Why Leaf is an icon for our times
Previous generations had the Mini and the Volkswagen Beetle. Near-iconic cars which were the stand-out stars of the era. Now we have the Nissan Leaf.
No car has done more than this one to popularise the electric vehicle market. It is far from the only choice, but it was the first to make a mark. And despite a massive surge in alternative EVs, the Leaf remains the benchmark.
It is, above, all a simple car in a complex world. Driving it is easy – almost too easy. Turn it on, press the ‘gas’ and steer. There really isn’t too much more to it than that. In many cases, you don’t even need to brake. Ease off the throttle and the car slows in much the same way a fairground dodgem slows.