It’s safe to say that Nissan is pretty proud of the LEAF.
For a start, it’s the best-selling electric car in Europe, it’s got a 92 per cent customer
satisfaction rating and Nissan has even boldly said that it sees electric competitors simply
as “free advertisement” for its little electro-hatch.
To further boost its success, it was updated last year with a new roof aerial and an updated
infotainment system which we’ll get to in a bit, but the real headline news is the option
of the new 30kW battery pack, which Nissan says boosts the range by 25 per cent, from
124 miles to 155 miles.
The manufacturer says that that increase happens regardless of whether you’re tapping the
accelerator or flooring it, regardless of weather conditions or where you’re going.
We’ll find out how accurate that is in a short while, but first let’s jump inside
to see what else is new.
We’ve reviewed the LEAF before and so to anybody who’s seen the video or read about
the car, everything inside is pretty much as expected.
If you haven’t yet watched our review, you can do so by clicking on the link on screen
now.
Moving on then, this model is the mid-spec Acenta trim.
Even though it’s not the range-topping Tekna model, equipment is still comprehensive with
things like cruise control, a rear view camera and automatic lights and wipers as standard.
Like I said before, the LEAF now comes with the updated NissanConnect infotainment system,
which is a huge improvement over the outdated, outgoing system with better responsiveness
and a tablet-style interface.
Along with DAB radio and sat-nav, the NissanConnect system also supports an array of smartphone
and social media apps so you can Facebook on the go as well.
Although the new battery has a bigger capacity it’s the same size as the existing one,
which means that the LEAF preserves its same spacious interior dimensions.
Something else that might surprise you is that the boot in the LEAF is 370 litres with
the seats folded up, making it bigger than that of conventional hatchbacks like the Ford
Focus.
Fold the seats flat and it’s 720 litres in all, which isn’t huge but is still enough
for suitcases, shopping and some flat-packs.
One of the best things about the LEAF is that once you get used to not hearing the thrum
of an engine, it drives and feels just like any other everyday hatchback – something
which will appeal to anybody nervous about making the switch to electric.
The little ‘lecky motor makes 108bhp with 254Nm of torque that’s available as soon
as you put your foot down, and so the LEAF feels fairly sprightly upon acceleration.
0-62mph takes 11.5 seconds, and while the suspension doesn’t make for a terribly dynamic
car it is comfortable and easy to drive.
Regarding the range, we started on full charge and reset the trip, and so far have covered
X miles with a mixture of urban, rural and motorway routes.
There’s still X per cent battery left, meaning that if we keep going at this rate
Do be aware that once you put your foot down that 155-mile range will start to look a bit
unachievable and on long journeys it’s still hard not to feel a bit of range anxiety.
But, given that the average LEAF owner reportedly does 30 miles or less a day, if you drive
sensibly the 30kW battery could last you an extra day or two between charges.
In terms of charging time, from a household three-pin socket the 30kW battery will take
25 per cent longer to charge than the regular LEAF, which can end up anywhere between one
and two hours extra.
However, with a rapid charger the charging time remains unchanged at four hours for a
full charge or half an hour for 80 per cent charge.
One thing that might put buyers off the LEAF is that even with the government’s £4,500
grant taken into consideration, the car is very expensive to buy up front.
Prices start from £16,000 while this 30kW car is £25,230 as tested, but that’s without
the battery which costs an extra £5,000 to buy outright or £70 a month if you decide
to lease it.
Compared against an average hatchback it’s a lot pricier, but of course you’ll have
to factor in the fact that the LEAF is free from road tax, congestion charge and of course,
petrol or diesel costs.
In terms of electric consumption Nissan says you can run the LEAF for less than 2p a mile,
but installing a fast charging station in your home will cost an extra £200.
Europe’s best-selling electric car might be doing extremely well for itself, but even
with the extra bit of range many buyers will still be put off by the fact that you can’t
just fill it up and be on your way like you can in a ‘normal’ car or a hybrid.
Still, if you do relatively low mileages and you like the idea of a compact, eco-friendly
car then the LEAF might pique your interest.
It can be expensive but it’s spacious and well-equipped, and for anyone looking for
simple electric motoring there’s a lot to like about the LEAF.
But could you see yourself with a Nissan LEAF as your daily driver, or would you rather
still have a petrol or a diesel car?
Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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