Nissan Leaf: The Electric Destined for Metro

Back on February 1, among other things, I was riding in a 2019 Nissan Leaf as part of a ride and drive at the Washington Auto Show. My mom was in the driver's seat and I was riding shotgun, having a perfect view of everything happening. The employee running the ride and drive showed us the numerous parking cameras, allowing us to see the curb, below the curve of our hood, and in the back. After working the Leaf's gear selector, based largely on alien technology, we pulled away from the curb and put the Leaf through some basic steps around DC. The Leaf began making a kind of beeping while we were moving slowly. The guide explained that this noise was actually meant to warn pedestrians as total silence could pose hazardous to those of us not in large metal cans. As we accelerated up to the speed limit, it was strange to not have the lurching of the gears shifting or the rumble of the engine. 

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At speed, the Leaf was quiet and refined. The ride was smooth and enjoyable, the former holding true only until we enabled one-pedal driving. When that setting was toggled, the car would automatically apply some brake pressure when neither pedal is being pressed, allowing the driver to simply let off the gas and expect the car to stop in a reasonable distance. While I have heard this feature being praised by some, we were not 100% on board with the concept of one pedal driving due to the unnatural feel. 

The Leaf needed a significant amount of pressure on the pedal in order to coast or hold steady, meaning it is more difficult to accelerate and cruise than it usually is. While I can see the utility of one pedal driving for someone who sits in stop-and-go traffic who has gotten used to the system. When it was finally time to return, the Leaf delivered pleasing parking dynamics as a result of its good turn radius and a small size. We then got out and returned to the ride and drive sign-up area, where we did a sort of debrief. I made sure to cop a Nissan Leaf brochure and cap before returning to the heart of the show.