Skip advert
Advertisement

New Nissan Leaf 30kWh review

Can a boosted range give the Nissan Leaf EV the extra practicality it needs to be truly ‘useable’?

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Find your Nissan Leaf
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

Extra electric range means the Nissan Leaf will appeal to a few more customers, but most will still be put off by the fact that you can't just fill up and go if you do happen to run out of power. It's still a spacious and quiet car, but the dull driving experience and a cheap-feeling cabin remain as well. It's hard to argue with ultra-low running costs for low mileage drivers, though.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Nissan Leaf is the biggest-selling electric car in the UK, with over 12,000 models sold since it launched in 2011. The market is growing quickly, however, and rivals are appearing from all sides - BMW, Renault and even Kia all have fully-electric rivals on the market.

That's why Nissan has updated the Leaf for 2016 with 25 per cent more range than before, up to 155 miles. Although Nissan says most buyers only travel 62 miles a day, having that extra bit of range will open it up to even more customers, especially as it will now go further on a charge than the Renault ZOE and Kia Soul EV. Charging it to full takes an extra two hours, though.

Best electric cars to buy now

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

There are a couple of other changes, including DAB radio and a smartphone app that can find your car for you or put the heating on before you get in. Other than that the Leaf is the same as before inside and out.

While the exterior design is aerodynamic, it does still look awkward, and the interior is still plain and feel cheap. There's plenty of space and it feels well built, but the hard plastics and inelegant driver display make the Leaf feel old-fashioned, which is disappointing considering the futuristic powertrain.

Thanks to the instant torque from the electric motor the Leaf still feels nippy around town. It's quiet and composed on the motorway too, although the motor does start to feel underpowered at higher speeds. The Leaf encourages gentle progress, with too much body roll and not enough steering feel to enjoy the driving experience when pushing harder.

The Leaf's 370-litre boot is only a little smaller than the VW Golf's and significantly bigger than the Ford Focus'. There's plenty of rear legroom as well, so the Leaf is more useful as a family car than ever thanks to the longer 155-mile range. There's still not enough range for a family holiday, though, which will put some buyers off.

Only mid-range Acenta and top-spec Tekna models are available with the 30kWh upgrade, costing an extra £1,600 over the 24kWh model, which has a 124-mile range. If you're planning on using your electric car for a short commute, in reality the 30kWh's extra range will change little other than giving a little more peace of mind.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in
Skoda Enyaq iV - front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in

Skoda’s family-friendly EV with 348-mile range is our Car Deal of the Day for 26 March
26 Mar 2024