Nissan Leaf hatchback - Interior & comfort
Some materials look a bit low rent, but that doesn’t stop the Nissan Leaf feeling sturdy and well engineered
While early examples of the previous Leaf sported a light cream interior to help them stand out from the crowd, the latest model has gone back to black. Partner this with an ageing dashboard design and the interior of the Nissan Leaf can feel rather drab in comparison to the concept car-esque cabin of the Peugeot e-2008 or the ‘spaceship’ feel of something like the Tesla Model 3. Nissan has gone some way to brighten things up, though, with blue stitching to signify the car’s electric propulsion.
Another problem we have is with the quality of the materials used; while everything generally feels well-screwed together, many of the dreary-looking plastic also feel rather cheap. This is even more disappointing given many of these materials are used on areas you’ll frequently touch such as the doors.
Nissan Leaf infotainment and navigation
All versions of the Nissan Leaf come equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen, featuring DAB radio as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It may not be the slickest unit on the market – Vauxhall’s PurePanel setup in the Mokka Electric has more wow-factor – but the NissanConnect in-built navigation system can handily plot routes to incorporate charging stops.
Sitting behind the steering wheel is a seven-inch TFT part-digital instrument cluster; this is perhaps what ages the Leaf the most as the majority of rivals have since shifted to full-digital displays. Nonetheless, this can still show important information such as your current range and media playback.
Equipment
There are three trim levels to choose from when buying a standard Leaf: Acenta, N-Connecta, and Tekna. Acenta models come with halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED taillights, automatic air conditioning, cruise control and a reversing camera. There’s plenty of safety equipment, too, with six airbags, intelligent emergency braking, lane departure warning, cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.
The N-Connecta trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, electric folding mirrors, part leather heated seats, a heated steering wheel and all-around parking sensors. Tekna includes full LED headlights, leather and suede seats and a seven-speaker Bose audio system. The e+ Tekna gets all the standard Tekna kit plus metallic blue front bumper accents, revised suspension and 100kW charging capability.
Nissan also introduced a special Shiro edition trim level in 2023, which offers everything included with N-Connecta trim for around £2,000 less. ‘Shiro’ cars (meaning ‘white’ in Japanese) are available as standard in an Arctic White paint colour, with an optional Storm White two-tone paint job with a Pearl Black roof also available.
Options
To simplify production, Nissan keeps most of the available equipment for the Leaf within its predetermined trim levels. However, buyers can specify the Heat Pack (heated seats and a heated steering wheel) for around £300, and the Tech Pack (360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors and a driver alert monitor) for £450. Choosing metallic paint will set buyers back between an extra £575 and £745.
