Long-range Nissan Leaf e+ becomes permanent member of model line-up

Nissan has announced that the all-electric Leaf e+ is now a permanent member of its model line-up, after strong customer support for its limited-edition predecessor.

Launched as the Leaf e+ 3.ZERO, the car was originally limited to 5,000 models for Europe, but after taking more than 1,200 orders within 24 hours of its reveal Nissan decided to push the car into mainstream production. Pricing for the long-range model begins from £35,895.

The Leaf e+ features a larger capacity battery pack than the standard model, with 62kWh on tap over the 40kWh offered as standard. Nissan claims that the larger battery gives the Leaf e+ a range of 239 miles on the WLTP cycle – up from the standard car’s 168-mile range.

That’s still a way down on the Hyundai Kona Electric’s 279-mile claimed range, however – and that car starts from under £30,000 in its longest-range configuration.

The e+ is also compatible with 100kW fast chargers, allowing motorists to charge the battery to 80 per cent in around 40 minutes. That should certainly make this Leaf more suitable for those who travel longer distances.

The electric motor has also received an upgrade. The Leaf e+ uses a 215bhp motor with 340Nm of torque. That allows for a 0-60mph sprint of 7.1 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 98mph.

The e+ is based on top-spec Tekna trim, bringing a generous specification as standard. Nissan’s full suite of ProPilot driver assistance tech is present and correct, while inside buyers benefit from Nissan’s latest eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system as well as a seven-speaker Bose stereo.

A metallic blue trim on the front bumper is the only external differentiation, though e+ models do ride an almost imperceptible 5mm higher than standard cars due to the larger battery pack.

First deliveries are expected to begin in the summer. The Leaf e+ costs from £35,895, while standard-range models cost from £27,995.