Nissan Leaf vs Volkswagen Arteon
Verdict
At RM168,888, the Nissan Leaf is RM122,124 cheaper and keeps annual road tax to RM100, so it makes sense if the main brief is EV motoring with a 40.0 kWh battery and 270 km range. The Volkswagen Arteon is a much pricier car at RM291,012, but the money buys a larger D-segment body, 563-litre boot, all-wheel drive and far stronger pace: 276 hp, 350 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The Leaf is the cleaner, cheaper-to-run choice on paper; the Arteon is the faster, roomier long-distance hatchback.
Leaf
Pick the Nissan Leaf if you want the lower buy-in, RM100 road tax and electric driving with 270 km of range.
Arteon
Pick the Volkswagen Arteon if you want the quicker car, all-wheel drive, a bigger boot and a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Nissan Leaf RM168,888; Volkswagen Arteon RM291,012
- Power: Nissan Leaf 148 hp; Volkswagen Arteon 276 hp
- 0-100 km/h: Nissan Leaf 7.9 s; Volkswagen Arteon 5.6 s
- Driven wheels: Nissan Leaf front-wheel drive; Volkswagen Arteon all-wheel drive
- Boot space: Nissan Leaf 435 L; Volkswagen Arteon 563 L
- Road tax: Nissan Leaf RM100 a year; Volkswagen Arteon RM372 a year
Leaf
- RM122,124 cheaper to buy
- Electric drivetrain with 40.0 kWh battery and 270 km range
- Lower RM100 annual road tax
- Slower 7.9-second 0-100 km/h time
- Smaller 435-litre boot
- Shorter three-year warranty
Arteon
- Much stronger 276 hp and 350 Nm output
- Quicker 5.6-second 0-100 km/h sprint
- Larger 563-litre boot
- Costs RM122,124 more
- Higher RM372 annual road tax
- Uses petrol at 7.4 L/100 km
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 168,888✓ | RM 291,012 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 16-Valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | — | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 276 hp |
| Torque | — | 350 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline |
| Timing Type | — | Chain |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 82.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 9.6 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 148 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 320 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Battery Capacity | 40.0 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 270 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 1 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charger Type (DC) | CHAdeMO | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 50.0 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Constant Ratio Gearbox for EV | 7-speed DSG |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Nissan | Volkswagen AG |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.9 seconds | 5.6 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.4 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 155 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 164 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,480 mm | 4,862 mm |
| Width | 1,790 mm | 1,871 mm |
| Height | 1,540 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm | 2,837 mm |
| Weight | 1,544 kg | 1,600 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 435 litres | 563 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/50R17 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/50R17 | 245/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full-Size 19" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Dunlop Enasave EC300 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | e-Pedal, Intelligent Ride Control, Intelligent Trace Control | Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars — With 6 Airbags and Autonomous Emergency Braking | 5 stars — With 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | 14-Way Power-adjustable with Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB-C, 1 Front Qi Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (3 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 5" Display Radio/CD Player with USB, Bluetooth, AUX-in and 4 Speakers | Discover Pro 9.2" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | — | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Around View Monitor (AVM) | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | 6.6 kW Wallbox, 7" Information Display, Climate Control Timer | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 3-year/60,000 km Free Service, 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty, Complimentary Usage of Nissan SUV, MPV or Pick-up for 23 Days per Year | 3-year/45,000 km Free Service |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 100✓ | RM 372 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Leaf vs Arteon FAQ
Is the Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen Arteon better?
The Volkswagen Arteon is better for performance, space and warranty cover. The Nissan Leaf is better if you want a cheaper EV with lower road tax and 270 km of range.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Arteon costs RM291,012, while the Nissan Leaf costs RM168,888. That makes the Arteon RM122,124 more expensive.
Which car is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The Volkswagen Arteon is quicker, doing 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The Nissan Leaf takes 7.9 seconds.