2016
Nissan Leaf

Starts at:
$29,010
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New 2016 Nissan Leaf
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
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Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr HB S *Ltd Avail*
    Starts at
    $29,010
    84 - 107 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    60 month/60,000 miles
    Warranty
    Electric
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr HB S
    Starts at
    $30,680
    84 - 107 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    60 month/60,000 miles
    Warranty
    Electric
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr HB SV
    Starts at
    $34,200
    107 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    60 month/60,000 miles
    Warranty
    Electric
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr HB SL
    Starts at
    $36,790
    107 mi.
    Range
    5
    Seat capacity
    60 month/60,000 miles
    Warranty
    Electric
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf 2016 Nissan Leaf

Notable features

Longer driving range for SV and SL trims
Pure battery-electric car
Five-seat compact hatchback
Stereo with 5-inch screen standard
Backup camera standard
6.6-kilowatt onboard charger for faster charging available

The good & the bad

The good

Drives like a real car
Sprightly acceleration
Zero tailpipe emissions
Low fuel cost
Remote charge control

The bad

High floor in backseat
Range varies with temperature, terrain
Charger installation can be pricey
Limited public charging infrastructure
See all specifications

Expert 2016 Nissan Leaf review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com editors
Full article
our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Nissan Leaf is a pure battery-electric hatchback. It is available in three trim levels and competes against the likes of the Mitsubishi i and Ford Focus Electric.
New for 2016
SV and SL trim levels now have a 30-kilowatt-hour battery pack that increases the EPA-estimated driving range from 84 to 107 miles. The base S trim still uses a smaller 24-kwh battery pack and has an estimated range of 84 miles. A stereo with a 5-inch screen is now standard and includes Bluetooth streaming audio and iPod connectivity.
Significant Standard Features

  • 107-horsepower electric motor
  • Front-wheel drive
  • Locking and lighted charge port on car’s nose
  • Heated side mirrors
  • Heated front seats
  • 60/40-split folding backseat 
  • 5-inch multimedia screen
  • Bluetooth streaming audio
  • Backup camera
  • Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system

Significant Available Features

  • Available direct current quick-charge port can recharge battery to 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes
  • Small solar panel atop the SL’s liftgate spoiler trickle-charges 12-volt battery
  • Heated steering wheel
  • 7-inch multimedia screen
  • Navigation system

2016 Nissan Leaf review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview

The Nissan Leaf is a pure battery-electric hatchback. It is available in three trim levels and competes against the likes of the Mitsubishi i and Ford Focus Electric.
New for 2016
SV and SL trim levels now have a 30-kilowatt-hour battery pack that increases the EPA-estimated driving range from 84 to 107 miles. The base S trim still uses a smaller 24-kwh battery pack and has an estimated range of 84 miles. A stereo with a 5-inch screen is now standard and includes Bluetooth streaming audio and iPod connectivity.
Significant Standard Features

  • 107-horsepower electric motor
  • Front-wheel drive
  • Locking and lighted charge port on car’s nose
  • Heated side mirrors
  • Heated front seats
  • 60/40-split folding backseat 
  • 5-inch multimedia screen
  • Bluetooth streaming audio
  • Backup camera
  • Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system

Significant Available Features

  • Available direct current quick-charge port can recharge battery to 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes
  • Small solar panel atop the SL’s liftgate spoiler trickle-charges 12-volt battery
  • Heated steering wheel
  • 7-inch multimedia screen
  • Navigation system

Safety review

Based on the 2016 Nissan Leaf base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
4/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
3/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
3/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4/5
Overall side crash rating
4/5
Rollover rating
4/5
Side barrier rating
4/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
3/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.9%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
3/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.9%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Nissan and non-Nissan vehicles less than 10 years old and less than 100,000 miles. (Nissan vehicles less than 6 years from original new car in-service date must have more than 60,000 to qualify for Certified Select.)
Dealer certification
84-point inspection
See all CPO program details

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Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.7
Interior 4.5
Performance 4.6
Value 4.8
Exterior 3.9
Reliability 4.9

Most recent

  • By Jw’s electric from Harlingen, Texas
    Owns this car
    February 14, 2021

    My first EV: Nissan Leaf

    I didn’t expect such a nice and Comfortable car. The trunk area has as much space as our Liberty. For all our town driving it fits our needs. We have the same range as a model 3 Tesla for one third the price. Love the quit and smooth ride!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    16 people out of 16 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By D.Wise from Bourbon, Mo.
    Owns this car
    May 29, 2020

    Love the savings!!

