BUYER’S GUIDE NISSAN LEAF

FROM £3,000 Reliable Leaf is a great introduction to electric vehicles

INVESTING massively in electric cars was a big gamble for Nissan, but buying a Leaf was also a huge leap of faith for customers. When it went on sale in 2011 the battery technology was unproven, there was little in the way of charging infrastructure and no one was sure if the car would be worthless after a few years.

Now we are seven years on and the world has changed. Emissions scandals have pushed EVS into the limelight, chargers are popping up in increasing numbers and the Leaf has proved to be vice-free and reliable.

With a new car around the corner, used models are now plentiful and temptingly cheap, but interest is increasing as more people realise a Leaf could suit them and save them some serious money. Therefore, they might not be a bargain for long.

History

THE Leaf was launched in the UK in March 2011. This first generation was built in Japan, only came in one trim level, and cars are easily identifiable by a cream-coloured interior. All have connected sat-nav, climate control and 16-inch alloy wheels. Other than metallic paint, the only option was a solar panel fitted to the rear spoiler.

The British-built Leaf, introduced in March 2013, brought improvements and widened the range to three trim levels. All got a slight increase in battery capacity and a host of other upgrades. While the exterior looked almost identical to the old car, the interior was now a practical dark colour.

Which one?

IF a model looks cheap, it is probably a FLEX car, which means you have to pay a monthly fee to lease the battery. Factor this into any price you pay, or ask the vendor to buy out the battery as part of the deal. Batteryowned cars will be much easier to sell on.

The entry-level Visia was designed for the fleet market, and is the least popular. The main visual differences are steel wheels and a lack of an infotainment screen, which makes it tricky to access some of the Leaf’s features such as programmable heating and charging timers. More crucially, the Visia won’t have fast charging or a more efficient heater, limiting its practicality.

The mid-range Acenta gains five-spoke alloys, navigation and a few other niceties – including the electricity-saving heater and the ‘Chademo’ rapid charge port. Tekna tops the line-up, with leather upholstery, LED headlights, heated seats, a Bose sound system, 17-inch alloys and LED headlamps. Try to get the optional 7kw charger upgrade. It lets you charge at home or at public charging posts much faster and cost £1,000 new – yet adds little to the used value.

Alternatives

PURE electric alternatives to the Leaf are relatively rare – and of varying quality. The BMW i3 is a brilliant car and there’s the option of having a range-extender version with a tiny petrol motor to top up the battery power. But they’re pricey next to the Leaf, with the cheapest used ones still costing more than £14,000 from car supermarkets.

The Renault ZOE is a fine EV and there is a reasonable number reaching the used market. The drawback is that the battery is leased, rather than owned. This guarantees the powerpack for life, but means buyers are saddled with a monthly cost for as long as they have the car. It puts many buyers off and will continue to do so when it’s time to sell the car. The Mitsubishi I-MIEV, Citroen C-zero and Peugeot ion are identical except for badging, and seem old-fashioned and cramped next to a Leaf. Other pure EVS from Kia and VW are still rare on the used market.

Verdict

ELECTRIC cars aren’t for everyone. You need somewhere to charge and longer journeys require planning. But low purchase prices, keen finance offers and cheap servicing could mean that some drivers can buy a Leaf and the repayments would be covered by the fuel and road tax savings.

Early concerns about battery life and reliability have proven unfounded, with 170,000-mile Leafs used as taxis needing minimal maintenance and still retaining most of their battery capacity.

Early cars in good condition cost around £5,000 and even a nearly-new model from a dealer is great value compared with the new price. Buy carefully and you could have a hatch that’s inexpensive to buy, incredibly cheap to run and pretty good to drive, too.