2 Things to Consider When Buying a Used Nissan Leaf

If you’re in the market for an affordable vehicle that has excellent fuel economy, the Nissan Leaf is a great choice. Before making a purchase, consider the two most important factors when buying a used Leaf—battery condition and charging options.

Battery Condition

Just like your smartphone battery, the battery in an electric car degrades over time. A Leaf with 9 or 10 bars of battery life gets only about 70 percent of its full charge. This makes a big difference in how far you can drive before you need to recharge.

Keep in mind, the battery in a Leaf shows full bars until it’s down to 85 percent of its capacity. That means the battery will show a full charge even if it’s only at 86 percent. Be sure to perform a battery-capacity test before buying a used Leaf to make sure there is still plenty of life left in the battery.

Charging Options

If you spend a lot of time on the road, you likely want an electric car that charges quickly. Early Leafs come with a slower onboard charging port than newer models. In addition, not every Leaf comes with a quick-charging port. This is a separate component that allows for an 80-percent recharge in about 30 minutes. To check if a Leaf has a quick-charge port, look to see if there are two different charging connectors behind the charge-port door.

Take some of the stress out your next vehicle purchase by keeping in mind these two important factors. You’ll drive home confident in your purchase and enjoy your used Nissan Leaf.

Image via Flickr by Janitors

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