Nissan Leaf reader test team: readers' verdicts on new electric car
Now entering its third generation, Nissan’s pioneering electric family hatch takes a fresh tack to fend off ever tougher competition. Here's what some of our readers thought of it...
The Nissan Leaf family hatchback is one of the most important models for the Japanese brand. Credited with helping to bring electric vehicles (EVs) into the mainstream, two generations of Leaf have won a loyal following, despite the advent of newer rivals that could go farther on a charge.
Today, the competition is tougher than ever. With such capable models as the recently launched Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq to contend with, the third-generation Nissan Leaf needs to impress with its range, practicality, style – and pricing.
On the latter front, we anticipate a starting price of around £33,000, and the Leaf is expected to qualify for the full £3750 government Electric Car Grant, thanks in part to the green credentials of the Sunderland plant it’s built at. That means it could cost as little as £28,000 with the grant applied.
Being built in Britain is another selling point for the Leaf. In fact, many of its components, including the battery, are manufactured in the UK.
Speaking of batteries, the Leaf offers a 52kWh unit for a 270-mile official range, and a 75kWh one that promises 375 miles – equalling the official stamina of the EV3 Long Range.
The first deliveries of the new Leaf are expected to arrive at dealerships in January 2026. In advance of that, we invited a panel of readers to take a look at the range-topping version and issue their verdicts.
Mark Goring
Age 67
Job Retired solicitor
Drives Audi A3 Convertible and Honda CR-V Hybrid
“EV ranges weren’t good enough to convince me to go fully electric four years ago when I bought my Honda, but they’ve now improved so much that it feels like the right time to take the plunge.
“The Nissan Leaf could be a good candidate for its replacement. It’s certainly eye-catching, especially the rear end, which reminds me of the ‘kamm tail’ designs of some 1970s sports cars. I’m also impressed that the car and its batteries are both made in the UK.
“I’d want the larger 75kW battery version because Nissan states that its 375-mile official range translates to a realistic 259 miles at motorway speeds. I wouldn’t want a shorter range than this because I’m nervous about relying on the public charging network and would prefer to charge up at home before longer drives.
“The seats are comfortable and trimmed in high-quality materials, and the top-spec Evolve trim level we looked at has lots of kit, including heated front seats and audio speakers in the front seat headrests.
“My Audi’s infotainment has a rotary controller that’s really intuitive to use. While the system in the Leaf doesn’t have one, there are shortcut buttons to access certain functions and the touchscreen is quick to respond, so I could live with it.”
Star rating 4
Gary Phillips
Age 63
Job Production operator
Drives Seat Leon
“I love the angular styling, and details like the pop-out door handles are a nice touch. The new Leaf has come a long way from the original, which I didn’t really like the look of.
“While the interior trim and controls are far more attractive than those in my Leon, I thought the front and rear seats weren’t supportive enough and felt a bit squashy and soft for my liking.
“I’m a big fan of gadgets, and I’m seriously impressed with the Leaf’s infotainment and connectivity. The touchscreen is clear, quick to respond and you can access the most often used features in one or two clicks. I also found the Google built-in infotainment system excellent. I tried it via the voice control and it understood speech really well. When prompted, it showed me the nearest EV charging stations and asked if I wanted directions.
“I also like that the regenerative braking system has four different settings. I’ve previously tried EVs that had only a very strong single-pedal setting or a normal driving mode, and I can see how it would be much better to have some options in between.
“My real concern with electric cars is that their ranges can be adversely affected by colder weather and wintry conditions. However, either version of the Leaf should theoretically be fine for my daily drives; it would just be the occasional trips from Suffolk to Wales that would require more forward planning.”
Star rating 4
Yasmin Evans
Age 41
Job English teacher
Drives Volkswagen ID Buzz
“I had a first-generation Nissan Leaf as my first electric car, and I miss how much fun to drive it was for me, so I’m interested to see the latest version.
“The new Leaf looks taller than before and it feels more spacious on the inside. The doors open wide and accessibility is good, which is important to me; installing child seats for my young children can be a pain when access is tight. There’s also plenty of space inside for me and the kids, but the car’s compact enough to still be easy to park.
“The boot is a good size, too, and the tailgate doesn’t stick out too far when it’s opened, so I wouldn’t have to leave a big space behind the car to access it. It’s good, too, that the charging point is on the side rather than the front, because I prefer to reverse into parking spaces.
