What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Is the Nissan Leaf likely to be discounted soon?
I’m interested in the Nissan Leaf and have been quite impressed by a test drive. The price keeps going up though, and I’m concerned I pay a fair price for it and don’t get caught paying over the odds only for them to discount the price later.
When first announced the Leaf was £23,300, then for most of the time it was £23,990 and has recently gone up to £25,990, all including the government grant of £5,000. It seems rather cynical of Nissan to put the price up just as the car actually becomes available. Should I wait? I believe there will be a similar electric Focus and Golf next year. I prefer the styling of these particularly if they have more conventional dials.
When first announced the Leaf was £23,300, then for most of the time it was £23,990 and has recently gone up to £25,990, all including the government grant of £5,000. It seems rather cynical of Nissan to put the price up just as the car actually becomes available. Should I wait? I believe there will be a similar electric Focus and Golf next year. I prefer the styling of these particularly if they have more conventional dials.
Asked on 12 June 2011 by PB, via email
Answered by
Honest John
The Leaf is very sophisticated and you really need the instrumentation in order to get maximum efficiency and maximum range from it. I was impressed. It drives beautifully. Better than the Fluence and much more classy than the i-MIEV clones. I can't tell you what will happen to prices. I would have thought that when the government grants get used up they will go up rather than down. But in 2013 all major car manufacturers have to get their corporate average tailpipe emissions down below 130g/km and if they don't achieve this they will get fined. If Nissan hasn't got to 130g/km that might make it worth Nissan's while to discount Leafs to get a few more out the and get its corporate average CO2 down.
The whole thing is, of course, completely ridiculous because no one is measuring the CO2 emissions of Britain's coal fired power stations like Ferrybridge and Kegworth. The Renault Fluence ZE has come in much cheaper at £18,000, but with the Renault you lease rather than buy the battery.
The whole thing is, of course, completely ridiculous because no one is measuring the CO2 emissions of Britain's coal fired power stations like Ferrybridge and Kegworth. The Renault Fluence ZE has come in much cheaper at £18,000, but with the Renault you lease rather than buy the battery.
If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.
Is an electric car right for me?Similar questions
We’ve ordered a new Volkswagen Tiguan and we're getting rid of the old car under the scrappage scheme. The Tiguan was ordered in January, but since then, the Volkswagen scrappage scheme has finished. We...
I am looking for a suitable new car with automatic transmission for my wife. Annual mileage will be about 6000. Current models being considered are Astra 1.6 auto, Corsa 1.4 auto, and Fiesta 1.4 auto....
The more I read the less convinced I am about the supposed environmental benefits of electric cars.
Volvo has said that the energy used to create them is far in excess of that for a petrol or diesel...
Related models
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
An affordable mainstream electric car, practical and well-equipped, range extended to 155 miles with optional 30kWh battery from September 2015.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
