Nissan LEAF 3.ZERO e+ arrives with 62kWh battery and 214bhp

The Nissan LEAF 3.0 e+ arrives with a bigger 62kWh battery and 239 mile range, hitting back at EVs like the Hyundai Kona.

The Nissan LEAF has been the trailblazer for electric cars, but it’s coming under pressure from new arrivals  like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro with their bigger batteries and longer range. But the Leaf is fighting back.

Having upped the LEAF’s battery to 40kWh in the latest generation, Nissan has now given the LEAF a 62kWh battery pack in the new LEAF 3.0 e+ and 214bhp – just as we revealed a year ago.

The battery pack is a little bit bigger in size than the 40kWh in the regular LEAF, but most of the improvement in power comes from higher density, and that improved density and capacity is enough for a 239 mile range, and the motor’s increase to 214bhp will make it livelier too.

With the bigger battery comes improved charging, with the LEAF 3.0 able to charge at 70kW from a 100kW charger, delivering a 40-minute recharge to 80 per cent, and Nissan has added a new 8″ infotainment screen with additional connectivity services and an improved NissanConnect EV App too.

But it seems, at least for now, the new Leaf 3.0 e+ isn’t a full offering, with just 5,000 units scheduled for Europe costing from £36,795 (after grant), with order books now open and first customer cars arriving in the summer. There’s also a regular LEAF 3.0 model with the existing 40kWk battery and prices from £31,095.