for your needs.
Find the model and size that suits your EV needs
AZEO | ZE1 | |
---|---|---|
Range | 24kWh — 90-120 km highway/town 30kWh — 120-150 km highway/town |
40kWh — 200-230 km highway/town 62kWh — 300-350 km highway/town |
Safety features | 5 Star ANCAP pedestrian alert sounds collision warning parking sensors |
5 Star ANCAP pedestrian alert sounds collision warning parking sensors |
Airbags | 2 - 10 | 10 |
Reverse Camera | Yes + 360° view on higher trims |
Yes + 360° view on higher trims |
Cruise control | Yes | Yes + pro-pilot adaptive on higher trims |
E-pedal - one pedal driving and increased regenerative breaking | No | Yes |
Eco mode and B mode (regenerative braking) | Yes | Yes |
Heated seats and steering wheel | Yes | Yes |
Charging connectivity | Type 1/ CHAdeMO | Type 1/ CHAdeMO |
AC Home charging speeds | Max 3.3 kW 10km range per hour |
Max 3.3/6.6kW 10km range per hour |
DC Fast Charging speeds | 50kW | 50kW |
Lane assist | Yes | Yes |
"They did everything, sent us pictures all the time kept us informed, answered our questions on all our texts on time. It was like buying a new car. Oh well, I'd certainly recommend going for Good Car Company. Amazing amazing company, very honest and very down to earth is what I was looking for no second-hand crappy car salesman."
Ashi & Mike Edwards
"My favorite thing about the car is being able to drive without the guilt factor and being able to sleep at night my second favorite thing is the electric warmer seats."
Rosie Berry
"It's very smooth to drive, its just fantastic. Takes like around less that 500 a year to run burst out our old petrol which was around two to three thousand a year."
Elisia & Amos
"I actually think the driving experience is the thing that's really satisfying to me its quite smooth, it's got torque and acceleration from the standstill. "
Jeremy Young
"I picked up the car Tuesday. I’ve never liked cars and find driving a chore… but driving an EV is a completely different experience. I still only drive to get things done, but you could almost describe it as a pleasure…. Thank you so much for making owning an EV affordable for me, and making the whole process (despite barriers put up by state and federal governments) relatively easy. The hardest part was dealing with Transport Main Roads.. as well as the wait. But I appreciate your assistance."
Mark
"We’re both very grateful to Good Car Co for showing us that it was possible to get an EV in our budget, and will be happy refer you to anybody that shows an interest in decarbonising their transport."
David
"I have a very basic understanding of how cars work and what elements make a car good. The elements of a car that I value are pretty much the very superficial elements, such as comfort, style, and cool factor. Now all cars have this and to all varying degrees. But not all cars can tick all the boxes in the high column, the Nissan Leaf all-electric car, well it’s strikingly high. The smoothness and comfort of the car are excellent, even though it’s a small car it doesn’t feel it, not even when you are sitting in the back seats this is because the roof arches upward in your line of vision. The Nissan Leaf has a range of colours and combos which ticks the style box. And last but not least the cool factor, to start its 100% electric when you drive it feels like you’re in a vehicle that would come from ‘Back to the Future, when driving it is so smooth and silent, but it can also accelerate from standing still in a way no fuel guzzling car can which just adds another element to this Nissan Leaf that is unbeatable."
Callie
"I never anticipated that the arrival of our new car, a pure electric Nissan Leaf, would be so exciting. While for us buying a “new” car was a stretch to the family budget, being able to do so through a novated lease has reduced the cost of borrowing money and I am confident we will be financially ahead, compared to keeping our current car. More importantly, we are no longer be contributing to climate warming when we drive... and it really is a fun car. It has great acceleration, a spacious interior and generous luggage area, and is so quiet. The Good Car Company have been wonderful to work with in buying this imported, as a new, car. It is a turning point for us, as a one-car family, to switch from an expensive 7person people mover and the ability to tow our camper trailer to a 5 person EV. The reality is that we look forward to an almost zero maintenance bill, a negligible fuel bill and are truly proud that, as a family, we are committed in a practical way to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. From talking to other EV owners, we see no problem recharging for almost all our travel, including driving to Sydney to visit family and when we want to get away with the camper trailer, we will hire an ICE vehicle and still be financially (and environmentally) better off than owning one. We are also looking into making our little EV available on a carsharing platform so neighbours can rent it by the hour or day to reduce their emissions when we don’t need it and also experience first-hand the joy of driving an electric vehicle. I’m also excited that by participating in this bulk buy we are doubling the number of EV's in Geelong! I hope each year going forward that Geelong can more than double the number of electric cars on our roads so that within 10 years transport will no longer be contributing almost 30% of our region’s greenhouse gas emissions."
Scott
"Thank you very much for our new EV. It is very exciting to have it (even if it isn't getting driven much at the moment) and know I can drive guilt-free. But you guys have made the whole decision and purchasing, easy. Firstly a genuine experience, rather than cars salespeople; and then through to sharing your knowledge and being very open and clear about how the whole process works. Partnering in the ACT with Tim at Ainslie Motors is also good - he was extremely helpful when we picked the car up from him and answered lots of questions. Before the ACT was locked down we were enjoying exploring what the car was capable of and testing our own range anxiety (we have come from a car with a range of 900+km) with our last trip an outing into Namadgi National Park, a round trip of ~130 km with some decent hills, starting with ~75% charge. I'm sure with your experience you would think nothing of that, knowing how the car will use battery on the ups and regen braking, but it was fascinating for us to see the nominal range go down and up. Once again, thanks."
Julie
"The process of buying our Nissan Leaf in this way was wonderful. It was a bit scary taking the plunge to buy a car based on a few photos and a description, but we have recently taken delivery of a Nissan Leaf. We are delighted."
