Nissan unveils details of 2017 LEAF: every trim gets 30 kWh battery and 107 miles range

Fred Lambert | Nov 10 2016 - 8:29 am PT

And that’s about it. Nissan unveiled the details of its 2017 LEAF today and there’s barely anything new other than the fact that now every trim gets the 30 kWh battery pack, which lowers the entry price to get the 107-mile range.

In the 2016 version of the vehicle, the 30 kWh pack was only available in the higher-end versions, LEAF SV and SL, now the LEAF S also gets the pack with a $1,600 price bump, but it’s still the cheapest price to get the longest range.

Here is the new price scheme:

LEAF S: $30,680 USD
LEAF SV: $34,200 USD
LEAF SL: $36,790 USD

This new 2017 LEAF lineup is sure to disappoint a lot of EV enthusiasts and LEAF fans that hoped for another battery pack upgrade. Rumours, sparked by Renault’s new all-electric ZOE introduced at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year with a 41 kWh battery pack and around 200 miles of range, suggested that Nissan will follow with its own updated ~200 miles LEAF since both automakers have been working together on electric vehicles.

: The 2017 Nissan LEAF features a high-response, 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 107 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque, providing a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that consumers often expect from traditional, gasoline-powered vehicles.

: The 2017 Nissan LEAF features a high-response, 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 107 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque, providing a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that consumers often expect from traditional, gasoline-powered vehicles.

But it looks like the LEAF will be roughly the same for another year at least and Renault will have an EV option with more range than its sister company for a little while.

Nissan could be looking to leapfrog the ~40 kWh battery pack and finally introduce the 60 kWh battery pack that it has been teasing for years now.

Whether it will be in a new (much-needed) refresh version of the LEAF or in a brand new EV model from the Japanese automaker, we don’t know, but we bet will know more in January since CEO Carlos Ghosn is set to deliver a keynote speech at CES 2017. The tradeshow has been a popular event to unveil EVs in the past few years.

Press release:

Nov 9, 2016

Nissan announces U.S. pricing for 2017 LEAF

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan today announced U.S. pricing for the 2017 Nissan LEAF, which is on sale now at LEAF Certified Nissan dealers nationwide. The Nissan LEAF continues to be the best-selling 100-percent electric vehicle in the U.S. and the world, with more than 100,000 units sold in the U.S. and more than 238,000 units worldwide (as of October 2016).

For 2017, Nissan provides best-in-class range¹ across all three trim levels – S, SV and SL – by offering the 30 kWh battery that was previously only available on LEAF SV and SL grades. Along with the 100-mile plus range, the 30 kWh battery can be quick-charged to 80 percent (from the low battery charge warning) in about 30 minutes. Charging on a home charging system (Level 2, 240V) is estimated to take about six hours with the 6.6 kW onboard charger.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices² (MSRP) for the 2017 Nissan LEAF are:

LEAF S $30,680 USD

LEAF SV $34,200 USD

LEAF SL $36,790 USD

Destination and Handling $865 USD

The 30 kWh battery design adds capacity without increasing battery package size by improving the cell structure of the laminated lithium-ion battery cells. Improved electrode material with revised chemistry results in higher power density and enhanced battery durability upon charge and discharge.

Nissan offers a limited warranty³ covering defects in materials or workmanship for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, for the lithium-ion battery pack. Nissan also provides a limited warranty against battery capacity loss below nine bars of capacity as shown on the vehicle’s battery capacity level gauge for the first eight years or 100,000 miles for all models.

About the 2017 Nissan LEAF
All 2017 LEAF models feature a high-response, 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 107 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque, providing a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that consumers often expect from traditional, gasoline-powered vehicles.

LEAF offers the space and range to meet every day needs while also providing an exceptional value proposition due to zero spending on gas, lower maintenance costs and a starting price after tax incentives competitive with a comparable gas-powered car.

The distinctive exterior styling is characterized by sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting halogen headlights. LED low beam headlights and fog lights are standard on LEAF SL models. Other exterior features include standard rear spoiler, flat underbody with rear diffuser and aerodynamically shaped LED taillights. The charge port is hidden under a small door located in the front of the vehicle, with a standard light and door lock feature. The aerodynamic design results in a low coefficient of drag of just 0.28.

Inside, the digital instrument panel includes a speedometer, battery temperature gauge, power meter, remaining energy gauge, capacity level gauge, distance-to-empty display and drive mode indicator. A percent state-of-charge display is featured in the trip computer. LEAF SV and SL models also display “reachable area,” as well as showing a selection of nearby charging stations on the NissanConnect info screen.

All grade levels include standard Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and RearView Monitor. Nissan’s advanced Around View® Monitor⁴, which helps provide a virtual 360-degree view of objects around the vehicle, is offered as part of the Premium Package for SV and SL grades. The Premium Package also includes the seven-speaker Energy Efficient Series Bose® premium audio system.

For 2017, LEAF SV and SL grades include standard NissanConnectSM with Navigation– featuring a 7.0-inch color display with multi-touch control, Nissan Voice Recognition for navigation and audio, HD radio, SiriusXM® Traffic and SiriusXM® Travel LinkTM for weather, fuel prices, movie listings, stock info and sports (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately). The charging screen information is automatically updated every time the ignition is turned on and with every 12 miles of driving.

The NissanConnect EV system (no-charge subscription required), which is also standard on SV and SL grades, allows remote connection to the vehicle, providing monitoring of battery state-of-charge, start charging event control and turning on the heating and air conditioning system prior to entering the vehicle.

Nissan LEAF safety features include six air bags, four-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS).

LEAF is assembled in the U.S. at Nissan’s Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, with battery assembly taking place next door in Nissan’s Battery Assembly Plant.