Nissan Leaf 30kWh 2016: review

How does the new Leaf, with better range, stack up on Britain’s roads?

The Nissan Leaf is now upgraded against increasing competition

13 February 2016

When the first Leaf came onto the market back in 2010, there were only half a dozen electric and hybrid vehicles to choose from. Now there are 30. This is a growing market – sales in 2015 were up 90% on the previous year. And one of the acceptable faces of the EV market is the Nissan Leaf, now upgraded against increasing competition.

The upgrade is aimed at that well-known condition – range anxiety. Anyone who owns an electric vehicle knows the symptoms. So Nissan has upped the battery to 30kWh, which will give a claimed range of 155 miles. Not only that, but they’ve also upped the warranty on the battery to eight years/100,000 miles.

Nissan has upped the battery to 30kWh, which will give a claimed range of 155 miles

This option can be had in Acenta or Tekna trims, so at the higher end of the range. Acenta gives you auto climate control, reversing camera, 7in infotainment with sat-nav screen, and Nissan Connect. The Tekna we tried gets all that plus a Bose sound system incorporating nine speakers, LED headlights, 17in alloys and heated seats front and rear, as well as heated mirrors.

Inside it’s perfectly pleasant, although there are a few too many hard plastics for our taste. One thing the interior is of course is quiet. The Leaf just whirrs away with hardly a sound. It also accelerates hard from rest, and will get up to city speeds really quite quickly. After that it tails off somewhat but it continues to pick up pace with commendable serenity.

Inside it’s perfectly pleasant, although there are a few too many hard plastics for our taste

The ride quality adds to that serenity. The suspension seems unflustered by even fair-sized potholes and ripples, so you whisk along in a little ball of peace that would make a zen master envious. But there’s still that nagging condition of range envy.

They’ve also upped the warranty on the battery to eight years/100,000 miles

In reality the claimed range of 155 miles will be more like 120 miles. That’s pretty good, and constantly getting better, so that makes it more of a realistic proposition to commute into the city day in day out. Whether it will tempt those who need to pound out the miles on our motorway network is another matter.

Prices start at £24,490, after the £5,000 the government throws in.

Nissan Leaf 30kWh Tekna

On sale: Now

Price: £21,490 (plus £70 per month battery leasing)

Or £26,490 (after £50,00 government subsidy)

Engine: Electric motor

Power: 107bhp at 3000-10,000rpm

Torque: 187lb ft at 0-3000rpm

Gearbox: single-ratio ‘reducer’

Kerb weight: 1516kg

0-62mph: 11.5sec

Top speed: 90mph

Range: 155 miles

CO2: 0g/km

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