The first Leaf was something of a pioneer – certainly not the first electric car, but arguably the one that made the idea more mainstream. It was futuristic and fun, even if it had serious limitations in terms of range.
Now the geeky EV adolescent has matured in its third generation into a mainstream contender and, in a burgeoning fleet of EV offerings, can stand up against any of its rivals.
Built on a completely new platform, in styling terms, Nissan has managed to find that sweet spot between crossover and family fastback. It’s sleek, roomy and just quirky enough to catch the eye. Its nearest new rival is no longer the hatchbacks, but rather the Toyota C-HR +, another impressive new EV due on our roads next year.
The new Leaf’s maturity is not just reflected in its range or tech. This is a much better car to drive than its predecessor. The outgoing Leaf had an ardent and loyal following due to its EV credentials, but its driving dynamics fell short of those of its
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