2011 Nissan LEAF

2011 Nissan LEAF

Episode 3010 , Episode 3027
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

2010 is clearly the year of the electric car. So far this season we’ve driven the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, MINI E, Tesla Roadster, the Chevrolet Volt, and even this Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. But this week we turn our road test eyes to the first modern, pure-electric, five-passenger family car to enter mass production, the Nissan LEAF. Now, the compact LEAF could forever change the way we think about everyday cars. So, come along, and you be the judge, as we turn over the new leaf!

Loosely based on the Nissan Versa, the zero-tailpipe emissions 2011 Nissan LEAF is powered by an air-cooled, 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor pan and rear seats of the car.  Its 192 cells are tied to an 80-kilowatt synchronous AC electric motor. With 107 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, it pulls the LEAF to a top speed of 90 miles per hour. 

Fully charged, the LEAF has a range of 60 to 120 miles, depending on weather conditions. That’s enough to cover most roundtrip commutes without too much range anxiety.  But, since it has no backup power source like the Chevrolet Volt, for long distances, the LEAF is a non-starter.

A full recharge using 110 household current takes an impractical 20 hours. Installing an optional 220-volt home charging station drops it to about 8 hours. Nissan also plans to install commercial quick-charge stations in parking lots that will provide 80 percent recharge in just 30 minutes. 

On the road, the LEAF drives with the spirit of a peppy, front drive compact car, albeit an extremely quiet one.  As with most electric motored cars, the LEAF delivers peak torque right off the line. A non-instrumented 0 to 60 run of 8 seconds confirmed LEAF to be fairly brisk. And, with no transmission, everything is smooth and machine like.

The LEAF’s suspension is basic economy car; MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in the rear.  Stability and traction control are standard.

And, when the road turns, the LEAF holds its own very well.  With the 600-pound battery pack down low, the LEAF feels planted and stable.  The car is quite nimble, and sportier than expected, with the electric power steering being reasonably precise.

There is regenerative braking, of course, and it is relatively mild in Normal Mode. Switch to Economy mode and the throttle grows softer and the regenerative braking grows harsher. Otherwise, the all-disc ABS system with Brake Assist reacts well to panic stops.

Ride is comfortable too, absorbing broken city pavement without great drama.  All in all, the LEAF drives normally, like a traditional, well-built compact family car. And it looks pretty normal, too. The LEAF has unique styling without going for an eco-freakmobile look. It’s more consistent with current Nissan products like Rogue, Juke, and Versa.

The bug-eyed, bulbous compact five-door hatchback is longer than the Versa hatchback, and a little shorter than the Chevrolet Volt.  It’s all very aerodynamic, with the large LED headlamps carefully shaped to keep wind noise low. On profile the LEAF is seamless and sprawling, with an almost mid-size stance. The standard 16-inch alloy wheels help that impression as well. The back-end is also quite normal, with a large hatch flanked by tall, thin taillights, and topped by a roof spoiler. 

For a more futuristic look, you have to dive inside the LEAF. It’s clean, inviting, and loaded with soft touch controls and animated displays. There’s lots of plastic, but it has a good quality look and feel to it. Seats are all-day comfortable, with coverings made from recycled materials.

The center dash houses the standard navigation system, and a mouse like shifter that took about a nanosecond to get use to.

Other techie standard equipment on the base LEAF SV includes push button start, cruise, Bluetooth, automatic temperature control, and CARWINGS, a Smartphone feature that allows for remote monitoring of the charging status. The uplevel SL adds backup camera, HomeLink, and a solar panel to keep a small battery charged for the audio system.

The rear seat offers normally-tight compact car leg room, and while there are three seatbelts, only two adults will fit comfortably. There is, however, some compromise in the cargo bay. Part of the onboard charging mechanism creates a hump at the forward end.  But when the rear seats are folded, they line up perfectly and eliminate this objection.

Obviously, the traditional miles per gallon measure doesn’t apply to the LEAF.  But the cost to fully recharge it is about $3.  That’s nearly twice that of the Chevrolet Volt, but then, the LEAF offers about twice the all-electric driving range, too. Nissan expects an official government miles per gallon energy equivalent rating in the triple digits.

There are some notable digits in LEAF’s price as well. Base sticker is $33,600, before federal and state tax credits. Most buyers will be able to drop that price to $26,100. However, we think leasing the LEAF is the way to go, at $1999 down and $349 per month.  That’s on par with a lease for the Chevy Volt. The 220-volt charging station will cost you about $2,200 installed, but that too is eligible for tax credits.

Beyond being a pure-electric vehicle, the 2011 Nissan LEAF is a well-equipped and capable compact car. It’s hard to see how it can be your only car, unless your radius of travel is very limited. But, then, there are always rentals. So, we find that LEAF does indeed keep its promises, and along with Volt, is a promising start to a new electric family car age. And, we can’t wait to see what comes next.

 

Specifications

  • Engine: 80-kilowatt Synchronous Ac Electric Motor
  • Horsepower: 107
  • Torque: 206 Lb Feet
  • 0-60 MPH: 8.0 Seconds

Long Term Updates

When we took delivery of our long term Nissan Leaf electric car, we weren’t sure how we would use it. After all, the anxiety of running out of power seemed very real.

But, we adapted. We found the Nissan Leaf makes a great second car; perfect for reasonable commutes, around town errands, and just about anything short of long distance vacations.

