Nissan Leaf

March sees the launch of a truly game-changing car: Nissan’s electric Leaf. Journalists across Europe judged that its mix of space, efficiency and driving dynamics made it worthy of the 2011 European Car of the Year title. It costs £23,350 once the £5,000 electric grant has been deducted, or can be leased for £397 a month. 

The high prices don’t sound as bad when you consider electric fill-ups cost around £2. That will take you a claimed 110 miles, with a top speed of 90mph.

Leafs bound for UK dealers are initially being built in Japan, but that will change in 2013 when production of the car and its lithium-ion battery pack is up and running in Sunderland.