Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2012 | Page 83
MOTORING
ISLAND LIFE MOTORING REVIEW
NISSAN LEAF
If the Nissan Leaf provides a glimpse into
cars of the future, then the future looks
extremely bright.
ride comfortable.
The car itself is made with a class-leading
Such an innovative vehicle does not come
cheaply. The Leaf has an OTR price of
amount of recycled materials; naturally it
£30,990, but running costs are around 3p per
The Nissan Leaf was voted Car of the
has zero emissions and as such is road tax
mile. And until the end of March next year,
Year 2011, and as such became the first
exempt. And instead of going to the nearest
the Government is reducing the price of any
100 per cent electric car to win the coveted
filling station to top it up, you simply plug it
electric vehicle by £5,000, bringing the Leaf’s
award. Having driven the Leaf, courtesy of
into a three-pin plug at home, at work, or
price down to an acceptable £25,990.
Staddlestones Nissan of Ryde, it became
even while out shopping. It has a range
obvious that it wasn’t just handed the
of around 100 miles between full battery
accolade to promote electric cars.
charges, making it an ideal vehicle for
It looks and feels like a standard petrol or
diesel car, but in truth the Leaf is simplicity
the majority of Island drivers.
Under the bonnet there is a standard
personified when it comes to actually driving
12-volt battery, as in any other car, but
it. The ‘gear stick’ is smaller than your average
it is charged through a main battery
door knob, and flicks effortlessly from park
pack, that takes around 15 hours to
to neutral, drive or reverse. The acceleration
fully re-charge. However at ‘fast charge’
response is impressive; it has a top speed of
points it can be charged to around 80
around 90 mph; the handling is neat and the
per cent in half an hour.
TEST DRIVEN ON THE ISLAND
BY PETER WHITE
Staddlestones Nissan • Brading Road • Ryde • PO33 1QG • Tel: 01983 562705
staddlestones.nissan.co.uk
www.visitislandlife.com
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