Verdict
B
EV · Japan · 2010-Present
Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf — spec data and generation history.
Years
2010-Present
Generations
2
Segment
EV
The original mass-market EV — Sunderland-built, sold in the UK since 2011. ZE0 first gen (2010-2017) launched with 24 kWh, gained a 30 kWh option in 2016, and cars without active battery cooling are now infamous for capacity loss. ZE1 second gen (2017-Present) moved to a sharper body, 40 kWh standard with 62 kWh e+ Long Range from 2019, and used the controversial CHAdeMO rapid-charge port long after the rest of the industry switched to CCS. Bidirectional V2G charging is a Leaf trick most rivals lack. Cabin is dated, range still trails newer rivals, but for cheap urban EV motoring the early ZE0s are nearly free.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
ZE0 2010-2017 → ZE1 2017-Present
BHP +40 bhp
Torque +66 Nm
0–60 mph −2.0 s
Top speed +5 mph
Range +58 mi
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
2010-2017
ZE0
→
24 kWh — 109 bhp, 0-60 in 11.5s.
Verdict
C
BHP
109
0–60
11.5 s
Top
90 mph
MPG
– mpg
Used
£3,500-£10,000
- + Cheap on the used market
- + Sunderland-built
- − Battery capacity loss
- − No active battery cooling
2017-Present
ZE1
→
62 kWh e+ — 215 bhp, 0-60 in 6.9s.
Verdict
B
BHP
215
0–60
6.9 s
Top
98 mph
MPG
– mpg
Used
£10,000-£26,000
- + 62 kWh e+ Long Range
- + V2G bidirectional charging
- − CHAdeMO charging
- − Rapidgate on e+
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2010-2017 · ZE0
- Battery capacity loss (no active cooling)
- 12V battery failures
- CHAdeMO obsolescence
2017-Present · ZE1
- Rapidgate (e+ throttling on repeat fast charges)
- 12V battery failures
- CHAdeMO still (rapid-charge access shrinking)
Rivals
VW ID.3 · Renault Zoe · Vauxhall Corsa Electric · Hyundai Kona Electric