Nissan Leaf Tekna 80kW road test

The Nissan Leaf is one of the world’s most recognisable electric cars, and is a common sight on UK roads, compared to most lithium battery-powered vehicles.

The company has sold around 3,000 models this year – far ahead of the next top performing model, the BMW i3 – accounting for around 65 per cent of the UK electric car market. And the secret to its success? Apart from being the first true mainstream mass-produced electric car on sale in the UK, the Leaf is pretty conventional in feel, with just a digital dashboard, an unconventional gearstick and the provision of a charging socket under its nose belying its electric power.

Electric car rivals include the much more striking BMW i3, which offers stronger performance and a more upmarket interior, and the affordable Renault Zoe. Other medium-sized electric cars include the VW e-Golf, Ford Focus Electric and Kia Soul EV, which have all been recently released.

What is it?

The Leaf is Nissan’s bestselling electric medium hatchback and is available from £16,490 (if you rent the battery) or £21,490 (to buy battery and car outright) – after a £5,000 government grant. Drivers opting to rent the battery must pay a charge from £70 per month upwards (£70 applies to six-year, 7,500 mile per year lease), depending on how many miles they plan to cover and the length of the lease.

A variety of models are available from an affordable entry-level Visia model to a top-of-the-range Tekna version that includes a huge amount of equipment including heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, 360 degree cameras, a speaker system with a boot-mounted subwoofer and autofolding mirrors. Nissan claims that this car can cover 124 miles per charge, though as with many electric cars, the typical figure real drivers get may be far lower than that, particularly in colder climes.

While some electric cars like the BMW i3 offer very contemporary styling inside and out, the Leaf gives the feeling of being a conventional car that happens to be powered by electricity. The styling is bland inside and out, with a silhouette that shares more with mini-MPVs than other coupe-style hatchbacks. However, though most of the car feels very traditional, the dials are all digital and split across two pods.

What is it like to drive?

With electric wizardry powering the Leaf, progress is quiet and smooth. The motor offers instant boost, though the car isn’t particularly quick, especially compared to the BMW i3, which rockets away from traffic lights in comparison.

Switch into ‘eco’ mode and the response from the motor is dulled, and like most electric cars, the Leaf slows quickly when you lift off the throttle, adding a little extra charge to the batteries. As an eco car, the Leaf is much more suited to quiet cruising than fast driving.

There is little road or tyre noise and the motor is silent, with just a little wind noise entering the cabin at speed. Keener driving, however, is met with body roll and though the steering is reasonably weighted, the car doesn’t give the driver much feedback as to how much grip the skinny front eco tyres have left. As a result, those who enjoy driving will be much better served in the BMW i3, though the Leaf does offer a comfortable ride.

There are a few quirks to driving the Leaf; the foot operated handbrake is crude and old-fashioned for a modern car, while the gear selector takes some getting used to. We also found the digital dashboard hard to read quickly, compared to typical analogue dials.