Nissan can fairly lay claim to introducing the original of the mass-market EV species when it launched its Leaf model 15 years ago.
It was a lonely furrow to plough, however, with the car struggling to generate much more than about 130 kilometres of range and the fact that the public charging network was practically nonexistent at the time. Plenty of early adopters persisted, though, and some models are still on the road.
Now Nissan is launching its third generation of the Leaf, and the car is due in Ireland in early 2026. Needless to say, things are very different this time around, especially when it comes to range.
There are two battery options: one with a 52 kWh capacity and the second with a 75 kWh capacity. That, the company says, means a range of up to 436 kilometres for the former and 604 for the latter.
The usual caveats on claimed ranges, as distinct from real-world ranges, apply, but they should be within a reasonably good spectrum.
One figure that really does stand out, however, is Nissan’s claim that the car will return a 330 kilometre range when being driven at motorway speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour. That would be a game changer because motorway speeds are one thing that tends to just kill battery reserves.
The power outputs are 174 horsepower and 214 horsepower, respectively.
The car was designed in Japan and obviously with a global input. The result is a car that is up to the minute in terms of its profile and presence and with all of the latest innovations, such as flush door handles, an LED light bar on the front and a sloping roofline to improve drag coefficient and therefore range.
Compared to one of its direct competitors, the Volkswagen ID 3, it is very up-to-date. The wheels are either 18" or 19", depending on the trim levels, of which there will be four.
There is a 50-litre capacity improvement over the previous model, and the total capacity is now a competitive 437 litres. The boot also has an under-compartment for storage.
Nissan says the car will charge (on a fast charger) from 0 to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes, and the car is capable of externally powering things like portable kettles and lights through a vehicle-to-grid system.
Other vehicles do the same, but whether people might use such a system is another question, except perhaps during a power cut when the car might well end up boiling your kettle.
The car also features Nissan’s one-pedal regeneration system.
You can see cues from other Nissan models, especially inside. There are two 14.3" screens for driver information and infotainment, and navigation, climate and media controls are all enabled to operate with hands-free instruction. The Apple/Adroid compatible system is Google-powered and has been impressive on other cars using it, especially from Renault.
Standard equipment includes intelligent cruise control, emergency braking, lane-keep assist and a driver monitor in case of drowsiness.
No prices have yet been set, but they will be when Nissan opens its order book in the autumn.
