The Nissan Leaf is now into its second generation and continues to combine low running costs with fantastic performance.
Ideal for buyers who are looking for a greener, easier and safer way to drive, the Leaf benefits from lots of new advanced technology, including the range-extending e-Pedal, ProPilot and ProPilot park.
Prices start out from £26,490 and range is pegged at 235 miles. [vc_single_image image=”66232″ img_size=”article-image”]Electric Motor & Handling
Nissan have added more performance but kept engine noise down so that the new Nissan Leaf is powerful, fast but still virtually silent.
The Nissan Leaf is front-wheel-drive only, and all models are paired up with an automatic transmission.
Its electric motor has an extra 40bhp in its tank over last time, giving it a total output of 148bhp. It covers the 0-62 sprint in 7.9 seconds, which makes it one of the fastest electric cars of its type.
With that increase in power comes an easier driving experience. The Leaf makes driving look effortless with its smooth but brisk acceleration, and its light steering that’s tailor made for the towns and cities.
The suspension – like all suspensions on electric cars – is a bit on the firm side, but ride quality is good.
Nissan have added a new piece of tech called e-Pedal. This lets you drive using solely the accelerate pedal. The brakes come into play only when absolutely needed. This reduces driver fatigue and it also extends driving range.
Nissan have also added ProPilot, an exclusive piece of tech that’s optional for all but the range-topping model. It controls the Leaf’s acceleration, braking and steering, and can even park the car itself. The Cabin
Nissan have gone back to basics, swapping the Leaf’s eye-catching light cream interior for a more traditional black one. Overall, the cabin feels and looks a lot more conventional, and it can even boast some sportier touches here and there.
- Quality – The cabin is well put together but there is evidence of low rent plastics here and there. The switches look bland, too. The higher up the range you go, the more quality you’ll get, with the more expensive models benefiting from heated front and rear seats.
- Comfort – Ride quality is good, with Nissan tuning the Leaf in Britain. As a result, it’s primed and ready to take on our awful roads.
- Insulation – Nissan say the Leaf is 30% quieter than EV rivals. Its engine is super quiet, but at speed you will notice wind and tyre noise.
- Space and Practicality – The Leaf is a fairly powerful car but it’s still a small car, on par with conventional rivals like the Ford Focus. It accommodates four adults well, visibility is good and rear seat access is easy. Storage spaces could be better; they include a small tray located in the car’s centre console, and slender door pockets.
- Load Capacity – The boot measures 435-litres, which is generous. Each Leaf comes with a pair of charging cables, which take up some of the boot space.
Costs
Price: 26,490 – £31,990
Nissan have used the latest lithium-ion battery packs, which means an increase in energy, range – and a decrease in charging time.
- The new Nissan Leaf can keep going for 235 miles on a single charge, which is almost double what it could manage last time around.
- Its 40kWh battery pack is one of the biggest in a car of this type.
- Running costs – as worked out by Nissan – are 83% less than they are for an equivalent diesel or petrol model.
- The Nissan Leaf is exempt from the London Congestion Charge and road tax, and is free to park in special locations.
- It takes 40 minutes to recharge 80% of the battery from public rapid chargers and 16 hours to do a full charge from a standard three-pin plug.
- The Nissan Leaf occupies insurance group 21.
Need more information? Check out our full review of the Nissan Leaf here, including comparisons with its closest rivals.JTNDY2VudGVyJTNFJTNDJTIxLS1IdWJTcG90JTIwQ2FsbC10by1BY3Rpb24lMjBDb2RlJTIwLS0lM0UlM0NzcGFuJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJocy1jdGEtd3JhcHBlciUyMiUyMGlkJTNEJTIyaHMtY3RhLXdyYXBwZXItMmQxMGNmMWMtYWY2MS00YmFkLWFiNmItODc2NTI0OGI3Yjc5JTIyJTNFJTNDc3BhbiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyaHMtY3RhLW5vZGUlMjBocy1jdGEtMmQxMGNmMWMtYWY2MS00YmFkLWFiNmItODc2NTI0OGI3Yjc5JTIyJTIwaWQlM0QlMjJocy1jdGEtMmQxMGNmMWMtYWY2MS00YmFkLWFiNmItODc2NTI0OGI3Yjc5JTIyJTNFJTNDJTIxLS0lNUJpZiUyMGx0ZSUyMElFJTIwOCU1RCUzRSUzQ2RpdiUyMGlkJTNEJTIyaHMtY3RhLWllLWVsZW1lbnQlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZkaXYlM0UlM0MlMjElNUJlbmRpZiU1RC0tJTNFJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmN0YS1yZWRpcmVjdC5odWJzcG90LmNvbSUyRmN0YSUyRnJlZGlyZWN0JTJGMjM4MTQ5MiUyRjJkMTBjZjFjLWFmNjEtNGJhZC1hYjZiLTg3NjUyNDhiN2I3OSUyMiUyMCUyMHRhcmdldCUzRCUyMl9ibGFuayUyMiUyMCUzRSUzQ2ltZyUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyaHMtY3RhLWltZyUyMiUyMGlkJTNEJTIyaHMtY3RhLWltZy0yZDEwY2YxYy1hZjYxLTRiYWQtYWI2Yi04NzY1MjQ4YjdiNzklMjIlMjBzdHlsZSUzRCUyMmJvcmRlci13aWR0aCUzQTBweCUzQiUyMiUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbm8tY2FjaGUuaHVic3BvdC5jb20lMkZjdGElMkZkZWZhdWx0JTJGMjM4MTQ5MiUyRjJkMTBjZjFjLWFmNjEtNGJhZC1hYjZiLTg3NjUyNDhiN2I3OS5wbmclMjIlMjAlMjBhbHQlM0QlMjJOb3QlMjB0aGUlMjBlbGVjdHJpYyUyMGNhciUyMHlvdSUyMHdlcmUlMjBsb29raW5nJTIwZm9yJTNGJTIwJTIwRXhwbG9yZSUyMGFsbCUyMHlvdXIlMjBvdGhlciUyMG9wdGlvbnMlMjBoZXJlJTIyJTJGJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRnNwYW4lM0UlM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmpzLmhzY3RhLm5ldCUyRmN0YSUyRmN1cnJlbnQuanMlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlM0NzY3JpcHQlMjB0eXBlJTNEJTIydGV4dCUyRmphdmFzY3JpcHQlMjIlM0UlMjBoYnNwdC5jdGEubG9hZCUyODIzODE0OTIlMkMlMjAlMjcyZDEwY2YxYy1hZjYxLTRiYWQtYWI2Yi04NzY1MjQ4YjdiNzklMjclMkMlMjAlN0IlN0QlMjklM0IlMjAlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlM0MlMkZzcGFuJTNFJTNDJTIxLS0lMjBlbmQlMjBIdWJTcG90JTIwQ2FsbC10by1BY3Rpb24lMjBDb2RlJTIwLS0lM0UlM0MlMkZjZW50ZXIlM0U=
