Nissan has launched a new cheaper version of its Leaf family EV with the introduction of a new battery option.
The 52kWh Nissan Leaf joins the existing 75kWh variant and brings the Leaf’s on-the-road starting price down to under £29,000.
The smaller battery returns up to 280 miles on a charge compared with the 387 miles offered by the more expensive model. It also gets a slightly less powerful 174bhp motor and 105kW DC charging, compared with the 75kWh car’s 215bhp motor and 150kW peak charging. Nonetheless, the new 52kWh Leaf will still charge from 10-80% in 35 mins.
The 52kWh Leaf will arrive this summer with a choice of two trim levels – Engage and Advance. Engage grade is priced from £28,849 including the £3,750 Electric Car Grant, while the Advance specification costs from £30,849.
Engage models come with 18-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch digital displays, a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control and lane assist.
For £2,000 more Advance upgrades the screens to 14.3 inches, adds a head-up display and introduces the excellent Google Built-in operating system. It also gets heated front seats and steering wheel, a heat pump, powered tailgate and dimming panoramic sunroof.
The Leaf’s new entry price allows it to undercut most of its key rivals. An entry-level 52kWh VW ID.3 starts at just under £31,000 while a Kia EV4 starts at nearly £35,000. Only the MG4 Urban is cheaper, with the long-range variant weighing in at £27,995 but giving away 20 miles of range to the Nissan.
The Leaf is built at Nissan’s Sunderland factory in north-east England, and after European-market production began in late 2025, the plant has now started building right-hand-drive models for the UK. First deliveries to UK showrooms are expected later this summer.
Like the 52kWh model, the 75kWh Leaf qualifies for the full ECG, with prices starting at £32,249 for the Engage trim and rising to £36,249 for the range-topping Evolve specification.
