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Kia e-Niro vs Nissan LEAF (2011-2017)
At a glance
The Kia e-Niro was replaced by the Kia Niro EV in 2022. Compare the Kia Niro EV with the Nissan LEAF
In this comparison, Kia e-Niro stays competitive across the board, while the Nissan LEAF leads on value for money, family practicality and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Nissan LEAF (2011-2017) if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2.1p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Nissan LEAF wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueNissan
Kia
0
Nissan
5.6
FamilyNissan
Kia
3.7
Nissan
6.7
Cost Per MileNissan
Kia
5.1
Nissan
5.8
City DrivingNissan
Kia
7.1
Nissan
7.7
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not available | £25,990 |
| Official range | 180 miles (better) | 118 miles |
| Boot space | 451 L (better) | 370 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 30 min |
| 0-62 mph | 9.8 sec (better) | 11.5 sec |
Size Comparison
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Kia e-Niro
Nissan LEAF
Length
Kia e-Niro4,375mm-70mm
Nissan LEAF4,445mm
Width
Kia e-Niro1,805mm
Nissan LEAF1,770mm-35mm
Height
Kia e-Niro1,570mm
Nissan LEAF1,550mm-20mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,375 mm | 4,445 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,805 mm | 1,770 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,030 mm |
| Height | 1,570 mm | 1,550 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.6 m | 10.4 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 595 mm spare | 630 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 451 L (better) | 370 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 720 L |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Kia e-Niro
- Uses 153 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 80% of SUVs we track.
- At 4,375 mm, shorter than 80% of SUVs in our UK catalogue.
Nissan LEAF
- At 4,445 mm, longer than 95% of hatchback EVs we track.
- 2,700 mm wheelbase, longer than 80% of hatchback EVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia e-Niro 2 |  Nissan LEAF Visia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.38m | 4.45m+70mm |
| Width | 1.80m | 1.77m-35mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.03m |
| Height | 1.57m | 1.55m-20mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.70m | 2.70m |
| Ground Clearance | 155mm | 160mm+5mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 451L (better) | 370L |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 720L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.6m | 10.4m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,667kg | 1,520kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 39.2kWh (better) | 24kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 180 mi (better) | 118 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 50kW | 50kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | Not available | £25,990 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | Hatchback |
| Available | 2019–2022 | 2011–2015 |
* Nissan LEAF: NEDC figure — WLTP testing was not available for this model year
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 180 miles (better) | 118 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 126 miles (better) | 76 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 30 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 50 kW | 50 kW |
| Home AC charging | 7.2 kW (better) | 3.3 kW |
| Energy consumption | 153 Wh/km | 150 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 39.2 kWh (better) | 22 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | LMO_NMC |
| Battery architecture | Not available | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 9.8 sec (better) | 11.5 sec |
| Power | 100 kW (better) | 80 kW |
| Torque | 395 Nm (better) | 254 Nm |
| Drivetrain | fwd | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Kia e-Niro
2
Nissan LEAF
Visia 24kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Nissan LEAF Visia 24kWh
Tested 2011
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant83%
Vulnerable Road Users65%
Safety Assist84%
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Kia e-Niro2 | Nissan LEAFVisia 24kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 7 years | 8 years (better) |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km (better) | 160,000 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Kia e-Niro
2
Owners love
- Very efficient, with owners commonly seeing 4 miles per kWh or more and 250 miles or so from a charge in mild weather
- Little or no battery degradation reported, even on high-mileage and taxi cars
- Comfortable, quiet and easy to live with, with a high seating position and wide-opening doors
Watch out for
- A minority of cars develop a whining or rattling motor and reduction-gear bearing noise, usually fixed under warranty but sometimes with long waits for parts
- The boot is smaller than the crossover shape suggests
- Range drops by around 30% in winter and noticeably at motorway speeds
Owner tips
- Listen for whining, rattling or ticking from the drivetrain on the test drive
- Check the service history is complete (every 12 months or 10,000 miles) to keep the warranty valid
Nissan LEAF
Visia 24kWh
Owners love
- Excellent value for money as a used purchase, with strong reliability over time and minimal maintenance needs beyond tires and wipers
- Very cheap to run with low electricity costs (1-2.5p per mile on off-peak tariffs) and zero vehicle excise duty, recovering purchase price through fuel savings in 3-4 years
- Smooth, quiet, and refined driving experience with instant torque providing surprisingly responsive acceleration from standstill
Watch out for
- Battery degradation is a significant concern on early models, with some owners losing multiple capacity bars within months or years; air-cooled batteries lack thermal management
- Limited real-world range of 50-120 miles makes the Leaf unsuitable as a sole vehicle for longer journeys, requiring careful trip planning and multiple charging stops
- Winter range significantly reduced by 20-30% due to heating demands and cold battery chemistry, sometimes dropping below 70 miles
Owner tips
- Always check actual battery state of health (SOH) using LeafSpy OBD2 diagnostic tool before purchase rather than relying on dashboard bar display or dealer assessments, which can be misleading
- Target 2013+ generation models with mechanical foot brakes, heat pumps, and 6.6kW chargers; prioritize 30kWh batteries over 24kWh for better warranty (8 years vs 5 years) and realistic range
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia e-Niro
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Nissan LEAF
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 126 miles for the Kia e-Niro and 76 miles for the Nissan LEAF - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Kia e-Niro goes roughly 50 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Kia e-Niro or the Nissan LEAF?
The Nissan LEAF is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 35 mm narrower than the Kia e-Niro. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 630 mm of total clearance for the Nissan LEAF and about 595 mm of total clearance for the Kia e-Niro.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia e-Niro or the Nissan LEAF?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 86% battery health for the Kia e-Niro and 65% for the Nissan LEAF. That gives the Kia e-Niro a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. The Nissan LEAF has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia e-Niro.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Kia e-Niro comparisons
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Kia e-Niro and Nissan LEAF rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .