2013 Nissan Leaf is an IIHS Top Safety Pick (again)

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 9, 2013

For the third year in a row the Nissan Leaf isn’t just one of the most efficient cars on the road, it’s also one of the safest.

The Leaf, which received a few updates for the 2013 model year, received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Recommended Videos

The Leaf was a Top Safety Pick in 2011 and 2012, but the IIHS decided to retest the electric hatchback for 2013 because of some changes that might have affected its crash test results.

The most significant change is the location of the Leaf’s onboard charger, which was moved from between the rear wheel arches to under the hood with the car’s electric motor.

Regardless, the 2013 Leaf scored a “Good,” the highest possible rating, in the IIHS’ front, side, rollover, and rear crash tests.

The 2013 Leaf also comes standard with plenty of safety features.

Between the dual-stage supplemental front airbags with seatbelt sensors, side airbags, and front and rear passenger curtain side impact airbags, the Leaf has all angles covered. There are also Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) electronic aids to make avoiding a crash easier.

Other updates for 2013 include an optional 6.6-kWh fast charger, which can impart an 80 percent charge in four hours, and an updated version of Nissan’s CarWings telematics system that can increase brake regeneration on demand.

For 2013, Nissan also launched the Leaf S, a less-expensive base model. At $28,800, it’s $6,400 less than the cheapest 2012 Leaf.

All Leaf models have a 107 horsepower electric motor and 24-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The EPA rates it at 129 MPGe city and 102 MPGe highway, with a 75-mile range.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

If you don’t have a car battery jump starter yet, get this one for only $133

The Avapow W68 car battery jump starter and its accessories.

You won't always need a car battery jump starter, but it's much better to buy one now than to miss it when you need it. You don't have to spend a lot of cash on one too, because there are offers like Walmart's $187 discount for the Avapow W68 car battery jump starter. From its original price of $320, it's all the way down to an affordable $133. We're not sure how much time is remaining for you to be able to take advantage of this bargain though, so you need to complete your purchase right now if you don't want to miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Avapow W68 car battery jump starter
There are a few reasons why a car battery loses its charge, including when the car isn't used for a long period of time, the car battery is too old, or you leave power-consuming accessories like the lights or the radio on while the engine is off. Jump-starting a car is an easy process if you have the right tools for it, and the Avapow W68 car battery jump starter has everything that you need. It provides up to 6000A of peak current that's suitable for all 12-volt vehicles -- not just cars but also boats, TVs, tractors, lawnmowers, snowmobiles, and more. It also comes with its own jumper cables with intelligent clamps that will notify you if there are any issues with how you're using them.

Cars

Honda doubles down on ‘holy grail’ of EV batteries

honda solid state battery production first electric suv 3

While some automakers are scaling back their production of electric vehicles, Honda is basking in the glow of a successful launch of its Prologue EV in the U.S., and was recently dubbed “North America’s most committed automaker.”

And now, Japan’s third-largest automaker is showing a similar commitment to making EVs more efficient and affordable, zeroing in on the production of its own in-house solid-state batteries, also known as the ‘holy grail’ of EV batteries.

Cars

If you’ve been planning on buying an EV, now might be the time

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

Well, the days of being able to count on a $7,500 rebate on EV purchases may be coming to a close. The federal EV tax credit has long been a way for many customers to justify the purchase of an electric vehicle over a traditional gas-powered one, especially considering the fact that EVs are typically more expensive upfront (though they cost less to maintain and power over time). Many of the most popular EV models have qualified for the credit over the years, including the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and so on.

With the upcoming change in administration, those days could soon be over. According to a report from Reuters, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is reportedly planning to kill the EV tax credit -- a move that would likely dissuade many potential buyers from opting for an EV.