Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Nissan Leaf review - Engines, performance and drive

The electric motor responds quickly and smoothly, while the e-Pedal system makes the Leaf a great car to drive around town

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.3

How we review cars
RRP
£28,495 £31,995
Find your Nissan Leaf
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

If you’ve never driven an electric car before, what will surprise you most is how easy it is. Floor the throttle in the Leaf and the car picks up pace smoothly and easily, as the motor’s distant whine is accompanied by glorious, instant torque. It’s tremendously responsive, making this a thoroughly undemanding car to drive.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Just like the first-generation Leaf, this model is at its most relaxing when the conditions and traffic around you are at their most stressful. In town, the e-Pedal system (fitted to every model) really comes into its own – allowing you to drive using just one pedal. There’s a similar system in the (now discontinued) BMW i3, but Nissan’s version goes further, engaging the brake if it needs to.

On the road, you can instantly feel e-Pedal in action when you turn the system on. The right-hand pedal immediately has more resistance, forcing you to be firmer with your inputs to maintain rapid progress. Lift off, though, and the speed washes away smoothly.

Most drivers will take a couple of hours to learn where to lift off to come to a halt at traffic lights and junctions – the braking is so strong that, to start with, you’ll stop short of where you're meant to. But once you’ve adapted to the system, you’ll wonder (as we do) why e-Pedal is not the default setting and has to be switched on manually. 

The steering is also ideal for urban driving – light, but direct enough for you to position the car confidently. And, although the ride is firm – anything with such a big battery pack will require that approach, to keep body control in check – the Leaf shows enough of the sophistication of its Qashqai sister car over the worst potholes. Only really sharp imperfections reach the cabin, while the firm set-up means the car doesn’t roll too much in bends. 

Out of town, you’ll really appreciate how quiet the Leaf is. Indeed, Nissan claims it’s 30 per cent more hushed than similarly sized rivals with internal combustion engines, and we can believe that. You’ll notice a bit of tyre noise, but only really because the car is otherwise so serene.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed 

The standard Leaf has a 148bhp electric motor that gets its energy from a 40kWh battery, while the long-range Leaf e+ has a 214bhp electric motor with a 62kWh battery.

In operation, the electric motors are tremendously smooth and responsive. It’s enough to get the standard car from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, which is probably much quicker than most people think an electric car can go, while the Leaf e+ is six-tenths quicker with a claimed 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds.  

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    110kW Shiro 39kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £28,495
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    110kW Acenta 39kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £28,995
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    110kW Shiro 39kWh 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £28,495
Select car

New & used car deals

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf

RRP £28,495Used from £8,300
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,743 off RRP*Used from £25,098
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £15,940Avg. savings £2,827 off RRP*Used from £9,000
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,155Avg. savings £1,844 off RRP*Used from £8,199
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price
Ford Capri - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: new Ford Capri looks a lot less controversial at this price

Rebooted Seventies classic is now an electric SUV for a low monthly outlay. It’s our Deal of the Day for 5 February
News
5 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month
Mazda 3 front corner tracking

Car Deal of the Day: sleek ‘n’ sporty Mazda 3 hatch at just £173 a month

Mazda’s high-quality family hatch might cost less than you expect with low initial payment and monthly fee
News
2 Feb 2025
Electric company car megatest: Tesla, BMW, Polestar, Hyundai and BYD head-to-head
Electric company car megatest - header

Electric company car megatest: Tesla, BMW, Polestar, Hyundai and BYD head-to-head

Drivers are spoiled for choice in the flourishing EV company car market, but which of our six rivals does the business?
Car group tests
3 Feb 2025