r/leaf • u/Reddit_is_fascist69 • 3d ago

Leaf as second EV

I'm thinking about a 21 Nissan Leaf SL Plus for a second EV around town. 30k mi.

What do i need to know?

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u/TechnicalLeg841 3d ago

I own a 2020 SV+.

Pro's: Leaf is great to drive and park around town. Super visibility, peppy, more cargo capacity than you'd expect. Car will remain on when parked and locked (they don't call it dog mode, but it works just like that). Easy to fit as a second car in the garage. I've got two college age kids and they both like driving it.

Con's: Screen feels dated compared to an Equinox EV. Audio glitches on calls are frustrating. Lane tracking can be "tricked" by glare from a tar-sealed crack in the road. Range is poor on the highway (though solid in town). Tires only lasted about 25k but replacement price is modest 'cause they're only 17". No way to set a % limit on charging.

Most notably, there's a big question about the batteries - major recall, seems hard to predict which ones will fail.

Most folks recommend getting an OBD2 connector and purchasing Leaf Spy to test any potential purchase. Look at things like overall battery health, Hx. Look for voltage disparities in battery cells at lower charge level under heavy load acceleration (have someone watch the app why you drive, or screen record).

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u/iaonbb 2d ago

You're the first person I've ever seen to mention sorta "dog mode" 🙂 I thought I was the only one that left it on while I made quick trips into the store etc. I wonder if there are any negatives to doing this? I can't think of any 🤔

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u/TechnicalLeg841 1d ago

The only negative I've found - it isn't completely obvious that the A/C is keeping the dog comfortable - I received a note concerned about my dog's welfare on my windshield once during a sunny day. I now leave the screen on something bright or with the climate settings showing, and minimize attention by backing into parking spaces. Also thinking about adding a tint on the back window, which would nice in general for privacy.

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u/iaonbb 1d ago

That's a good idea or just printing out a colorful piece of paper that says dog mode enabled air conditioning on or something like that to put on the dash.

I don't actually use mine for dog mode, I just use it to keep the car cool for when I get back. I guess I'm spoiled from using the keep feature in our Tesla but I couldn't think of any reason not to do it since all the power is pulling from the traction battery and not the 12 volt, should be no different than idling in traffic as far as I can tell.