Nissan Leaf pricing revealed

The Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf goes on sale in the UK in May with prices now starting from 15,990 after the Government's 5000 plug-in car grant.

For the first time, buyers can choose to buy the car and the batteries outright or buy the car and lease the batteries from Nissan. Battery leasing will start at 70 per month on a three-contract.

The Nissan Leaf will now be available in three trim levels: Visia, Acenta and Tekna. Acenta is the closest to the current car's high level of specification.

Visia is the entry-level trim. It comes with air-conditioning, sat-nav, Bluetooth, black interior trim and 16-inch steel wheels. Prices for the car and the battery start at 20,990, which falls to 15,990 if you choose to lease the batteries.

Mid-level Acenta trim is forecast to be the most popular in the UK. Added specification includes cruise control, a colour reversing camera, remote heating controls, automatic headlights, electric folding mirrors, alloy wheels and a choice between black or cream interior. It will cost 23,490 to buy the car and the batteries and 18,490 for the car alone.

Tekna is the range-topping specification that adds leather, a 360-degree camera system, heated seats and steering wheel and LED lights. For the car and the batteries, buyers will be charged 25,490. Those buying the car and leasing the batteries will have to pay 20,490.

Nissan has tuned the new Leaf to better suit European roads and driving styles. Feedback from the owners of current cars has prompted Nissan to offer a dark trim for the first time, to change the front seat to be more supportive and to tune the chassis to handle better at speed.

Nissan also claims that the car's range has been extended from 109 to 124 miles, and that recharging its battery takes half the time of the first-generation car's.

Production of the new Nissan Leaf has begun at Nissans plant in Sunderland. UK deliveries will begin in May.

By Matthew Burrow