Leaf winter range
In Canadian winter driving, expect a Nissan Leaf SV PLUS to cover roughly 297 km at 0°C and 222 km at −20°C, compared with 341 km rated.
Dashed line: Ottawa–Toronto 450 km
Rated (NRCan)Highway at 120 km/h (estimate)Winter at 0°C (estimate)Winter at −20°C (estimate)
Leaf range at 0°C
Around freezing, we estimate the Leaf keeps about 87% of its rated range. The Leaf has a heat pump, which heats the cabin with far less energy than a resistive heater. That is the biggest single factor in cold-weather range.
Leaf range at −20°C
At −20°C, battery chemistry slows and cabin heating runs hard, so we estimate about 65% of rated range. The best Leaf ranks #29 of 30 in our −20°C estimates.
| Version | Rated | At 0°C | At −20°C | Loss at −20°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SV PLUS | 341 km | 297 km | 222 km | 35% |
| SV | 240 km | 209 km | 156 km | 35% |
Leaf range in cold weather in Canada
Most winter range loss is temporary: it returns when temperatures rise. Owners in Canada recover a good share of it by preheating the cabin and battery while still plugged in, using seat and steering wheel heaters instead of high cabin temperatures, parking in a garage when possible, and keeping tires at the recommended pressure, which drops as air cools.
Fast charging is also slower on a cold battery. If the Leaf offers battery preconditioning, set your navigation to the charger so the battery warms on the way.
Rated range: Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Ratings, battery-electric vehicles 2012-2026 (updated March 9, 2026), 2025 model year unless noted. Estimates explained in how we estimate.