A new Nissan Leaf trim has reminded us the Leaf still exists

It’s easy to forget that - until the Tesla Model 3 pinched its crown - the Nissan Leaf was for many years the best-selling electric car of all time. So easy in fact, that, um… we did basically forget about it. Oops.

Until today, because Nissan has announced that it’s introducing a new entry-level version: Shiro trim is based on the existing N-Connecta spec, but throws in the company's ProPilot assisted driving suite and a synthetic leather interior. All for £28,495.

As the base car you only get the option of a 39kWh battery and its 168 miles of range; the 239-mile-capable 59kWh e+ car carries a £5k premium.

Arctic White paint is standard (Shiro means white in Japanese, incidentally) but you can spec a two-tone finish if you prefer. You can also tick the box for a spare wheel pack. Yeah, not exactly Christmas, is it?

“Leaf was the first mass market car when it launched in 2010; with the 2nd generation following in 2018, Nissan continued to be at the forefront of the electric revolution,” said Nic Thomas, Nissan GB’s marketing director. “I’m pleased to introduce this new version, Shiro is a welcome addition to our line-up which is great value and tech advanced and I’m sure will be an incredibly popular choice.

“Staying true to the Leaf’s roots as the original affordable mass-market electric family car we are pleased to be able to offer this variant with over £1,000 worth of benefits for £28,495, £2,000 less than the N-Connecta on which it is based.”

So more value on paper, but as much value as the MG4 countered with when it arrived last year? Hmm…

That said, the MG4’s got a long way to go before it matches the Leaf’s sales figures. Apparently 646,000 units have been shifted to date. We won't forget that in a hurry… or maybe we will.