    The Leaf is a commuter car for me, saves me $4.50 per day. It's comfortable, nice to drive, and very cheap to own and operate.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By JN from Mesa
    Owns this car
    February 1, 2020

    Love it so far

    We have been looking for a nissan leaf a while and finally found one we loved and the price we wanted and it's so much fun to drive
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By rahdqb from St. Louis, MO
    Used to own this car
    December 10, 2019

    Didn't fit my lifestyle

    Overall this car was great and everything they said it would be. However the harsh STL winters really took a toll on the vehicle and the lack of charging available made my early EV adoption risky. Can't complain about the fact that I haven't paid for gas in 3.5 years though!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Gati33 from Denver, CO
    Owns this car
    July 28, 2019

    Fun to Drive, affordable, and extremely practical

    My drive to work changes from 10 to 75 miles so I sold my truck and bought the Nissan Leaf. The car has been amazing! Great features, extremely reliable (so much fewer parts to break than in a gas engine), surprisingly fun to drive and roomier than expected. I am able to make to work and back on a single charge that is almost all highway with speeds no slower than 65mph the whole way. It’s great to be spending about $2 round trip with the Nissan as oppose to the $7-$8 i was spending each day on gas with my truck. The car has exceeded my expectations in every way and would highly recommend.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Seung from Edmonds, WA
    Owns this car
    May 5, 2019

    Excellent car for saving gas mileage

    This car has a relatively plenty room for passengers and easy to charge. Color and design are pretty cute. Standard options are pretty good, especially for the heated handle.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By EV StEVie from Asheville, NC
    Owns this car
    April 17, 2019

    Most reliable and fun car every owned.

    I love the car so much, I purchased it from this horrible dealership (Anderson Nissan of Asheville) despite the way I was treated. It's a very fun car to drive. I don't ever want to own an internal combustion engine car again.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By PlanetUSA from Hendersonville NC,
    Owns this car
    March 28, 2019

    Pretty nice car

    My first electric car, I'm pretty pleased with it's performance and reliability. It's a short range EV and my real range is only about 75 miles or so.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Marie's Leaf from RossenNissan from Madison, WI
    Owns this car
    February 13, 2019

    Most Cost Efficient and Comfortable Commuter Car

    This car gives me all I need for a commuter car: No Gasoline Bills, No Oil Change Bills, remarkably low maintenance Free Charging when I get to work or into town. The Nissan interior with heated leather seats and heated steering wheel. My leaf has a 75 mile range with an additional 25 miles to find a charger if a contingency issue occurs. The car charges at my home over night on trickle with a 110volt outlet which is plenty to top it off for the next day. I would suggest this car if you have a 40-60 mile commute round trip.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By raysam
    Test drove this car
    August 22, 2018

    Good for the buck.

    This car is a good option to buy used to save money on gas. But not a dream car as the design is disappointing in my option. The range as well isn't great. But it's a decent car that I won't mind driving.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 2.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By rrleafev from PNW
    Used to own this car
    July 9, 2018

    Best kept secret in vehicles

    Once you go electric, you'll never go back! Great value... Get your education about these vehicles--online, magazines, go to a dealer and test drive--they are the future, so start saving money NOW!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By MnBueller from Duluth, MN
    Owns this car
    April 26, 2018

    The Perfect Commuter Car!

    If getting around town or back and forth to work is your primary use for your vehicle, you should consider looking at a Leaf. This car has exceeded all our expectations in comfort, performance, build quality, and fun factor. I do all the maintenance work on our vehicles, and have nothing to do on this car but rotate tires and check the brakes once in awhile. Awesome!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
See all reviews

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Nissan dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf is available in 3 trim levels:

  • S (2 styles)
  • SL (1 style)
  • SV (1 style)

What is the electric range of the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf can travel 84 - 107 miles on a single charge depending on electric motor and battery options.

EPA-estimated range is the distance, or predicted distance, a new plug-in vehicle will travel on electric power before its battery charge is exhausted. Actual range will vary depending on driving conditions, trim level, driving habits, elevation changes, weather, accessory usage (lights, climate control), vehicle condition and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2016 Nissan Leaf reliable?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf has an average reliability rating of 4.9 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2016 Nissan Leaf owners.

Is the 2016 Nissan Leaf a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2016 Nissan Leaf. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.7
  • Interior: 4.5
  • Performance: 4.6
  • Value: 4.8
  • Exterior: 3.9
  • Reliability: 4.9

Nissan Leaf history

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