Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf feels much more like a conventional car to drive than many people will expect. It is refined, fast and easy to use. Ignore the impressive technology and futuristic cabin, and it’s still a spacious and well equipped family hatchback. It may be expensive, but it has real appeal, even if the limited range means it’s best suited to town use. Perhaps the Leaf’s greatest attribute, though, is that it feels like a standard car that simply happens to run on electricity.

The electric revolution is charging ahead! Following on from our drive of a prototype Auto Express has finally taken the wheel of the showroom-ready Nissan Leaf in Japan. Going on sale in the UK early next year, the Sunderland-built hatchback aims to bring all-electric vehicles into the mainstream.

While the exterior is certainly different, the cabin really is a glimpse of tomorrow. Inside, the first thing you notice is the huge amount of glass there is – it’s 
an airy place to be. There’s also 
generous front and rear space.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Nissan Leaf

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In keeping with the futuristic theme, there’s a host of digital displays, cool blue lighting and contrasting cream upholstery. The gearlever is more akin to a computer mouse, and when you turn the car on, it sounds similar to a Windows PC starting up.

The clever technology doesn’t stop there. A special whistling tone has been developed to 
alert pedestrians to the Leaf’s presence on the move, while 
the car also makes a warning noise when reversing.

In addition, many settings can be controlled by a smartphone, allowing owners to remotely switch on the air-conditioning, 
for example. The Nissan will 
even E-mail you when it is fully charged. This process takes up 
to eight hours from a domestic socket – or 30 minutes for an 
80 per cent fill on a fast charger.

There are 48 lithium-ion battery modules, with four cells inside each. The motor drives the front wheels, delivering 108bhp and 280Nm of torque – about the same torque 

you would expect to get from a V6 petrol engine.

It’s silent and fast, too. Response is linear and instant, but when you take your foot off the accelerator, there is none 
of the heavy regenerative braking you get in other electric cars, such as the MINI E, so the Leaf feels like a regular car to drive.

The steering is well weighted and the handling is composed. UK-spec Leafs should be even better, as they will benefit from suspension modifications 
before sales begin. The Leaf will cost £23,350 
in the UK, taking into account a £5,000 Government grant. That’s not cheap, but all cars will be well equipped, with sat-nav, cruise control, a rear parking camera and plenty of airbags as standard.

Should you buy a Leaf? A range of only 100 miles will mean 
regular petrol or diesel hatches still make more sense right 
now, but it’s a very impressive step in the right direction.