2012 Nissan LEAF Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
106 City / 92 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
107
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Nicholas S
It is not a hybrid as some other of my friends have thought.
The Nissan leaf has been the best car I have ever driven. I really enjoy how I am able to drive for such a long time on the battery without gas. Electric cars are also very powerful, and also I like the quick charge add-on that I got.
accountCircle Christopher G
Electric car that is friendly to the environment, is fun and easy to drive!
I think overall, the only big drawback is if you have something unexpected to do on a given day, and you've already driven a lot, you have to wait to charge before you go. I do get some level of anxiety when my battery is low, but its really a great car.
accountCircle Dangelo R
Great things about the leaf.
This is a great car. It has very comfortable seats, seat warmers in the front and back seats, and is almost completely silent. It is incredibly reliable and very convenient even if it is an early version of an electric car. It charges quickly and is significantly cheaper to charge than if you had to buy gas. It is great if you do not need to drive long distances.
accountCircle Isaac S
A beautiful alternative to gasoline!
I love that the market has finally made electric cars accessible to the public at large. I know longer have to fight for a place at the gas pump! The charging infrastructure has grown as well making it easier than ever to charge. The Nissan leaf is the future of driving. One day everyone will own an electric car!
accountCircle Leah F
Nissan leaf: best electric car for the everyday person.
My 2012 Nissan leaf is a great car for getting around town, going to work, school, running errands, etc. While you cannot go too long distance because of the electric battery it is still able to take me from my home in the suburbs to 30 minutes into the city and back with miles still left. It is a quick car, compact, and great for the planet.
accountCircle Lor C
It has a roomy interior and handles well in traffic. It is fast!
My Leaf is very comfortable to drive, it handles well in traffic. It is getting older now so the batteries do not last as long. Looking forward to replacing with longer lasting batteries. The only problem is with the breaks. They pulse badly when slowing to a stop.
accountCircle Nidhi T
Reliable car good for commuting to work.
This is a very reliable car. The small and compact size makes it very easy to drive. It feels very smooth while driving it and barely makes any noise. The electric vehicle sticker is also very helpful for if you want to use the carpool lane. Overall, a really great car.
accountCircle Sarah L
Easy to use! Electric cars don't have to be expensive or intimidating!
I love that it's all electric, but hate the short range. It's quiet, compact, accelerates great. Can't wait to update to one with a better battery in the future.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle ken ballard
Not a happy owner
Own a 2012 Nissan Leaf. Had a minor fender bender and had seat belt on at the time. After the accident, was setting there and wondering why the air bag did not deploy? Then the air bag deployed. Nissan sure needs to work on the triggering mechanism for the air bag. [Personally Identifiable Information Removed]
accountCircle Ruth A
The inconsistency in the technology of the Nissan leaf electric.
The battery life on this car is short lived. When it comes to dying distance it is not sustainable Nissan really got this wrong. It forgot attempts to drive a distance that should be in range. I drives it around 16 miles a day and I it and the battery life drains quickly even when follow electric car protocols. There are many blind spots that make it very difficult to see at times and the brake system does not work very well especially in the rain.
accountCircle ken ballard
Realiability
The guess-o-meter(range indicator) is nuts. When you Have problems that should be simple to resolve, but simplicity seems to be an unknown concept. The manuals seem to have a way of skirting around the issues. Other wise the car is fairly good. The local dealer thinks he controls the Pearly Gates.
accountCircle Jade V
The vehicle is really comfortable and has an amazing air conditioning system.
The vehicle works but is a little behind on the new technology such as Bluetooth or wireless charging. This car is good for high school beginners but should be avoided if a frequent traveler. The vehicle itself does not have many problem just some frequent oil changes and the seats are very comfortable.
accountCircle Julie M
Full electric, quite and rides smooth.
Well it does save on gas because it's full electric. Ours was used so we only get 30 miles and they drop really fast. So I recommend getting a new one if you want it for the miles. It's quiet and it has a sensor on it when it reaches someone at a corner waiting to cross.

Nissan LEAF Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
SV
107 HP 99 MPG 5 Seats
car
SL
107 HP 99 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Nissan LEAF Owner Reviews

4.29
35 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 57%
4 stars 29%
3 stars 6%
2 stars 3%
1 star 6%
accountCircle Debbie M on February 23, 2021
Wonder car is the right title.
No problems at all with the vehicle. It runs when I tell it to. No need for oil or petrol. We pass the tank stations and wave because it is electric and runs beautifully. I can highly recommend this car to anyone. Much better than anything I have ever had.
accountCircle viv v on December 23, 2020
How safe it is to drive in and how to manage it with great car to make it as long as possible
A decent car at an affordable price as it is safe to drive in.
View All Reviews (35) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Robin K.

Drives smooth heated seats and steering wheel. Great for driving around town without worrying about gas prices or stopping for gas. Has a easy to use built in GPS system and Bluetooth radio. Love driving it and it is a nice size car.

likeFilled Robin K.

No gas is needed to travel and you can set it to only charge when electric rates are lower. Easy to use and operate. Great for close to home travel. Has warning seats and steering wheel and the in car navigation is so helpful.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Robin K.

You cannot drive it very far from home and heat and air conditioning use effects the miles able to be driven. This can be a pain when you have a lot of running around to do and you have little kids. I have to keep blankets in my car for the winter for when I cannot really use my heat since I have a lot of driving to do.

dislikeFilled Robin K.

There are not too many cons to my car other than the fact that I wish it could go farther. On a good charge the most miles you can get is about 65 miles. The only other problem I have is I wish it was a little bigger inside for my kids. I have 2 now in car seats and one on the way and I am not sure how we will fit.

Ranks #15 Hybrid & Electric by Owners

The 2012 Nissan LEAF has an average owner rating of 4.50 out of 5 which ranks it #15 of 22 other Hybrid & Electrics.

1
Tie
car
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid
5
1
Tie
car
2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
5
15
car
2012 Nissan LEAF
4.29

Ranks #3 Hybrid & Electric by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Nissan LEAF has a combined MPG of 106 which ranks it #3 of 22 other Hybrid & Electrics.

1
car
2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
126 MPG
2
car
2012 Ford Focus Electric
110 MPG
3
car
2012 Nissan LEAF
106 MPG

Is The 2012 Nissan LEAF A Good Car?

Yes I love it! I have not had any major problems with it and it is great for someone who does not drive very far and only stays near home!
Robin k.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Nissan LEAF?

Yes it is. I have not had any problems and that is with being hit 3 times by people and still no problems.
Robin k.

Is The 2012 Nissan LEAF A Good Value?

I bought it used for about 12,000 and I think it is a good value for what I paid and how good it had been lasting.
Robin k.

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From the Vehicle History blog

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Nissan Leaf Price, Depreciation, and Value

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety