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Original poster

Nissan Leaf vs Nissan Qashqai

12 replies

threefiftysix · 12/05/2023 21:09

Hi everyone.

We are looking for a new car. We don't drive much at all. Probably about 5 miles a day! Just for school drop offs.

Weekends - sometimes we don't drive at all, sometimes around 50 miles over the weekend if we are going on a family trip e.g to the zoo. V v occasionally we drive a bit further but not really more than 180 miles in a round trip.

We had a petrol Nissan Qashqai which unfortunately got written off (other driver was driving on the wrong side of the road 😞) and we have been given a Nissan Leaf as a courtesy car and I absolutely love it!!!

It's the small battery size (does around 140 on a full charge). We rent our house and don't have a fast charger so just use the 3 pin charger in the garage. Charge it every 4/5 days overnight. It's worked so well for us.

I want to buy a leaf - the next battery size up which does 220 miles on a full charge but my husband thinks we can't have a fully electric car if it's our only family car in case we want to drive far. My argument is that we never do! He thinks the leaf is too small for us with 2 young kids - and that we would need a fast charger installed but I disagree. He wants to go for the Nissan Qashqai which is e-power hybrid but it's much more expensive and we drive such short distances I don't think it's worth it.

Any thoughts?! Does anyone else have the leaf as their main family car and find it's too small?

Any other pro/cons of the Nissan Leaf?

Thank you in advance!!!!

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Melstarrynight · 12/05/2023 21:17

I love my leaf. If you don't do long distances then it makes no sense to get the larger car. We do have a charger though. Could you just hire a car if you ever needed it for longer distances?

Original poster

threefiftysix · 13/05/2023 12:21

Thank you. Yes I agree with you! We can afford the qashqai and it's not a huge car which is why my husband wants to get it but I just love the leaf and how nippy it is!!

OP posts:

Original poster

threefiftysix · 13/05/2023 12:22

How have you found the battery life of it? How many miles do you get and does it change a lot in the winter? How long have you had it? Thank you!!!!

OP posts:

cloudjumper · 13/05/2023 12:28

I love my Leaf. Sounds perfect for the kind of driving you do. If you go longer distances, you plan in stops to charge, no biggie 🤷🏼‍♀️
We drove to France recently in an electric car (not the Leaf, I admit), and it was no problem.

Original poster

threefiftysix · 13/05/2023 12:32

Thank you! Do you find the boot space ok with 2 young kids?

OP posts:

JuneShitfield · 13/05/2023 12:36

I think if you’ve got one on a kind of extended test drive and it works for your everyday driving, it makes sense.

Only thing I would say is that the Leaf is an old design now. It’s about to be replaced — the new one will be a crossover style, and will be closer to the Qashqai in size to fit under the larger Ariya in Nissan’s EV range. The new one will also have newer, better battery tech and a more up-to-date interior. It’ll also likely hold its value better. So you might consider waiting a year or two for the new one to come out.

The MG4 is worth a look if you’re after something Leaf-sized but more up to date. It’s a very good product, and really good value for an EV.

JuneShitfield · 13/05/2023 12:38

Oh — Renault Megane E-Tech Electric would be the other one I’d look at. Renault and Nissan are the same company, but the Megane is new so much more contemporary than the (current) Leaf.

cloudjumper · 13/05/2023 12:38

threefiftysix · 13/05/2023 12:32

Thank you! Do you find the boot space ok with 2 young kids?

Yes, it's plenty - we got 2 kids, and it works well for us.

AnotherDelphinium · 13/05/2023 12:43

I’ve got a leaf e+, I’ve had it 18 months and done 24,000 miles and I love it!

It’s obviously a bit smaller than a qashqai, but not had an issue fitting everyone in.

I’m in the south east, and have some trips to Devon and Scotland with no issues.

starpatch · 13/05/2023 12:48

I have one of the older leafs with a range of maximum 80 miles. I do love it and manage fine even though I regularly have to do close to 80 miles for work- I know where the chargers are in my local area if I need to and I can manage. I wouldn't take it long distance though would be too stressful but its much lower range than the one you are thinking of. The new leafs are huge! Plenty of room for the school run. Having a home charger is great but I guess if you can trickle charge in the garage that might work- but doesn't it take a long time which would then mean you are using peak electricity? which would also make it less green....

Seeline · 13/05/2023 12:55

I've had a qashqai for a while - petrol though. I hate it! Whilst large on the outside, it feels really cramped inside. The boot isn't great. Once the kids grew into adult size, room in the back just wasn't enough.

gingercat02 · 13/05/2023 13:01

I have a new Leaf and I love it. So does my husband, who is a real petrol head. The boit is huge and there's loads of leg room for a gangly 14yo.
Mine is a lease car from work, so we got a home charger added to the lease cost.
I do regret not getting the bigger battery one, but we do have a hybrid car as well, so the Leaf is mine for work, and local runs over the 25 miles the hybrid does on battery.
We did a 100mile round trip on one of the really cold days around Christmas and had to limp home at 50mph. We only had 7 miles left when we got home. Never doing that again 🤣

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