The Nissan Leaf has drawn comparisons to Ferrari's new all-electric Luce, and after driving the Japanese SUV, one word sums it up: solid. The Leaf, with an RRP of £37,999, is £412,001 cheaper than the £450,000 Ferrari, a gap that reflects their vastly different target markets.
Christopher Sharp drove the 75kWh Advance model at this year's SMMT Drive Live event. The car produces 160kW (214bhp), offers 387 miles of WLTP range, and weighs just under two tonnes. It measures four metres long and around two metres wide.
Interior and Design
Inside, the Leaf offers a recognisably Nissan cabin: a no-nonsense semi-premium design aimed at usability rather than cleverness. The touchscreen is appropriately sized, and there are plenty of manual controls for air conditioning, heating, driving assists, and gear selection. Nissan appears to have listened to customers concerned about the screen-heavy trend of recent years.
The seats are comfortable without being overly soft, and the driving position is high and well-defined. The steering wheel is narrow and easy to hold. While the cabin is not the most high-end, that is not the car's purpose.
Driving Experience
Unlike some electric cars that accelerate too quickly, the Leaf's acceleration is sprightly but not abrupt. The suspension is firm but not stiff. It feels cheaper on the road than more expensive models like the Polestar 4 and Genesis GV70, but it also feels lighter in its progress.
The powertrain is effective without trying to be more. Regenerative braking is easily adjusted via paddles behind the steering wheel, enabling one-pedal driving. The tyres are thick enough to handle bumps and provide adequate grip. Despite its two-wheel-drive platform, the car is without drama.
A sub-two-tonne SUV will never handle like a hatchback, but the Leaf performs its role without fuss. The verdict is 7.5/10.
