Nissan Leaf (2025) Review

Introduction

Being first with an idea doesn’t necessarily make you the best. Along come the competitors, feeding on your initiative, and then one-by-one, the rival models steal the spotlight. That was the case when the first-generation Nissan Leaf was launched back in 2010/11 as the world’s first affordable EV. It was a ground-breaking car, but over time, others have dominated the headlines.

Fast forward to 2025 and, with in excess of 700,000 global sales under its belt, we now have the all-new third generation Leaf and this is the model that, in our opinion, really raises the bar.

Built and tuned in the UK for European roads, and sitting on the same platform as the Nissan Ariya, it features state-of-the-art technology, with a more crossover styling that’s guaranteed to turn heads. There’s extra space for passengers, and most importantly, increased range.

Customers can choose from trims called Engage, Engage+, Advance and Evolve and there are two battery sizes - a 52kWh unit capable of delivering up to 271 miles and a larger 75kWh option with a 386-mile range.

We opted for the high-end Nissan Leaf Evolve with the larger battery for an extensive test drive through the Danish countryside.

At a glance

The five-door Nissan Leaf was crafted at the company’s global design studio in Japan, but built in Sunderland. It boasts a strong kerb appeal with its new higher, wider and shorter dimensions resulting in more of a crossover appearance than previous versions. It’s more aerodynamic – a factor that helps improve the driving range and handling – and its clean flowing lines give it a powerful and dynamic appearance.

Eye-catching features include a rising waistline, flush door handles, 3D rear lights, big wheel arches, rear privacy glass, a dimming panoramic roof with subtle Leaf-embossed detailing. 19-inch alloy wheels, a sloping roofline and an active grille shutter that will open when the motor needs cooling. Our range-topping Leaf Evolve also featured two-tone paintwork as standard and it’s worth noting a heat pump is fitted to all models with the larger battery.

There are clues to the company’s proud Japanese heritage with light clusters featuring two vertical and three horizontal lines. In Japanese the number ‘2’ is pronounced ‘Ni” while ‘3 is ‘San’ producing Nissan. Look closely and you will find more than 20 of these small detailed emblems throughout the vehicle.

Key features

The Nissan Leaf line-up starts with Engage trim which is generously kitted out for the base model. The step-by-step grade walk starts with this car which features a pair of 12.3-inch infotainment screens, paddle shifts for regenerative braking, an AC charger for 11kW bi-directional charging, e-Pedal Step, ProPilot with Navi-Link, Vehicle-to-Load capability, an optional heat pump for the 53kWh battery (standard on Extended Range unit), an optional cold pack that adds heated seats and a heated steering wheel, plus 18-inch alloy wheels.

Move up to Engage+ and you gain glare-free high beam assist, auto-folding mirrors, two larger 14.3-inch screens, Nissan Connect with Google Bulit-in including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play. There is a wireless charger, heat pump, a heated steering wheel, plus heated seats.

The Leaf Advance introduces a dimming panoramic roof, 3D rear lamps, roof rails with black paint, a full length front signature lamp with illuminated Nissan logo, head-up display, powered tailgate and a choice of two upholstery styles.

Finally, range-topping Evolve models, as tested, feature a massaging driver seat function, eight-way powered driver and front passenger seats, a BOSE sound system with nine speakers (including two in the driver’s headrest), synthetic leather seat upholstery, plus 19-inch alloy wheels.

Range and batteries

The Nissan Leaf is sold with two different batteries. The Standard Range 52kWh unit can achieve up to 271 miles, while the Extended Range 75kWh battery, which also has a heat pump as standard, can deliver up to 386 miles on a single charge.

Performance and drive

Our front-wheel drive range-topping Leaf Evolve had the larger 75kWh Extended Range battery with 215bhp and 355Nm of torque. In Standard drive mode it can complete the 0-62mph dash in 7.8 seconds, but switch across to Sport and it cuts the time to just 7.6 seconds with a top speed of 99mph. Not bad for a car that weighs in between 1,789kg and 1,937kg.

While those performance figures are impressive, the Leaf is a car that prioritises comfort, refinement and the all-round driving experience above blistering pace.

Yes, there is always ample power on tap to overtake slower moving traffic and the vehicle is very accomplished when fizzing through twisting country lanes. But the UK customer base will expect more and they won’t be disappointed. That’s because the Leaf delivers superb ride quality with the excellent suspension set-up smoothing out any bumps and dips along the way. Admittedly the Danish roads are far superior to UK ones, but even on rougher surfaces off the beaten track as we went in search of hidden photo locations, the Leaf coped admirably.

It's a car that will effortlessly sit at 70mph on motorways and the agility is a bonus in busier town centres where the excellent driver visibility is another plus point.

There are drive modes called Eco, Standard, Sport and Personal, along with the e-Pedal setting which allows you to drive using just the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the steering wheel paddles are used to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking with four levels to choose from

We must also mention the dimming panoramic roof which offers 99.5 per cent UV protection. At the press of a switch, the coating builds from transparent to opaque in nine segments with the word ‘LEAF’ clearly displayed when in its strongest setting.

