Nissan Leaf 40kWh models now £1,650 cheaper

• All three 40kWh models are now slightly more affordable
• The Leaf is the world’s best-selling EV
• Extra features added to Leaf specification

The Nissan Leaf has been reduced in price, with the Japanese manufacturer lowering the on-the-road price of the 40kWh model range by £1,650. At the same time, it has introduced a couple of extra features into the range. Pricing for the Leaf now starts at £26,345 after the Government’s £3,500 grant, and the updated models are available to order now.

The price drop applies to the 40kWh versions of the Leaf, with the entry-level Acenta trim starting at £26,345, the mid-range N-Connecta starts at £27,645 and the range-topping Tekna model costs from £29,345.

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Even the entry-level Acenta model is well equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen with sat nav, a rear-view camera and smartphone mirroring. It offers the ability to drive using one pedal (the car will slow down when you take your foot off the accelerator), and a huge array of standard safety features like rear cross-traffic alert, high-beam assist, emergency braking and pedestrian detection. The N-Connecta model adds parking sensors, privacy glass and heated front seats, while Tekna features LED headlights, a Bose sound system and Nissan’s ProPilot driver assistance system.

As part of this update, Nissan has added two extra USB sockets to all models of the Leaf, which are mounted on the back of the front armrest for rear-seat passengers. Tekna versions also get LED fog lights with cornering function.

With a 40kWh battery, the Nissan Leaf produces 148bhp and offers up to 168 miles of range between full charges. Due to all the car’s power being produced instantly (unlike a petrol or diesel car), even the cheapest Leaf can hit 0-62mph in a fraction under eight seconds.

The price decrease is also good news for company-car drivers, as all 40kWh models now have a P11D value of under £30,000. Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax will also be free for electric cars from April 2020, and will only rise to 2% by 2022.

2020 marks the tenth anniversary of the Nissan Leaf, and almost 440,000 have been sold worldwide in that time; 32,000 of these were UK buyers. Compared to 2018, the sales of EVs rose by 135% in 2019 and, in November of this year, the Nissan Leaf made up 12% of all electric car sales.

See where the Nissan Leaf places on our lists of the best electric cars and best small company cars.