ELECTRIC CARS HAVE been around since Victorian times, but the Nissan Leaf is widely credited with bringing the concept into the modern age. Launched in 2011 - when the G-Wiz quadricycle was Britain's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) and the only Tesla you could buy was essentially a Lotus Elise stuffed with cells - it showed the world that battery power was a viable personal transport option.
So why has it taken Nissan more than a decade to follow the Leaf with another fully electric model (unless you count the E-NV200 Combi, which is basically a van with windows)?
Well, it's fair to say that EVs didn't take off as quickly as the Japanese brand hoped. It renewed the Leaf in 2017 but otherwise stuck to petrol and diesel engines. That's turned out to be a rather unfortunate decision, because while the Leaf was undoubtedly a pioneer, Nissan's new electric SUV, the Ariya, starts its life on the back foot. There are already more than half a dozen rivals on the market, including boxier options such as the Skoda Enyaq iv, coupé-like alternatives (including the Tesla Model Y and Volvo C40 Recharge), and slightly lower-riding cars like our 2022 Car of the Year, the Kia EV6.
The Ariya isn't exactly going to woo you with its low price, either. Starting at just under £42,000, it's far too expensive to qualify for the Government's electric vehicle grant (only cars priced up to £32,000 are eligible these days). That's true of all the direct rivals, to be fair, but for context, the Enyaq starts at £34,850 and the EV6 at £40,945. The C40 costs from £44,800, but then that does have a premium badge. There are some mitigating factors, though, as we'll explain later.
Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av What Car? UK.
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Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av What Car? UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone
Greater stamina and a lower price would have enhanced our opinion of this upmarket electric SUV
Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport
Our new posh estate has to deal with a mega-miles commute and an older sibling. How will it get on?
Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution
It's our reigning Small Car of the Year, but will the latest Clio continue to impress in daily use? We're finding out
ALL POSHED UP
Looking to buy an upmarket SUV? For around £35,000, you could have a new Lexus LBX or a used BMW X1. Let's see where your money should go
JOINING UP THE TOTS
Small, cheap cars bring numerous benefits, especially if most of your driving is around town. We take three leading examples on a road trip to see which of them paints the most complete picture
GRIPPING STUFF
Tyre choice can make a huge difference to how your car behaves in changeable weather. We search for the best
Audi A6 e-tron
BMW i5 rival uses the same tech as the Q6 e-tron SUV for serious pace and range On sale Late 2024 Price from £62,000 (est)
Renault Symbioz
Slightly smaller than Renault's existing Austral, this new hybrid family SUV has its sights set firmly on the popular Nissan Qashqai On sale Now Price from £29,295
Volkswagen Golf
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Hyundai Tucson
Update for Hyundai's family SUV includes a redesigned interior and a revised engine line-up On sale Now Price from £32,000