Charging

Public charging can be expensive, so the best way to keep day-to-day running costs to a minimum is to charge at home or the workplace. There are no official times for the 11kW boost yet, but the 52kWh battery can be charged up to 105kW and a 20 to 80 per cent increase takes 30 minutes. The larger 75kWh battery takes exactly the same amount of time to gain the 20-80 per cent charge due to its higher 150kW charging capacity.

Running costs and emissions

At the time of writing, Nissan hasn’t finalised the exact pricing structure for the 2025/26 Leaf, but we do know models powered by the smaller 52kWh battery will start from £33,000, while those featuring the larger 75kWh unit will begin at £36,000. Nissan is very confident the vehicle will receive the maximum Government EV grant of £3,750 which will make the entry-level prices sub-£30k. Provided the entry-level Leaf Engage with the larger battery remains below £37,000, all higher specification models are also eligible for the grant.

The Nissan Leaf, like many EVs these days, has steering wheel paddles to alter the strength of the regenerative braking, and so boost the battery levels whilst decelerating. Together with the e-Pedal Step these clever functions help to keep the costs of everyday motoring as low as possible.

Road tax is now a thing for EV owners, although the first-year fee is just £10, increasing to the standard £195 charge after 12 months. And for anyone considering the Leaf as a business car, it has a very attractive three per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating.

The Leaf comes with a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that is extended to eight years or 100,000 miles for the battery.

Interior and tech

Take your seat inside the latest Nissan Leaf and it oozes charm, elegance and sophistication, with a premium vibe running through the cabin. The powered seats are upholstered in high-end synthetic leather and, along with the steering wheel, can be heated against the winter chill. They also offer a massaging function for added comfort on long journeys.

The main focal point is the pair of 14.3-inch screens that merge seamlessly behind a curved pane of glass and are angled slightly towards the driver.

The right hand screen shows the important driving figures, including battery charge levels, speed and existing driving range, while the left screen is the access point to the many on-board features. There is a full suite of Google services and software, including Google Maps offering navigation with up-to-the-minute updates on charging points along the route and their availability. Additionally, Google Play brings music, audio books and games to the mix to help keep the youngsters entertained.

A head-up display also shows the current speed alongside the speed limit and navigation directions directly in the driver’s eyeline.

Connecting a smartphone is a simple process via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the Leaf has a pitch-perfect nine-speaker Bose sound system. This features two speakers in the driver’s headrest, which makes it sound like someone is speaking to you and you alone when delivering the sat nav directions.

There are also several physical controls for selecting drive, reverse, neutral and park settings, along with buttons for adjusting the audio volume and disabling some of the ADAS driver assistance functions. Beneath the screen is a separate panel with touch sensitive buttons for all the climate and heated seat functions.

Practicality and boot space

The Nissan Leaf has certainly come of age in its latest guise as a compact crossover model. It stretches 4,350mm in length, 1,810mm across (without mirrors), 2,098mm with mirrors and is 1,550mm tall. That makes the third-generation model shorter by 140mm, 22mm wider and a fraction taller than the outgoing car. And that translates into a dynamically styled model with crossover proportions.

The wheelbase of 2,690mm is almost identical to the outgoing car, but the space within the cabin seems to have increased considerably. A couple of adults can sit comfortably up front and there is room in the back for two more.

The tapering roof design of the Leaf looks amazing and the boot can still swallow 437 litres of goodies, a limit that increases to 1,052 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats lowered.

There is no storage space beneath the bonnet, but there are plenty of convenient places to keep items safe and sound throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, front and rear cup holders, door bins, seat back pockets, a wireless charging pad and a central cubby.

Additionally, the Leaf supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging, allowing you to charge up external items such as laptops, lighting, kettles, BBQs and lots more besides.

Safety

While the Leaf is yet to be tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, Nissan is confident it will be awarded the maximum five stars. That’s because the car is packed with safety features and driver assistance aids to protect occupants, along with other road users.

Features include intelligent emergency braking, blind spot intervention, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, a driver monitor system, along with functions to help manoeuvre the vehicle into tighter spaces, such as a 3D around view monitor, invisible hood view and front wide view.

Finally, models are equipped with the intuitive ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link which will automatically decelerate before curves and alter the speed according to the limit on the road.

Options

Since the Leaf’s pricing has not officially been released yet, the cost of any optional extras also remains unclear. But we do know from the step-by-step trim walk that anyone buying the entry-level Leaf Engage with the lower-capacity battery can add a heat pump to the mix. And there is also a cold pack that will introduce heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Rival cars

The new third-generation Nissan Leaf is more crossover than city car these days and that means there are more rivals out there vying for sales. Key competitors will be the Skoda Elroq (below), Kia EV3, Volvo EX30, Citroen e-C4 and VW ID.3

Verdict and next steps

With its rich history and pioneering attitude to the electric car, Nissan needs to deliver the goods when it launches a new generation of the Leaf. And we believe they have exceeded all expectations this time round.

The car is beautifully styled with a far more dynamic edge than previously seen. It is packed with upmarket technology and delivers on the performance and comfort fronts too. Factor in the impressive range and this could be a car that scoops a multitude of awards moving forward.

There are still a number of details still to be announced by Nissan concerning pricing and other factors. But the vehicles will be on a dealership tour between now and the end of January. Order books will be opening from December and the first customer deliveries are expected in February, 2026.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Nissan Leaf.