Radically-improved Nissan Leaf is now a proper ‘made in Britain' EV with bigger battery, cabin & quirky nod to its maker
EVERY Five Guys has a sign on the wall that says: 'Today's potatoes are from . . .'
Somewhere local.
Advertisement
5
The next 'Made in Britain' motor coming our way is the radically improved Nissan Leaf
Credit: David Shepherd
5
This new Leaf has the option of a 270-mile battery or a 375-mile battery
Credit: David Shepherd
5
Up front, that slick twin-screen dash has built-in Google for maps, music and more
Credit: David Shepherd
That makes me happy.
Because not only does it mean the chips will be fresh and tasty, it's a reminder that you're backing British
farming
.
Helping to put food on the table for someone else.
It's the same with some cars.
Advertisement
READ MORE ROAD TESTS
If you buy a
But you also support tens of thousands of people who work in the British car industry.
So everyone wins.
The
next
'Made in Britain' motor coming our way is the radically- improved
Advertisement
Most read in Motors
Now a proper long-distance family motor that happens to be electric.
Rather than a fugly eco car with phish range.
Nissan leaf being sold for £19,000 - but there's a catch as it's dubbed 'Nissan grief' by viewers
Let's just say the original Leaf was a rubbish getaway car. You'd be better off on foot.
This new one has the option of a 270-mile battery or a 375-mile battery.
Advertisement
So you might need to charge it once a fortnight. The smooth body and flat belly help it slice through the air.
Steering wheel paddles adjust the levels of braking regen to add more electrons on the go.
After trying a prototype, I am pleased to say Leaf 3.0 drives nicely too.
Smooth, quiet, sophisticated, fast when you want to go fast, relaxed when you don't.
Advertisement
The new multi-link rear axle, compared to the old torsion-beam set-up, really improves ride and handling.
It's actually shorter than the old car, with a smaller turning circle, so it's easier to park and manoeuvre in town.
Yet the cabin is bigger. There's room for a rear-facing child seat in the back. There wasn't before.
The boot is bigger and more useful with luggage dividers from a Qashqai.
Advertisement
Up front, that slick twin-screen dash has built-in Google for maps, music and more.
Bose headrest speakers direct satnav and calls to the driver's lugholes. So they don't spoil the song for everyone else.
The big glass roof, with thermal protection, dims in sections. And actually increases headroom.
There's lots of charging ports for devices and drink holders for your Five Guys milkshakes. Like I said, proper family car.
Advertisement
Other observations. The 3D rear lights. I like them. Two upright bars and three horizontal bars.
That's because 'two' and 'three' in Japanese sound like 'Ni' and 'San'.
5
The big glass roof, with thermal protection, dims in sections. And actually increases headroom
Credit: Supplied
5
Those striking 3D rear lights aren't just for show – they spell out 'Nissan' in Japanese numbers: two (ni) and three (san)
Credit: David Shepherd
Advertisement
That's also why Nissan's legendary
race
cars wear the number 23.
Let's hope there's a sporty Leaf NISMO further down the line because I'm told there's room for a rear e-motor to make it 4WD.
For now, though, we applaud
Sunderland
for giving us a practical electric car we would be proud to own.
It just needs a badge that says it's home-grown.
Advertisement
KEY FACTS: NISSAN LEAF
Price:
£31,000
Battery:
52kWh
Power:
217hp
0-62mph:
7.6 secs
Top speed:
99mph
Range:
270 miles
CO2:
0g/km
Out:
January
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