| First Drive | Yokohama, Japan | 2011 Nissan LEAF |

The Nissan LEAF looks set to mark a change in the driving habits of a generation. Nissan claims that it will be the first proper-sized, mass-produced electric family car and it is coming to the UK in February 2011. Last year we drove the development mule for the first time (read that article here), but this week we travelled back to Japan to bring you an exclusive drive of a close-to-production version.

In the Metal

Already the LEAF's design is one we're accustomed to. It has been one of the most-publicised cars of the last few years since Nissan announced that it intended to be the first manufacturer to bring a proper, practical electric vehicle to the C-segment.

Set to take on the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Prius, the LEAF looks less radical in the metal than some of the photos would suggest. It's even more discreet in colours regular colours such as silver, black and red. The blue-tinted headlights stand out, but the bulbous shape is there for a reason; they deflect air away from the wing mirrors to improve aerodynamics.

Nissan's engineers managed to hide most of the aerodynamic tweaks underneath, so the roofline doesn't taper quite so sharply as a Toyota Prius' or a Honda Insight's. That's to the benefit of rear headroom. Hence the LEAF will seat five in comfort and there is a proper boot too.

The interior is impressive, if a little unusual in places. The gearstick is like a computer mouse and the centre console is dominated be a screen that shows key battery data, including maximum driving range, power output and regenerated electricity. An eco-indicator displays the status of electricity consumption, giving real-time feedback on the driver's efficiency. The displays are really easy to read and present their information without being distracting. The selection of materials used is really impressive too, with good quality plastics and a nice finish to all the areas within your vision.

What you get for your Money

The LEAF will cost £23,350 in the UK, which includes a £5,000 Government refund for the purchase of electric vehicles. That price includes the battery, which is something other car makers are considering leasing to the buyer instead. Nissan estimates that the average running costs for a LEAF could be as low as £200 per year.

There will be just one version of the Nissan LEAF available in the UK, equipped as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, fully automatic climate control, satellite navigation, cruise control, a rear parking camera and a quick-charge socket. Safety equipment such as driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags will be standard along with electronic stability control. Equipment will also include the distinctive LED headlamps, which are a first for Nissan.

Driving it

Our test of the near-production LEAF was at Nissan's Grandrive facility. A test track was set out with three long straights and a series of sharp bends and we were given 30 minutes of driving and several laps.

Turning on the LEAF there's a strange fanfare of sounds, not unlike Windows starting up on your PC. Then you can select standard or Eco modes and you are away. Nissan has added a special sound at low speeds that is inaudible inside the car, but alerts those around you to the car moving off.

As with most electric cars, the first thing you notice is the torque. It is instant and pretty ferocious. Nissan wouldn't give us the 0-62mph time just yet but it feels quicker than 10 seconds and because everything is so silent it is hard to judge how fast you are going.

Nissan had coned off the track in such a way as to make flinging the LEAF fast into a corner nigh on impossible, but we could carry enough speed in to tell that this is going to be a decent handling car, bearing in mind that the LEAF will be finely tuned for our own market before it goes on sale.

The steering has decent feedback and unlike some of the electric cars we have driven there was none of the heavy regenerative braking feel that makes you feel like the car will stop if you take your foot off the accelerator. The LEAF feels like a normal car to drive and one that anyone could get used to in a matter of seconds.

We have not yet driven the car out on the open road, but this was the first chance to drive the LEAF at speed and through bends and we were genuinely impressed.

Worth Noting

Nissan says that the range of the LEAF is around 100 miles, but this varies when you use things like air conditioning or if you drive it hard on the motorway. Nissan admits it could drop much lower in some cases. The car will charge in eight hours from a standard domestic charger or up to 80 percent in half an hour from a fast charger.



Summary

As the LEAF gets closer to production it gets more and more impressive. Early indications are that it'll drive in a manner that will not alienate traditional car buyers, yet it's obviously a step into the future. Away from the driving seat, the LEAF acts just like any other family hatchback with decent space and equipment. The price may be a little high for it to be a runaway success, but as a first foray into mass-market electric car production this is a really impressive effort.