Nissan LEAF cars

About the Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf burst onto the scene in 2010, and at first, it had next to no rivals. However, as the electric vehicle revolution has developed, it has found itself competing with cars such as the Renault Zoe, Hyundai Kona EV and BMW i3.   

Since its launch, the Leaf has received many different battery upgrades as the technology has improved, but even the first-generation models featured great battery options, and that was more than 10 years ago.

Back then, you could expect a range of around 80 miles, but newer models can expect to return up to 239 miles on a single charge (depending on the trim level).   

In many ways, the Leaf was the catalyst of the affordable electric car, and it's amazing to see what they have become today.   

Nissan’s little electric car is perfect for someone wanting faff-free electric motoring on a budget. 

What are the Nissan Leaf features?

Inside, the Nissan Leaf is packed full of technology – as you’d expect from a swanky electric vehicle. Standard entry-level models feature an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a rear-view camera. Higher-spec models come with a seven-speaker Bose sound system and a NissanConnect sat-nav.  

In terms of safety features, the Leaf comes packed full of stuff, from lane departure assist to rear-cross traffic alert systems.  

There are also features such as Intelligent Lane Intervention to guide you back into the right lane and Nissan’s Intelligent Ride Control systems, which automatically apply the brakes should the car be in trouble.   

Thanks to all these safety features, the Leaf scored a full five stars during its Euro NCAP crash testing, placing it at the top of its segment for levels of safety.   

Visit our Nissan Leaf listings to see the full range of features on offer in each model. 

What's the Nissan Leaf like to drive?

Starting at the Nissan Leaf base model Acenta, the battery is a 40kWh unit that offers 150hp and up to 149 miles of range.  

If you opt for the range-topping Tekna e+ model then the battery gets upgraded to a 62kWh unit that produces 216hp and is capable of up to 239 miles on a single charge. The former will get from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and the latter will do it in 7.3 seconds.   

When it comes to charging, there are several options. Should you wish to charge at home, it will take between 21 and 32 hours from empty to 100% using a three-pin wall plug socket.  

However, if you use a wall charger, the time will be reduced to 7.5 hours and around 1.5 hours with a fast charger.