Nissan has officially launched the all-new Leaf in the UK, putting the third generation of one of Britain’s most recognisable EVs on sale from £32,249 with the Electric Car Grant applied.
Customer deliveries begin in February and production starts in Sunderland in December, placing the Leaf back at the centre of the UK’s electric-car conversation after a quieter few years.
This new model arrives with a very different brief from the original. It has to compete directly with a wide field of long-range family EVs, justify its price in a market that has become extremely sensitive to monthly payments, and carry the weight of being a major British-built electric hatchback at a time when domestic manufacturing is under scrutiny.
A proper UK launch with solid numbers
The key figure is the 386-mile WLTP range for the 75kWh version. That immediately puts the Leaf in the top tier for range among mainstream EVs. Nissan says drivers should see around 269 miles at a steady 70mph, which is the more useful measure for British motorway driving. Energy consumption is estimated at 4.5 miles per kWh, which is highly competitive for a car of this size.
The Leaf also supports 150kW rapid charging and Nissan claims it can recover up to 273 miles in roughly thirty minutes. AC charging remains at 11kW as standard. Every version also includes a 3.1kW vehicle-to-load socket for powering tools or campsite kit.
A second version with a 52kWh battery will follow later. Range is expected to land around 271 miles, although pricing has not yet been released.
A sharper, more mature Leaf
This generation moves further away from the original model’s upright, gentle character and closer to the sharper, more mature aesthetic Nissan has used on the Ariya.
The body has been engineered for aero efficiency, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.25. That should help the Leaf perform more consistently at motorway speeds, an area where earlier models often struggled.
Performance from the 75kWh model stands at 160kW and 355Nm. A 0 to 62mph time of 7.6 seconds in Sport mode makes it brisk rather than outright fast, but that suits the Leaf’s character.
The bigger shift sits under the surface, with a multi-link rear suspension setup that should tighten up body control and improve ride quality over broken British roads.
Interior quality looks significantly improved, with large screens on higher trims, Google Built-in, a panoramic roof option and a more conventional layout than the previous car.
Boot space stands at 437 litres, keeping the Leaf competitive with other C-segment EV hatchbacks and crossovers.
Trim levels and early impressions
Trim structure remains simple, and prices already include the EV grant.
- Engage at £32,249
- Engage Plus at £33,149
- Advance at £34,249
- Evolve at £36,249
Entry-level models bring the essentials such as a heat pump, ProPilot with Navi-link, 18-inch wheels and dual 12.3-inch displays. Upper trims add Google services, larger 14.3-inch screens, a dimming panoramic roof, synthetic leather upholstery, BOSE audio on the Evolve model and an eight-way power driver’s seat with massage.
All-new Nissan LEAF 75kWh priced from £32,249 including Electric Car Grant. (Images: Nissan)
The overall package suggests Nissan has aimed for mass-market buyers who want range and usability ahead of headline performance.
On paper, this reads like a far more grown-up Leaf, the kind of car that feels equally at home on a school run or an all-day motorway haul.
A landmark moment for the UK market
The Leaf’s return carries more weight than a standard model launch. It is the first major British-built EV to go on sale with the newly reinstated Electric Car Grant, which gives the government a car to point to when defending the policy. And it strengthens Sunderland’s position as a long-term EV manufacturing hub, which remains central to Nissan’s EV36Zero strategy.
This is a long-range family EV that starts in the low £30k bracket and comes from a brand with fifteen years of electric-car experience.
The numbers look strong. The engineering appears more mature. And the Leaf name still carries a degree of trust built over more than a decade on British roads.