But, while we often saw driving range indicated at over 100 miles, using heat or a/c, 65-70 was more reality.

With mostly short haul use, we had no trouble keeping it fully charged using household 110 Volts. Still, if we owned one, installing a 220 Volt charger would be best.

After 9 months, we can say the light, eco-friendly upholstery has taken quite a beating. It’s not very stain resistant. But,  driving enjoyment has only grown. The Leaf is quiet, quick, and agile.

So as we bid goodbye to our Leaf, we conclude that EVs are indeed viable, and we sure will miss this one.

Mileage: 1,300

After two months and with 1,300 commuter miles on the digital odometer, our staff is very pleased with the practicality of this pioneering EV. The Leaf is comfortable, able to haul plenty of household goods, while still bordering on fun-to-drive. The range indicator always drops faster than expected when you’re first starting out, and so far we’ve used heat and a/c sparingly to extend range. But, we’ve never come close to running out of power. With the hottest months of summer ahead, we’ll see if we can keep our cool in the Nissan Leaf.

2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

New Platform, New Level Of Tech…Still Feels Like An Audi

Episode 4440
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

The Q6 e-tron is not Audi’s first EV; they’ve been in the game since the original e-tron arrived for 2019. But it is the first one to arrive on an all-new premium platform electric architecture. So, time for us to get to work and find out if it’s a foundation that Audi can truly build on.

It’s an interesting time in the auto biz, that’s for sure, as no one is really certain what the future holds for internal combustion engines or even EVs at this point. Audi is of course part of the Volkswagen Group who made a massive investment in BEVs as they emerged from Dieselgate. We continue to enjoy driving the results, the latest of which is this 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron.

Even though it shares Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric basics with the Porsche Macan EV, the overall driving experience is similar to the rest of the Audi utility lineup, more so than any previous e-tron EV. Next-gen electric motor design means the standard rear-drive setup gets 302 horsepower from a permanently excited synchronous AC motor. All-wheel drive add an asynchronous AC motor up front for a total 422-horsepower output. Both motors are about 30% smaller and weigh around 20% less than previous e-tron motors.

Range estimates are as high as 321 miles. Our dual-motor setup with 20-inch wheels and 100-kWh battery is rated for 295 miles. A test loop found 260 miles to be more realistic. 800-volt architecture and 270-kW fast charging can fill the battery to 80% in just over 20 minutes. And using 35-kWh of electricity per 100 miles earns a good efficiency rating.

While 422 horsepower is the official rating, there’s a peak of 456 horsepower on hand when using Audi’s launch control. And launch is the appropriate term, as we blasted to 60 in just 4.6 seconds at our Mason Dixon test track. After a big jolt off the line, power continued to build going down the track, with no signs of it tapering off before we finished the quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 108 mph.

We also got a chance to hit the track with the Q6’s swole sibling, the SQ6. It cranks out 509 horsepower with launch control, and ripped to 60 in just 3.9 seconds and through the quarter in 12.4 at 112 mph.

Bargain hunters have long known that many Audis unlock Porsche-style high performance for less, and that surely feels like it here. Both the Q6 quattro and the SQ6 felt incredibly nimble in our handling course, with minimal understeer and tremendous grip. Steering was quick and responsive. The SQ6 comes with an adaptive air suspension that can also be added to the Q6 quattro. The biggest benefit seemed to be more away from the track, feeling smoother over irregular pavement. During panic braking runs in the Q6 quattro, there was a nice firm pedal, and quick stops in just 100 feet from 60. There was a good bit of nosedive and be prepared for the seat belt to squeeze you like an anaconda.

As more and more EVs arrive, we also see lots of new active and ambient lighting setups, something that Audi was pioneering before the EV revolution. And if nothing else, the Q6’s can keep you and others entertained while you’re sitting at the charging station. And of course, you can monitor charging status and everything else through Audi’s latest virtual cockpit.

Interior dimensions have the Q6 falling firmly in the midsize luxury segment, though it doesn’t feel that much smaller than the Q8. Audi owners will definitely notice the all-new Digital Stage infotainment setup. This Android-based system is part of a new E3 1.2 electronic architecture that will be used in all future Audis. It’s fully integrated with all vehicle functions, boasting more computer power than ever, along with the ability to seamlessly update just about every electronic function of the vehicle over the air. Here in the Q6, there’s a central 14.5-inch touchscreen for driver interaction, along with an available 10.9-inch display for the front passenger.

Pricing starts with the rear-drive Q6 at $65,095, quattros just two-grand more at $67,095; with the SQ6 quattro starting at $74,195.

The 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron is more than just another great EV from Audi. It’s truly a next level BEV that not only sets a new benchmark for the Audi brand, but sets them up nicely going forward, as this new platform provides a highly flexible high-tech launching pad for more great Audis to come.

Specifications

Q6 e-tron

  • Motor Setup: Dual Motor
  • Battery Size: 100-kWh
  • Horsepower: 422
  • EPA: up to 295 miles
  • Peak Charging: 270-kW
  • 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 13.2 seconds at 108 mph
  • Braking, 60-0 (avg.): 100 feet
  • EV Test Loop: ~ 260 miles

SQ6 e-tron

  • Horsepower: 509
  • EPA: 273 miles
  • 0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 12.4 seconds at 112 mph