Nissan Leaf updated for 2021 with extra safety equipment
The pure-electric Nissan Leaf hatchback has been fitted with a new warning tone, which alerts pedestrians to the car’s presence
The all-electric Nissan Leaf has received updates for the 2021 model year focusing on increased safety with a new pedestrian vehicle alert system and some extra driver assistance tech. Prices haven’t changed over the 2020 model, with the car starting from £25,995.
Nissan has dubbed the Leaf’s new pedestrian warning tone “Canto.” It was created by the brand’s team of sound engineers in Japan as the soundtrack for all of the company’s electric vehicles, before being adapted for the European market.
The tone was designed to provide a similar audible warning to pedestrians as a combustion engine. It’s automatically activated at up to 18mph and varies in pitch depending on whether the Leaf is accelerating, braking or reversing.
To complement the new pedestrian alert tone, Nissan has also fitted its intelligent blind spot intervention system as standard on the updated Leaf. The technology monitors nearby traffic on the motorway and, if the driver starts to stray into the path of a vehicle in their blind spot, it will automatically steer the car back into its lane.
Like all second-generation Leaf models, standard equipment on the entry-level Acenta car includes 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, high-beam assist and an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Nissan’s N-Connecta and Tekna specifications are also still available, with prices for the former starting from £27,995. Upgrades over the base-model include 17-inch alloy wheels, part-leather upholstery, heated seats and a 360-degree parking camera.
The range-topping Tekna variant starts from £29,995 and comes with a premium Bose stereo, leather and suede upholstery, an electronic parking brake, LED fog lamps with a cornering function, and Nissan’s ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving mode.
Nissan’s intelligent rear view mirror can be specified as a £395 optional extra on the Tekna model. It features an LCD monitor in the mirror which is connected to a camera at the rear of the vehicle, meaning the driver’s visibility isn’t impaired, even if they’re carrying passengers in the rear seats.
There are two powertrains available. The cheapest model comes with a 40kWh battery and a 148bhp electric motor, which provide a maximum range of 168 miles. Support for 50kW DC rapid charging also comes as standard, meaning the Leaf’s battery can take on an 80 per cent recharge in around 60 minutes.
The more powerful Leaf e+ starts from £30,445. It features a 62kWh battery and a more potent 214bhp electric motor, which increases the hatchback’s maximum range to 239 miles. It also offers a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, while an 80 per cent charge takes around 90 minutes when connected to a 50kW DC feed.
Now read about Nissan’s plan to launch a Juke-sized electric car…
