Today’s car shoppers are more environmentally conscious, minimalistic, and budget-aware than ever before. With a wide variety of electric vehicles to suit the needs of drivers, it can be difficult to find which EVs are the most reliable and dependable. The Nissan Leaf hit the EV market with cargo space at an affordable price. But how long is its range? And is it a reliable choice for an electric vehicle?

The Nissan Leaf: reliability and ratings

U.S. News bases its reliability ratings on J.D. Power‘s Vehicle Dependability Study, which rates the 2019 Nissan Leaf as “about average.” This makes the electric vehicle seem, well, rather ordinary. However, Nissan offers new owners a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, five-year/60,000-mile warranty on electric vehicle system and powertrain, and eight-year/100,000-mile lithium-ion battery warranty on all new Leaf models. With electric vehicles, maintaining dependability is key.

Consumer Reports rates the 2019 Nissan Leaf with a predicted reliability score of three out of five. But over many years, the electric Leaf receives top ratings for dependability regarding the engine, transmission, fuel system, electric system, brakes, and suspension. Consumer Reports also gave the Nissan a five out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating, as well as good marks in comfort and acceleration.

Test driving the Nissan Leaf for range and performance

Reliability scores and rankings only go so far. The Nissan Leaf’s range is crucial, and it holds up when compared to other EVs. According to Car and Driver, the standard 40-kWh battery allows the Leaf to drive for about 150 miles. It takes around eight hours to fully charge. With the upgraded 62-kWh battery, you’ll get a 226-mile range with 12-hour charging time.

In Consumer Reports’ road test, the Leaf “takes off silently and immediately, and builds up speed in a smooth, linear way.” Though it doesn’t have the same thrilling drive as higher-end EVs, it does feature one-pedal driving. The Nissan Leaf’s e-Pedal allows the car to slow down significantly once you to take your foot off the throttle. Driving in this mode doesn’t have any effect on the battery’s range.

The Nissan Leaf’s features and affordability

The Nissan Leaf‘s interior is minimal but modern. The central control has an easy-to-use touchscreen display with NissanConnect technology. (With upper trims, the Leaf can connect to almost any smart device.) The seating is comfortable for a compact car, with adjustable controls and an elevated stance that makes getting in and out easy. Even the rear seat and cargo areas are spacious.

Though Nissan already receives high rankings for safety, the Leaf offers optional ProPilot Assist, which provides lane-centering and adaptive cruise control. Automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning come standard. According to U.S. News, the Leaf comes with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drivetrain. The 2019 Leaf is available in six versions, with an affordable starting price of $29,990. The most expensive Leaf costs just over $42,000.