Nissan has raised the price of its Leaf electric hatchback in the UK by nearly 7%.

The Volkswagen e-Golf rival is now available from £27,995 - an increase of £1805 - in entry-level Acenta trim. This includes the £3500 government subsidy for electric vehicle (EV) buyers. 

Justifying the increase, a Nissan spokesperson said: “Nissan frequently evaluates the price point of its models and adjusts them according to market demands and other influences, such as inflation and cost base.”

Despite the increase in cost of purchasing a Leaf outright, Nissan claims it will now be cheaper to lease one on a PCP finance basis (how the majority of Leafs are sold) as a result of improved residual values in EVs. 

Alongside the pricing changes, the Japanese manufacturer has expanded the Leaf range by putting the e+ variant into mainstream production, following a successful limited launch earlier this year. 

With a 62kWh battery pack and a 214bhp electric motor, the e+ offers 239 miles of range on the WLTP test cycle – 62 miles more than the standard 40kWh model.

The 2019 Leaf has also gained an 8.0in touchscreen (up from the 7.0in unit in the launch model) with the latest version of the firm’s infotainment software and sat-nav as standard. 

The Leaf retains a 36% share of the UK's fast-growing EV market, despite Nissan experiencing a 32% drop in overall sales here from 2017 to 2018. 

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