Nissan Leaf hatchback - Practicality & boot space
An increase in size means there’s plenty of room for a family and their luggage
The Leaf might not look any bigger than a regular hatchback, but it’s actually 11cm longer than a Ford Focus and 2cm wider than its predecessor. This means you shouldn’t notice where Nissan has squeezed in the larger battery pack, which is kept low down and mostly beneath the rear seats.
Nissan Leaf interior space & storage
It’s quite spacious inside the Leaf, with enough room to accommodate four tall adults and a nicely adjustable driving position. Rear passengers sit a little higher owing to the batteries which are stored beneath, which means a good view out, but also that their knees are tucked up slightly.
Interior space isn't great though, with slim door pockets up front and a small tray in the centre console.
Happily, it's an easy car to get in and out of. The doors open nice and wide, and the position of the seats are well-judged and are at the right height for most adults' hips to slide onto. It's just a shame that it's a car you feel like you sit on, rather than in, and the steering wheel only adjusts for height and not reach.
Boot space
The extra length pays dividends when it comes to the boot because with 435 litres of space it’s not only big for an EV, it’s larger than most family hatchbacks. In comparison, the Volkswagen e-Golf has a 341-litre boot, while the Ioniq manages 350 litres. In Tekna and Tekna e+ trim levels, the Leaf is fitted with a Bose stereo system that includes a large boot-floor mounted subwoofer, which slightly reduces the usable boot space.
There’s plenty of space for families to go away on holiday or load the Leaf with shopping, without struggling to fit the EV charging cable as well. Fold the rear seats and there's 1,176 litres of space up to the roof, decreasing slightly to 1,161 litres in Tekna versions.
The Leaf comes with two charging cables, one for a three-pin household socket, and one for a fast charger. They're stored out of the way on each side of the boot, leaving the rest of the space clear for luggage.
Towing
The Nissan Leaf isn’t suitable for towing. Because the driving range of electric models is affected by weight, they tend not to be rated for towing, so you’re likely to be better off with a plug-in hybrid or hybrid model if you own a trailer or caravan.
