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Nissan LEAF vs Volvo EC40
Selected trimEngageChange trim375 mi · 75 kWh · £35,999
Selected trimSingle MotorChange trim300 mi · 70 kWh · £46,860
At a glance
In this comparison, Nissan LEAF leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Volvo EC40 stays competitive across the board.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Nissan LEAF if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.7p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
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
Nissan
6.3
Volvo
5.4
Motorway RangeNissan
Nissan
8.4
Volvo
3.7
FamilyNissan
Nissan
8.3
Volvo
6.8
Charging
Nissan
7
Volvo
7.1
Too close to call
Cost Per MileNissan
Nissan
9.4
Volvo
3.3
City DrivingNissan
Nissan
6.7
Volvo
4.9
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 | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £35,999 (better) | £46,860 |
| Official range | 375 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Boot space | 437 L (better) | 404 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 26 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 7.6 sec | 7.3 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Nissan LEAF
Volvo EC40
Length
Nissan LEAF4,350mm-90mm
Volvo EC404,440mm
Width
Nissan LEAF1,810mm-63mm
Volvo EC401,873mm
Height
Nissan LEAF1,550mm-41mm
Volvo EC401,591mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,350 mm | 4,440 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,810 mm (better) | 1,873 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,098 mm | 2,034 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,550 mm | 1,591 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.8 m (better) | 11 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 590 mm spare (better) | 527 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear legroom | Not available | 917 mm |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 4 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 437 L (better) | 404 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1052 L | 1310 L (better) |
| Frunk | Not available | 31 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 975 kg | 1,500 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Nissan LEAF
- 375 mile WLTP range, longer than 100% of hatchback EVs we track.
- Eligible for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, one of 8 hatchback EVs we track that qualifies for the top band.
- At 4,350 mm, longer than 90% of hatchback EVs we track.
Volvo EC40
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Nissan LEAF Engage |  Volvo EC40 Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.35m | 4.44m+90mm |
| Width | 1.81m | 1.87m+63mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.10m | 2.03m-64mm |
| Height | 1.55m | 1.59m+41mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.69m | 2.70m+12mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 437L (better) | 404L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1052L | 1310L (better) |
| Frunk | Not available | 31L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Rear Legroom | Not available | 917mm |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.8m (better) | 11m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,883kg (better) | 2,065kg |
| Towing Capacity | 975kg | 1,500kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 75kWh (better) | 70kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 375 mi (better) | 300 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW | 200kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £35,999 (better) | £46,860 |
| Price after EV grant | £32,249 (-£3,750) | £46,860 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 375 miles (better) | 300 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 313 miles (better) | 206 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 26 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 167 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 75 kWh (better) | 70 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Heat pump | Standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7.6 sec | 7.3 sec (better) |
| Power | 160 kW | 175 kW (better) |
| Torque | 355 Nm | 420 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Nissan LEAF
Engage
Volvo EC40
Single Motor
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Nissan LEAF
All 3 videos
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 Engage
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant86%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist71%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Volvo EC40 Single Motor
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist89%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Nissan LEAFEngage | Volvo EC40Single Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Nissan LEAF
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Volvo EC40
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Volvo EC40 worth the extra £10,861 over the Nissan LEAF?
The Volvo EC40 costs £10,861 more than the Nissan LEAF. For that premium it adds 50 kW faster peak rapid charging. The Nissan LEAF is not just cheaper - it also offers 76 miles more WLTP range. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Nissan LEAF comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Nissan LEAF or the Volvo EC40?
The Nissan LEAF is £10,861 cheaper to buy. The Nissan LEAF is cheaper to charge, roughly £136 a year versus £184 for the Volvo EC40, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Nissan LEAF comes out roughly £11,101 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 313 miles for the Nissan LEAF and 206 miles for the Volvo EC40 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Nissan LEAF goes roughly 106 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 26-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Nissan LEAF or the Volvo EC40?
The Nissan LEAF is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 63 mm narrower than the Volvo EC40. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 590 mm of total clearance for the Nissan LEAF and about 527 mm of total clearance for the Volvo EC40.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Nissan LEAF or the Volvo EC40?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Nissan LEAF and 84% for the Volvo EC40. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
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 Nissan LEAF comparisons
More Volvo EC40 comparisons
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 Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Nissan LEAF and Volvo EC40 rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
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 .