Tom and Elizabeth
"I’d like to say a big thank you to you and the team for organising the bulk buy, not to mention educating us in the process. It was a great experience and I’m excited to finally go electric. I hope you all realize how much of a positive impact you’re having on individuals, families, and communities with your hard work."
Pat
"Hullo. Learnt about you thru membership of ATA and the Renew magazine. Bloody good job all of you!. I have long been interested in an electric car but on the lower edge of affording one. Me: 71yo part pension, wife about to retire also will be on a part pension. As birdos who often get off the bitumen, we have budgeted $30000 for a near new SUV eg Outlander or Forester. But IPCC reports were worse than I expected so starting to investigate my options to reduce pollution further. So looked at your site to see what the options are. Best wishes and keep in touch. "
Rod
"My feedback is all positive. The car is fantastic - in new condition. The information and updates provided by the Good Car Co were good. Tim the mechanic was really helpful. I am happy to be contacted by individuals considering switching to an electric car and happy rot share pictures of myself and my car."
Julie
"We’re both very grateful to Good Car Co for showing us that it was possible to get an EV in our budget, and will be happy to refer you to anybody that shows an interest in decarbonising their transport,"
David and Jess
"Hi. The car looks great and even came with a few things we were not expecting! (ie lockable charge port cover, heavy duty floor mats and a false floor storage thingy for the boot!) Couple of things to mention-
1. The key you posted does not work but the mechanic had two that do so all good. We tried the posted key on the other leafs and it does not operate them either. What would you like me to do with it?
2. I requested a car with a 6kw charger and you confirmed this particular car had one in a previous email. Unfortunately on delving into the menus the screen display in pic below seems to indicate I only have the 3kw charger? If this is correct I can live with it as rest of the car is great but am disappointed this was not communicated correctly (I planned to install a Zappi to charge up quickly with my surplus solar but not much point if limited to 3kw) Otherwise all good. Am very happy with the car and the service and going electric! "
Aaron
"Thank you for dealing with all the processes that are required to find a suitable car, purchase, transport, export/import, detail, and make roadworthy in Australia, all "behind the scene" from my point of view. You made purchasing a second-hand Leaf feel like I was buying a brand new car. After one full day with the car, I am comfortable with the way it drives especially the regen mode, and how easy it is to charge. A shout out to Tim at CWC Auto Services for taking his time with me when I picked up the car, he was very helpful and patient. He also sent me the Quick Reference Guide for the Leaf. Just one thing with the checklist when we picked up the vehicle; there was no jack. Everything else was fine; we even got a bonus dashcam. Rego was straightforward. A bit disappointing the ACT government charged sales tax (only new EVs are exempt), but can't really complain as they did not charge registration. The NRMA ripped into us a bit for the insurance. All in all, I'm very happy with the first 24 hours with the Leaf. I'm happy to talk to people thinking of buying a Leaf. Thank you for making this purchase so trouble-free."
Ric
"Just a note to say a big 'Thank You' for your work to procure, ship and prepare my new car. Plus your ongoing updates and advice. It is GORGEOUS, in immaculate condition, almost brand new at under 3000km. It totally exceeded my expectations. I picked it up on Friday and Tim at CWC Auto was so good and patient with me as I was terrified to drive it away in the freezing, grey sleet of a 6 degree Canberra day. I made it home and steered into my narrow drive/garage amid beeps and warnings, then needed a day to recover before seeing if I could back my beautiful baby out!! I did, slowly...My trusty old 2008 Mazda has no bells and whistles - touch screen, camera, cruise control, alerts, auto pilot…the list is endless so Mr 'Leif Eriksen' is certainly a step up. So flash I feel intimidated but I’m sure that will pass. Anyway, I want to thank you for your terrific work and wish you good luck with your Geelong bulk buy. "
Paula
"I'm just contacting you to let you know that I registered for the Geelong Bulk purchase but have had to buy a car previously simply because of necessity. I attended the zoom info session and was so impressed and encouraged by all the work you have done in an incredibly short time and as soon as we are in a position to buy an EV vehicle, we will. Thank you for all your hard work and the wonderful way you have let people know how to become part of this much-needed change of thinking."
Lisa
"Just want to say thank you for your helpfulness In facilitating my purchase of my beautiful little Leaf. I love it & so does everyone who has seen it. I'm becoming the de facto chauffeur for my activist friends & today is my first in that role. We'll glide silently & stealthily to the premises of one of the companies that is enabling the building of the ghastly Adani Galilee mine. I'm engaging now with some women who want to hold an EV rally in Manly under banners that might read something like "birds with batteries", "girls off the grid" and then parking somewhere central so peeps can actually have a close-up look at the EVs to see how cute & clean they are. After the trucking company did the wrong thing & the car had to go to Dee Why for final preps, Armen at the Auto place there organized ctp slip with QBE after my attempts with GIO were fruitless. He took me step by step through the checklist & had the car looking brand new. He was great. I drove away Monday 7th June feeling elated. Thanks again for your inspirational initiative, attention to detail, vivid videos & clear instruction every step of the way - not to mention your patience with novices like me. "
Elizabeth
"We picked up our new car yesterday. Tim from CWC Auto Services was excellent – very helpful and really knew his stuff. Registration went pretty smoothly, with two years of free rego in the ACT acknowledged. So, the car is on the road and we’re loving it! Thanks to everyone at Good Car Company for all your effort and support."
Felix & Ann
"We recently promised ourselves that we would never buy another fossil fuel car and the Good Car Company helped us follow through on that promise. We love knowing we will never go to a petrol station again I'm surprised at how incredibly nice it is to drive. The pro-pilot cruise control makes it safer and easier driving in traffic. And Julie, who isn’t normally very keen to drive, wants to drive this car because it's so much nicer!"
Steven
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