Summary
The Nissan Leaf is a medium-sized five-door hatchback, and the most popular electric car in the world. The current model is the second-generation Leaf and is built here in the UK at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
The Leaf has been the flag-bearer for electric cars over the last decade, and is as recognised as the default electric car as the Toyota Prius is for hybrids.
The latest Nissan Leaf has received consistently good scores from the UK motoring media. Although it is starting to fall behind newer rivals in the pure electric family car sector, its overall Expert Rating of 72% (as of July 2022, based on 27 reviews) is competitive with most conventionally-powered models.
The Nissan Leaf has received particular praise for its smooth, quiet operation and generous equipment levels. However, it has been criticised for not matching other electric cars, like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro, when it comes to overall range. The higher-spec models are also considered expensive compared to the entry-level models.
A mildly facelifted Leaf will arriving in the UK in Spring 2022. This will consist of some minor styling tweaks, along with some new colours and alloy wheel designs.

Leaf highlights
- Leisurely driving experience
- Respectable battery range
- Roomy interior with intuitive practical gadgets
- Alluring affordable pricing
- Low running costs
Leaf lowlights
- At risk of being surpassed by newer EV rivals
- Polarising exterior looks
- The e-Niro and Kona Electric have better battery range
- Slightly complicated infotainment
Key specifications
Body style:Â Five-door hatchback
Power:Â electric motor, battery-powered
Price: From £28,995 on-road
Launched:Â Spring 2018
Last updated:Â Summer 2019
Next update due: Summer 2022
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: e+ Tekna
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf e+ is a worthy range-topper with a bigger battery providing improved performance and better range, but it still can’t keep up with key rivals.”
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“The ride is composed, and there’s a real sense of refinement from a decent interior and lack of noise intrusion from outside. It steers well enough and the electric motor provides punchy acceleration.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The all-electric Nissan Leaf is built in Britain and could be the car that turns more of us into EV drivers.”
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Model reviewed: e+ Tekna 62kWh Auto
Score: 7 / 10
“The new Nissan Leaf e+ is exactly what it says on the tin: a Leaf, but with a bigger battery and a longer range.”
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Model reviewed: Tekna
Score: 8 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf’s brilliant blend of abilities has well and truly won me over; I love the economy and just how easy it is to drive.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“If you think you’re ready for an EV, few would make a better route in. Those who decide to will continue to do so for rational reasons: because the Nissan Leaf’s better-priced than its opponents, better-supported by relevant public fast-charging infrastructure, more practical – and because it now has the battery range to be more usable than it ever used to be.”
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Model reviewed: e+ Tekna
Score: 6 / 10
“Range-topping electric hatch gets bigger battery for more range and more powerful motor.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“For a mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf was already a strong car; this second-generation Leaf is a fairly impressive step up, particularly when you consider that many rival manufacturers are still rushing to build their first dedicated electric cars.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Given driving the Nissan Leaf is a generally relaxing experience, there’s genuinely some satisfaction to be had from figuring out how to make it go further.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Now in its second generation, the Nissan Leaf is a clever EV with an impressive driving range, useful technology and plenty of space. It broadens the appeal of electric motoring.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf is a smart-looking electric car with decent range and a big boot but alternatives feel plusher inside and come with easier-to-use infotainment systems.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: Leaf e+ Tekna
“A good range-topper offering a welcome increase in range as well as a decent performance lift, but it comes at a pretty hefty price.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The range, looks, safety kit and improved residual values all make sure the Nissan Leaf is more appealing than ever. In the right application, it’s a cost-effective fleet vehicle.”
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Discover EV
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The world’s first second-generation EV is very likeable indeed and delivers more of everything: power, range, technology, safety, style, space and quality. Nissan has listened to loyal customers and made over 100 changes to the car based on feedback.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“Nissan’s new electric car doesn’t thrill us just yet, but future iterations may be a different story.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Leaf e+
Score: 9 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf e+ 3.ZERO is essentially a good car to drive, and with zero tailpipe emissions, it makes much more sense for journeys that are primarily in urban areas than petrol or diesel cars. It also has improved styling compared to the original LEAF model, and is reasonably practical in terms of space.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Nissan Leaf is, without doubt, an important car. With revised styling, a longer range, a practical body style, and a relatively affordable price, it will meet the needs of many people.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf is a great entry to the electric car world. It demands few compromises, has punchy acceleration, comes well equipped, and drives better than many rivals, while undercutting them on price.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Although the latest Nissan Leaf won’t make the headlines in the same way as the original, it’s a perfectly likeable introducing to electric motoring. It’s very useable – with a decent range and a bit boot. We just don’t think it’s quite as polished as it perhaps could be.”
Read review
“Price aside, the Nissan Leaf is a very good family car and a viable alternative to petrol and diesel. Nissan has been building electric vehicles for longer than any carmaker and it shows here, with the Leaf feeling far superior in build and technology compared to its rivals. As a long term ownership proposition, it should prove good value for money.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.8 / 10
“A usable electric car that’s starting to fall off the pace”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: Range review
“The Nissan Leaf is fun and speedy — but looks like a cross between a DeLorean and a hearse.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“A big improvement in range and dynamics for Nissan’s best-selling electric vehicle. It’s a shame all that work couldn’t have included a lower driver’s seat and steering-column adjustment, but in most other aspects this is as competent an EV as you could wish for.”
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Model reviewed: e+ Tekna
“This new Leaf e+ is good in parts and the extra range is welcome, even if the chassis struggles with this amount of torque and the driving position remains awkward.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The real joy of the Nissan Leaf isn’t the money, it’s the motor and its charming grace. For the way most people drive, it’s simply a better source of motion.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Nissan Leaf is reasonable to drive, well equipped and easy to live with. However, the Kia e-Niro and big-battery version of the Hyundai Kona Electric will both go much further on a full charge.”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range review
“The second-generation Nissan Leaf takes another step towards providing credible full-electric transport for mainstream family car buyers. It’s a solid, all-round package and, given the high amount of technology on offer, it offers decent value. But even with the addition of model with a larger battery, it still hasn’t solved the perennial electric car issue of a limited driving range.”
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Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: April 2018
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 71%
Safety assist: 71%
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: 40 kWh N-Connecta
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2019
Read the full Green NCAP review
Energy Efficiency Index: 8.5 / 10
As of July 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Nissan Leaf to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Leaf, we’ll publish the score here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Nissan Leaf has received
2021
- What Car? EV Awards – Best Used Electric Family Car
2019
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best Electric Car
2018
- World Car Awards – Best Green Car
- What Car? Awards – Best Electric Car
- Autocar Awards – Game Changer
- DieselCar and EcoCar Awards – Best Electric Car
- carwow Awards – Innovation Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Nissan Leaf, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën ë-C4 | Hyundai Ioniq Electric | Hyundai Kona Electric | Kia e-Niro | Kia Soul EV | Peugeot e-2008 | Polestar 2 | Tesla Model 3 | Toyota Prius Plug-In | Volkswagen ID.3
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