Mat’s Car of the Day: why you should lease the Nissan Leaf instead of buying one
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson was impressed with the Nissan Leaf when he reviewed it in October, and he’s found a cracking lease deal which makes it look even more tempting.
The new Nissan Leaf is a comfortable, well-equipped electric car with impressive range, and it’s one I think you should add to your shortlist.
That said, I do think you’d be better off leasing a Leaf than buying one, because I’ve found a great lease offer through Carwow. Here’s how to get the best deal.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
Nissan Leaf leasing vs buying: how to get the best deal
I’ve found a lease deal on the Nissan Leaf Engage+ which costs £293 per month over three years. This is with a £3,815 deposit and a mileage limit of 6,000 per year, and the total cost over the full term is just over £14,000.
If you were to get the same car on PCP finance over three years with the same deposit and mileage limit, it would cost you £407 per month. Assuming you hand the car back at the end of the agreement, that comes to a total of just under £21,000.
So that’s a £7,000 saving. With leasing you will need to put another deposit down at the end of the agreement to start again with a new car, whereas on PCP finance you have the option to trade the car in, but even if you take another £3,800 off that £7,000 you’re still quids in.
Three reasons to shortlist the Nissan Leaf
1. It has impressive range
The deal I’ve found is on the Leaf with the larger of two battery options, and it has up to 387 miles of range according to official tests. That’s 12 miles more than a Kia EV3, 17 miles more than a Skoda Elroq and over 100 miles more than a Geely EX5.
2. It’s got a nice interior
I like the Leaf’s simple dashboard layout. It has proper buttons for the climate control, a bright and intuitive touchscreen and the material quality is impressive for a car at this price point. You can also get some funky colour combinations, such as blue and white.
3. It’s comfortable to drive
The Leaf has comfy, supportive seats, soft suspension which deals with the bumps really well and it’s quiet at motorway speeds. There’s nothing exciting about the way it drives, but it’s a relaxing cruiser.
Three annoying things about the Nissan Leaf
1. The rear seats are tight
If you’re after a car which is roomy in the back, a Skoda Elroq is a better bet. The Leaf doesn’t have much legroom, and the sloping roofline eats into head space as well. Taller adults will be pretty cramped.
2. The boot isn’t the biggest
The Nissan Leaf has 437 litres of boot space, which is around 20 litres down on the Kia EV3 and 30 litres less than the Skoda Elroq. It does have some handy features, such as the split false floor which can act as a divider, but it’s not the best for all-out carrying capacity.
3.There’s no rear wiper
I get that the sloping rear end reduces the need for a rear wiper when you’re driving on the motorway – the airflow over the car pushes water away. Not having a rear wiper is still annoying though, because if the back window is covered in condensation in the morning you have to clear it by hand before setting off.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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