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Pros: Newfound style, great quality, potential for long range
Cons: May not be as affordable as the old one
Nissan Leaf Design
Forget what you think you know about the look of the Leaf, as Nissan has totally reinvented the car for its third outing. Gone is the traditional five-door hatchback shape and in its place is a swooping, eye-catching design that is part crossover and part coupe. The rear end in particular looks striking thanks to a large, glossy, black section taking in the distinctive lights.
Despite the SUV-like styling and the enhanced presence the car has, it will surprise many to discover that the new Leaf is in fact shorter overall than the old one, so in reality it’s no larger a car at all.
Nissan Leaf Interior
It is worth bearing in mind the exterior dimensions when you’re considering the Leaf, as this is not a large family car. That being said, it’s more spacious inside thanks to clever packaging on Nissan’s behalf, including siting the heating and air conditioning system under the bonnet to free up passenger space in the cabin. The boot is larger than before as well at a useful 437 litres.
Aside from the room on offer, the new Leaf’s interior is a league above the old one’s in terms of both its technology and its quality. The cabin is clearly influenced by that of the larger Nissan Ariya, and it features a clean-looking dashboard that mixes touchscreen functionality with separate touch-sensitive switchgear underneath for all the climate control.
Nissan Leaf Performance & Drive
Our early drive in a pre-production prototype of the Leaf didn’t allow a full assessment of its range and efficiency, but we did get to test its handling, stability, performance and comfort on a closed track.
The first thing that strikes you is how smooth and refined the new Leaf is, even at higher speeds. It’s notably quieter and more luxurious than its predecessor in that regard. Likewise, the chassis is very stable, soaking up high-speed direction changes with aplomb and loads of grip from the tyres. The result is a safe and controlled drive, even when the car is pushed hard. It’s enjoyable to steer without being especially involving from an enthusiastic driver’s point of view, but that’s all that’s required of an EV such as this in truth.
Our top-spec test car featured a front-mounted electric motor producing up to 217hp, which is more than ample, as evidenced by the 7.6-second time for the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint. Acceleration is smooth rather than abrupt, adding to the overall civility of the experience.
Nissan Leaf Pricing
This is the big unknown at this stage and, given the step up in range, performance, technology and design, it’s unlikely that the new Leaf will be just a little more expensive to buy than the old one – expect a jump to ensure separation between it and the new, all-electric Nissan Micra.
We do know that there will be three trim levels and two different powertrains. A 75kWh battery is paired with the 217hp motor tested here for an official range of 604km, while the entry-level, 52kWh battery allows for up to 436km on a charge.
Carzone Verdict
Nobody would have blinked an eye if this car was called something other than ‘Leaf’, but Nissan clearly wanted to tap into that pioneering model’s heritage, despite the complete reinvention. And, while the new Leaf is leagues above the old one in many ways, it still has efficient and clean motoring at its core. Let’s hope it’s also still an affordable option.