To turn over a new leaf means to make a radical change for the better. All electric, and with no use of our precious fossil fuels, the Nissan LEAF is set to make a change on our Australian roads. One of these is up for grabs at your local Nissan dealer mid-year. So, organise your garage over the next few months to make room for the brand new Nissan LEAF.

Driving one of these means no more cues at the pump, no more smelly exhaust fumes and exceptionally low running costs. Although the car’s actual range will depend on driving conditions, weather, battery age and temperature, Nissan claims that the Nissan LEAF has around 170 kilometres on a fully charged battery. There is plenty of poke in the engine to get along smartly. A tuned racing version was said to perform the 0-100 km/h sprint in a little under 7 seconds. With 80 kW available in the standard LEAF car, the AC synchronous electric motor enables quick acceleration and smooth, quiet cruising.

The Nissan LEAF has the battery power to run other goodies, as well. Modern LED lights, a navigation system designed by Nissan, an audio system with six speakers, air conditioning, and ipod and USB capacity are some of the features onboard the well equipped Nissan LEAF. A clever regenerative braking system not only reduces the drain on the battery but also is capable of stopping the Nissan LEAF promptly via disc brakes all round and a braking system that boasts ABS and EBD. Brake assist and an electronic parking brake are other great Nissan LEAF features.

On the road, the Nissan LEAF handles all differing road surfaces well, feeling well planted at speed and light enough for working yourself in and out of parks, and through busy city streets easily and simply. Like all other Nissan cars, the Nissan LEAF is nice and simple to drive, and will go about its business in a no-fuss fashion.

Batteries are included with this one! So too is the important portable trickle cable which allows you to charge up at the office as well as at home. The Nissan LEAF has a Normal charge port for overnight charging and a Quick charge port for grabbing some power at the local power station. These stations are being added to across main Australian cities, so it’s great to see that government has the forward thinking, too. I guess we have electric buses… so it’s all makes good sense.

Safety in the Nissan LEAF is very good. Right up-to-date, and in bed with Renault, the Nissan LEAF has all the right safety features. There are six standard airbags inside the LEAF cabin. VDC and TCS are active when driving, three point seatbelts for all seats, pre-tensioners on the front seats, front and rear crumple zones, an energy absorbing steering column and guard beams in the doors are some of the top safety equipment worth noting.

Your trip to work or lunch downtown is met with some very friendly equipment to make your journey relaxing and enjoyable. A Bluetooth hands free phone system ensures you keep in contact with your clients, family and friends. Cruise control ensures that the quiet Nissan LEAF cabin doesn’t trick you into thinking that you should be travelling quicker than the speed limit allows. Cup holders and bottle holders give you the chance to carry plenty of cool refreshments onboard, as well.

If you are forward in your thinking, then the Nissan LEAF is going to be a car that might just be right for you. Sharp styling, bold colours and great seating comfort make the Nissan LEAF a car that makes a change for the better a pleasurable one.

The current model series includes the:

• Nissan LEAF

For any more information on the Nissan LEAF, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Nissan dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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