Skip advert
Advertisement

Nissan Leaf hatchback (2011-2017)

"The Nissan Leaf is quiet, comfortable, easy to drive and incredibly cheap to run. It marks a milestone in the development of electric cars"

Carbuyer Rating

4.0 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.3 out of 5

Read owner reviews

Pros

  • Very low running costs
  • Comfortable & quiet
  • No emissions

Cons

  • High purchase price
  • Rivals are more fun to drive
  • Limited range & long recharge times

It’s amazing to think the Nissan Leaf has been on sale for over half a decade, becoming the world’s best-selling electric car in that time. The Tesla Model S is much faster and the BMW i3 is more exotic, but the Leaf is more practical than the BMW and costs far less than the luxurious Tesla. The Renault ZOE is a more obvious competitor that can now go further in Z.E.40 trim, but it’s also only supermini-sized.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The first truly mass-produced electric vehicle (EV), the Nissan Leaf played a huge role in showing prospective buyers that an EV can be as easy to own as a petrol or diesel car. Hop in and it’s as simple as pressing the start button, selecting ‘D’ just like a conventional automatic and driving off, albeit in near-silence.

Of course, as well as being better for the environment, the Leaf’s main USP is its low running costs, with a single charge costing roughly £2 from your home electricity supply. Electric vehicles with zero emissions are also eligible for free road tax, along with London Congestion Charge exemption. Business drivers are drawn to the Leaf by its low 7% Benefit-in-Kind rate.

The Leaf isn't suitable for everyone, though, with a range of up to 124 miles in the 24kWh model and 155 miles with the 30kWh battery pack, which costs around £1,600 more. This should be plenty for anyone with a short to medium-length commute, or those who drive between locations with access to charging.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Like most official consumption figures, the laboratory range of EVs should also be taken with a pinch of salt, with real-world conditions, cold weather or using the air-conditioning seeing the range cut significantly.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Clearly no sports car, and never intended to be, the Leaf is extremely quiet at low speeds and comfortable, with soft suspension ironing out imperfections. This also means the Leaf will lean quite a bit in corners, but it’s at its best driven in a relaxed manner and most at home in built-up areas. Motorway cruising is no problem, either, but sustained high speeds will take their toll on your range. Producing around 108bhp, the Leaf takes 11.5 seconds to go from 0-62mph, matching economical diesel models.

Charge the Leaf from a conventional plug socket and you’ll be in for a 12 to 15-hour wait, but this will probably be a last resort for most Leaf owners. A dedicated home ‘wall box’ reduces this to between 9.5 and four hours depending on which battery pack you have and if you choose Nissan’s optional on-board charger. At a public rapid-charging station, the Leaf can charge from zero to 80% in around 30 minutes.

The UK’s charging infrastructure has improved noticeably since the Leaf first launched, but the fact remains that if the battery runs out you’ll be stranded. If you live in a remote area, a plug-in hybrid like the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in hybrid can also run on petrol if the battery runs down.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Battery degradation shouldn’t be too much of a concern, with Nissan guaranteeing the 24kWh battery pack for five years and the larger pack for eight years, with assurances they’ll be repaired or replaced if performance drops below a certain level. Along with its extra range, this is another good reason to go for the 30kWh version, because replacing a battery pack out of warranty could cost around £5,000 (although Nissan will contribute £1,000). Leasing the battery pack is also worth looking into, costing from £70 a month. Saying that, it’s reported that older Nissan Leafs are still showing good battery performance.

Three trim levels are offered, with the entry-level Visia only coming with the 24kWh battery. It includes Bluetooth, air-conditioning and a fast charging port. The Acenta trim has 16-inch alloy wheels and is our choice thanks to its infotainment system, which adds a lot of functionality, including a smartphone app to monitor your Leaf’s charging and battery from afar – handy when you go for a coffee or shopping until it’s full.

The Nissan Leaf finished 33rd out of the 75 cars ranked in our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK. A five-star crash-test rating from Euro NCAP is encouraging, too.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The best company cars 2024
The best company cars hero
Best cars
8 Jan 2024

The best company cars 2024

Nissan Leaf hatchback review
Nissan Leaf - front
In-depth reviews
27 Jun 2023

Nissan Leaf hatchback review

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024