The Nissan Leaf e+ 3.ZERO, which offers a 239-mile range, is now a permanent fixture following a strong customer response
Nissan has announced that its all-electric Leaf e+ 3.ZERO is now a permanent member of the range, following its runaway success in its first month on sale. The new model is available to order now in range-topping Tekna trim, with prices starting from £35,895, including the £3,500 government grant.
The Leaf e+ gets a denser battery pack than the standard car, with capacity increased from 40kWh to 62kWh. Nissan claims the size increase gives a longer range, up from 168 miles to 239 miles under the latest WLTP test. The new battery pack is also slightly larger than the standard model’s, meaning the Leaf e+ rides 5mm taller than the regular car.
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Nissan’s new Leaf e+ also gets a new electric motor. Peak power is now 160kW, (the equivalent of 215bhp), while torque climbs to 340Nm. The increase in performance allows a 0–62mph sprint of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 98mph; roughly 10 per cent quicker than the lower-capacity Leaf.
With a larger battery on board, Nissan has also improved the rate at which the Leaf e+ can be charged. The new 70kW quick charging system is compatible with 100kW chargers; Nissan says that buyers can expect a similar 40-minute recharge to 80 per cent, as is the case when the regular Leaf is plugged into a 50kW charger.
Elsewhere, the Leaf e+ receives Nissan’s latest ProPILOT driver assistance technology, a BOSE seven-speaker stereo system and a larger eight-inch colour touchscreen display with updated sat nav as standard. On the outside, revisions are limited to e+ badging and a new front fascia with blue highlights.
Optional extras include pearlescent paint (priced at £745), a spare wheel (for £195) and Nissan’s ProPILOT Park system (costing £1,090), which can automatically position the Leaf in either a parrallel or end-on space at the push of a button.
Within 24 hours of the new Leaf’s reveal at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in January, 1,282 orders were taken from the initial 5,000 cars allocated for the European market, forcing Nissan to push the Leaf e+ into mainstream production. First deliveries are expected to arrive in the summer.
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