How much space is there?

Practicality was obviously high on the list of priorities for the designers and engineers behind the project. There’s ample space for five adults to get comfortable, though the middle rear passenger does have a rather large ‘transmission tunnel’ to contend with. Still, the airy feeling afforded by the deep side windows will likely prove a hit with families as children should be able to see out easily.

The boot’s not exactly massive with a seats-up capacity of 370 litres, but shouldn’t struggle with your weekly shop. This falls to 355 litres for cars equipped with a Bose stereo – worth the trade-off if you appreciate decent sound quality.

Safety

Nissan Leaf safety levels are high, and in fact the Leaf was the first full five-star electric car tested by Euro NCAP back in 2012. The Leaf is fitted with ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution, six airbags, (front side and curtain) and there are two ISOFIX points and a rear-view camera for safe and easy parking.

When not under charge, an electric relay within the vehicle turns off the power to isolate the charging port. Although the charging port is waterproof and has a drainage structure for use in the rain, in case of a short circuit, the supply of electricity is immediately interrupted.

The platform has been designed to protect the batteries and prevent short circuits in the event of an accident. In short, there’s no safety reasons to worry about when choosing a Leaf. As for all those stories in the wider media about EV fires, put them out of your mind – the Leaf is no more of a risk than any equivalent petrol of diesel cars.