Having first driven the all-new Nissan Leaf at its international launch, it was good to get back behind the wheel and experience Nissan’s latest EV on familiar Irish roads. Our latest drive took us from Nissan Ireland’s headquarters at Cedar House to Belinter House in County Meath, with a mix of motorway and country roads along the way. It was a useful opportunity to see how the new Leaf feels away from the carefully selected roads of last year’s Copenhagen launch event and, perhaps more importantly, how well it fits into everyday Irish driving. Our test car was the 52kWh Evolve in Dark Grey with a Black Roof, one of the highest specification versions available. While the Evolve brings plenty of equipment and technology, this drive reinforced something I felt during the original launch and for many Irish buyers, the 52kWh Leaf could well be the sweet spot in the range!
The biggest impression from our first drive remains unchanged. This is a very different proposition to the previous-generation Leaf. The new crossover design has brought with it a much more spacious and contemporary cabin, while the overall driving experience is refined and comfortable. It feels like a car designed to slot easily into family life rather than an EV that constantly reminds you it is different. On the motorway, the Leaf settles into a relaxed rhythm, with good refinement and little fuss. Move onto the country roads around Meath and the comfortable character continues. It isn’t trying to be a sports car, but it feels composed and predictable, with enough performance for overtaking and joining faster roads without any concerns. The higher driving position also works well with the new crossover shape, giving the Leaf a more substantial feel than its predecessor.
One area that takes a little adjustment is the number of driver assistance systems. Some of the alerts and interventions can feel a little intrusive when you first start the car, particularly if you’re not used to the way the various systems operate. The good news is that Nissan has made them relatively straightforward to manage. Dedicated hot key buttons provide quick access to the relevant settings, while setting up a driver profile allows many of the preferences to be configured to suit the individual driver. Once you’ve spent a little time setting the car up, the experience becomes much less intrusive. This is something we would encourage owners to do early on, as it makes a noticeable difference to the day-to-day driving experience.
Our test car’s 52kWh battery is the smaller of the two options available in the new Leaf, with Nissan quoting up to 424km of range. Of course, real-world range will depend on driving style, speed, temperature and conditions, but after this latest drive we remain convinced that the 52kWh version will provide more than enough range for many Irish commuters. For someone using the Leaf primarily for a daily commute, school runs, shopping and regular trips around the country, the larger 75kWh battery may not necessarily justify its additional cost. That is something we intend to explore in much greater detail.
With the new Leaf now on sale in Ireland, the 52kWh range starts at €36,095 for the Engage, rising to €37,095 for the Engage+, €40,295 for the Advance and €41,795 for the Evolve. The 75kWh version starts at €39,995, although the price climbs considerably with higher specification. Our 52kWh Evolve test car therefore sits towards the top of the range, but it also highlights how much equipment Nissan is packing into the new Leaf. For buyers primarily interested in efficient everyday motoring rather than maximum range, the lower-specification 52kWh models could prove particularly attractive.
This latest drive has reinforced our positive first impressions of the new Nissan Leaf. It is comfortable, spacious, quiet and considerably more polished than the model it replaces, while the crossover design gives it greater everyday appeal. However, a few hours behind the wheel can only tell us so much. We will soon have the Leaf for a full seven days, giving us the opportunity to live with it properly through everyday driving, charging, commuting and, importantly, as temperatures begin to drop. That longer test should give us a much better idea of what the 52kWh Leaf can deliver in real Irish conditions and whether our initial feeling that it is the sweet spot of the range holds true. For now, though, the signs are positive to say the least. The new Leaf feels like a significant step forward for Nissan and a much more convincing family EV than its predecessor!
