%201.jpg&w=1440&q=75)
The new Leaf is a stylish thing, isn't it? And now, the entry-level model has gone on sale for under £29,000.
As Nissan expected, the new Leaf is one of the few cars to benefit from the higher band of the government's electric car grant, knocking a massive £3,750 off the price.
Now, the entry-level version has been introduced to the lineup, bringing the starting price of the Leaf down to £28,849 (including grant).
The smaller 52kWh battery comes in Engage or Advance trim levels. Engage trim includes two 12.3-inch screens, adaptive cruise control, one-pedal driving and an around-view parking camera. Swapping to the Advance trim brings bigger screens, Google infotainment software, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a panoramic roof, leatherette upholstery and a powered bootlid – and all of that is just £2,000 extra.
The bigger-battery version starts from £32,249 – making it one of the cheapest long-range electric cars you can buy. With this battery, you can choose four trim levels – the other two trims are Engage+ and a top-spec Evolve model.
Base-spec Engage models with the big battery get a heat pump, in addition to the features mentioned above. But we'd recommend spending another £900 to get the Engage+ trim, because this includes some of the highlights from Advance.
The top-spec Evolve car, starting from £36,249, adds keyless entry, a Bose sound system, powered front seats and a massaging driver's seat.
The front end is clean and futuristic, and the ‘smiling’ shape of the headlights gives the car a friendly look. The side profile is reminiscent of the Tesla Model Y and the latest Toyota Prius, and helps the Leaf be as aerodynamic as possible – which boosts range.
Additionally, the door handles are flush and the underfloor is completely flat, which add up to a drag coefficient of just 0.25 – essentially meaning the Leaf is one of the sleekest cars on the road. That's reflected in its quoted efficiency, which is thoroughly impressive at 4.5 miles per kWh.
The rear end pays homage to Nissan’s sports cars from the 1990s, especially the 300ZX. That’s shown in the black bar across the tailgate and in the 3D tail lamps – which have a fun hidden meaning. They say two-three in Japanese, which is ‘Ni-San’.
Optionally, the new Leaf will be available with super-skinny 195-section tyres on the cheapest version, while top-spec cars get wider tyres with 19-inch alloy wheels. All wheel designs are aero-optimised. The Luminous Teal paint shade you see here is one of seven available.
The Leaf offers two battery sizes: a Standard Range 52kWh model, promising up to 280 miles, and an Extended Range 75kWh battery that offers up to 387 miles. Up to 269 miles is quoted for motorway usage.
Rapid DC charging is up to 150kW on the bigger battery, but both complete a 20-80% in half an hour – equivalent to around 270 miles in the top model. Nissan says that, thanks to the fast-charging, a 500-mile journey can be completed ‘with minimal time difference’ to petrol cars.
Pick the smaller battery and you'll get a 174hp motor, good for a 0-62mph time of around 8.3 seconds (or a tenth quicker in Sport mode). Upgrade to the rangier battery and the motor increases to 215hp, for a very slight reduction in the acceleration sprint. Both top out at 99mph.
The 14.3-inch infotainment system includes built-in Google Maps, including an In-Car Route Planner that works to preheat the battery to the optimum temperature before you reach a charger. (This lets the battery charge as fast as possible.)
Nissan has also given the Leaf Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability on the top-spec model, so you can power other electrical items using the car’s battery pack. It’s also V2G compatible, letting you send excess electricity back to the grid.
Built on the same CMF-EV platform as the larger Nissan Ariya, the Leaf offers a full suite of driver assistance features. The ProPilot Assist system taps into the sat nav to automatically slow you down for corners and speed limit changes, while the brake regeneration can vary depending on the situation, too. Its cameras give you a top-down parking view, a wide-angle front view and an image that removes the blind spot caused by the bonnet.
The new Nissan Leaf is 4.35m long, 2.1m wide and 1.55m tall. Measured to the parcel shelf, the boot space measures 437 litres, which is competitive with other small-ish electric SUVs.
The Nissan Leaf will continue to built at the firm’s UK plant in Sunderland. Next year it’ll also be joined by a new Juke EV.
Read our Nissan reviews or find your ideal used Nissan for sale at Motorpoint.