“It’s a shame there’s no Isofix on the front passenger seat, though. One of my children suffers from motion sickness, so it’d be great if I could fit a child seat in the front.
“I really like the Leaf’s Google infotainment system. I don’t find the sat-nav in my ID Buzz easy to use, so the Leaf’s built-in Google Maps would be an improvement.
“I don’t travel long distances regularly, but the Leaf’s official range of up to 375 miles means I wouldn’t have to charge too often. It’s more than I’m getting from my ID Buzz.
“The fact that the Leaf is made in the UK is a huge selling point – the idea that it’s creating more jobs and helping the economy is great.”
Star rating 4
John Jordan
Age 58
Job Retired sales and marketing director
Drives Audi A3 and Volkswagen Tiguan
“I’ve been driving diesel cars for more than 35 years, but I’m finally considering going electric because many of the latest EVs have a decent enough range.
"I live in rural North West Ireland, and it takes three and a half hours to drive from Cork to Dublin. Our public EV charging network is very poor outside of the main cities, so the promise that the 75kW Leaf will do 259 miles at 70mph means I’d be able to drive across the country without having to stop to charge the car.
"I like how the new Leaf looks. It’s chunkier than the previous versions, and its shape makes it roomier inside. In fact, there’s plenty of room for adults in the front and rear seats. I like the many choices of ambient interior lighting colours, too. I would have liked a sliding and height adjustable arm rest for the driver similar to the one in my Tiguan, though, and it’s a shame the boot is slightly smaller than that of the previous Leaf.
“It’s also a pity that Nissan hasn’t extended its new car warranty from three years; doing so would show how much confidence they have in the car.
“With driver monitoring and assistance system alerts often so overbearing, it’s great that the Leaf allows you to pare them back as part of a personalised driver profile you can select at the start of every journey.”
Star rating 4
Warren Evans
Age 68
Job Retired
Drives Peugeot 5008 and BMW iX
“I was keen to see the latest Leaf, having been impressed with the comfort and interior quality of previous generations. I like how it looks, especially in this fabulous bright blue colour.
“When I was sitting in the back with a tall driver up front, my knees touched the driver’s seat, but there was a decent amount of space with a shorter driver in the front. It didn’t feel too cramped in the rear for two passengers, but a third might be a bit of a squeeze. The panoramic roof helps make the interior feel roomier, too.
“The materials inside the top-spec car we looked at are lovely. I hope it’s of a similar standard on the other trim levels. I also like how the infotainment screen has all the bells and whistles, with YouTube and games to keep you entertained while you’re charging. I’m impressed with the graphics, too, and how responsive the touchscreen is.
“The panels in the boot that let you divide the space up are great, and you can store the charging cable under the floor or keep it in a net on the side wall of the boot, so it’s easy to grab.
“Speaking of charging, the charging port is illuminated, which is handy if you’re out at night. It’s a shame there’s no rear windscreen wiper, though. I understand they removed it for aerodynamics, but still, I wish there was one.”
Star rating 4
Patrick Keddy and Helen Jesson
Ages 71 and 62
Jobs Retired managing director and retired finance director
Drive Bentley Continental GTC, Jaguar F-Pace SVR and Dacia Sandero Stepway
“We’ve been considering buying a small electric car for some time now, but we’ve been put off by range anxiety. With such a long official range, the new Leaf could change our minds.
“We’d pick the larger of the two battery options for its longer official range. As long as it can get us from Surrey down to our holiday house in Weymouth once a month on a single charge, we’d be happy.
“We were surprised that the new version is slightly shorter than the outgoing car, but it looks better that way; being higher and chunkier helps.
“Inside, everything seems well screwed together and not clunky. There’s plenty of space up front, but we can’t say the same about the back, which is quite cramped. You wouldn’t want to take four adults on a long journey, but while we sometimes travel with family, it’s usually just the two of us.
“Reliability is really important for us. As a brand, Nissan has struggled in the last few years on that front, so we might wait for a bit and see how the new Leaf fares, especially with all the new tech. However, older versions of the Leaf have a good reputation for reliability, and that bodes well for the new model.
“The fact that the Leaf is built in the UK is really appealing, though. That would be a big plus point for us when looking for a new car.”
Star rating 4
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