2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack): MPG and fuel economy
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) is a fully electric vehicle rated at 112 MPGe combined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has an EPA-rated driving range of 107 miles on a full charge.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack). Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain.
Key takeaways
- Returns 296% better combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2016 model year (28.3 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) at 114 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $7,500 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Has an EPA-rated electric driving range of only 107 miles, which limits its usefulness for longer trips.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack). The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 112 MPG |
| City MPG | 124 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 101 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $650 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | — |
| Fuel type | Electricity |
How the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) compares
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) returns 112 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 28.3 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 296%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) at 114 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2016 model year (across all classes) returns 25.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2016 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for electricity, which is $0.15/kilowatt-hour. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPGe and the reference electricity price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. Charging at home rather than at a public DC fast charger usually lowers the real cost below the EPA's published figure.
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $325 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $650 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $1,083 |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2016
If you are cross-shopping the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack), the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) leads this group at 114 MPG, 2 MPG ahead of the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack).
Specifications
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) is a fully electric vehicle. It is powered by 80 kw dcpm. The EPA rates its driving range at 107 miles.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Electricity
- Electric motor
- 80 kW DCPM
- EV range
- 107 miles
- Annual petroleum use
- 0.1 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack)
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack).
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Is the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) returns 112 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 296%. -
What MPG does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) at 112 combined MPG, 124 MPG in city driving, and 101 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $650 for the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack). That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) use gasoline?
No. The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) is fully electric and runs on grid electricity. The MPGe figure on this page converts electricity use into a gasoline-equivalent so you can compare it directly to a regular car. -
How much CO₂ does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) emit?
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) produces zero tailpipe emissions because it runs entirely on electricity. The full carbon footprint of charging it depends on how the electricity on your local grid is generated, which varies a lot from one state to another. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack)?
City driving returns 124 MPG and highway driving returns 101 MPG. A flat (or city-better) split is the signature of a hybrid or electric drivetrain, where regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost in stop-start city traffic. -
What motor does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) use?
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) uses 80 kW DCPM. Electric motors do not have a displacement or cylinder count the way a combustion engine does, so EPA reporting focuses on the motor type and battery system instead. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) have?
The 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) comes with a automatic (a1) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2016 model year is the Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) at 114 combined MPG. The Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) returns 112 MPG, a gap of 2 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
What is the EV range of the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack)?
The EPA rates the 2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) for 107 miles of electric driving range on a full charge. That is on the shorter end for a current EV, so plan charging around a daily commute rather than long road trips.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.