How do you describe a car that is both brilliant and flawed in equal measures? The Nissan Leaf is a car that has more than one low rolling resistance tyre firmly planted into the future, yet is achingly in the past for those who attribute a car with unlimited freedom.
The Leaf does come with drawbacks, some minor and some fairly major for the majority of UK motorists, but after spending a week with the electric hatchback, there's no denying it is a superb car.
Firstly, the basics. The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car. This means it runs on purely electric energy and does not use a traditional petrol or diesel engine.
There will be no drives to the petrol pumps for Leaf owners, no queuing when the latest fuel crisis hits and no worries over spiralling fuel costs.
Instead, drivers can simply stop off at an electric charging station and recharge the Leaf within six to eight hours, or 80 per cent charge in half an hour if there is a fast charger around.
For added practicality the Leaf can also be charged from home and if this is done overnight drivers can take advantage of lower electric tariffs - Nissan has even boasted a charge could cost as little as £1.
At that price you get up to 110 miles of range before it needs to be recharged, depending on how efficiently you can drive, and it's almost certain the smug smile will remain on your face long after that.
Not least because electric cars deliver zero tailpipe emissions (and free road tax) and are exempt from the London congestion charge. They even cut down on noise pollution because of the quiet, almost eerie electric powertrain.
So far, so good. But critics of electric car technology will point to a myriad of downsides to electric car ownership. We took to the roads in a Nissan Leaf to find out if the criticism was justified.
Introducing the Nissan Leaf
The instantly noticeable thing about the Nissan Leaf is that it is distinctly forgettable in terms of design. Gone are the days when the electric car was a wacky futuristic nightmare; all space bubbles and polished aluminium.
Instead, the Leaf uses a design remarkably close to Nissan's more conventional cars with a few subtle changes including a flip-up front logo that acts as a charging point and a low, sloping wedge shape to improve aerodynamics.
The Nissan Leaf was the first electric car to actually make sense in a real world situation. Capable of seating four with ease, it also has the largest boot out of any electric car on sale at 330-litres.
There's plenty of head and leg-room for passengers as well. In fact, as a family car the Nissan Leaf seems to tick all the boxes in terms of practicality.
Inside the cabin
The 'normal car' feel continues inside the cabin, where the Nissan Leaf could almost be accused of being drab and durable.
However, switch on the engine (via a start button) and the sense of drama is palpable. The large dash display lights up with a noise taken straight out of a sci-fi show and lights flicker to life.
The display itself is immensely helpful; it gives feedback on battery charge, the amount of range remaining and even your driving style, alongside the usual speedometer.
The Nissan Leaf has everything your normal hatchback would have; air conditioning, a satellite navigation system, colour screen and CD/radio.
It feels like a traditional car and this is telling; if electric cars are to work on the mainstream market it has to be an evolution of today's car design. The Nissan Leaf is a car that does this effortlessly and the single trim level is well-equipped enough to satisfy most drivers.
Under the bonnet
Having explained how the Nissan Leaf is powered, it was time to test out the electric powertrain. The first thing you notice when on the move is cabin noise - or distinct lack of it.
The Nissan Leaf gently hums as it picks up speed and it can be quite unnerving at first to be travelling without the throaty roar of an engine as a backdrop.
It can also be deceiving; the Nissan Leaf is swift off the mark and the 108bhp electric motor offers instant acceleration that can catch you off guard. The Leaf can reach 62mph from standing in 11.9 seconds, not bad for an electric car.
It is ideal for the city and there is certainly no lack of power from the willing electric setup. The Leaf is limited to a top speed of 89mph but even approaching this speed will drain the battery.
On the road
There's another feather in the Leaf's already impressively-plumed cap on the road. Steering is responsive - although not on par with the likes of the Focus and Golf - but more than adequate for a daily drive.
Bumps in the road are dealt with well in the Leaf and only the larger divets will cause discomfort when out and about.
The Nissan Leaf feels like a conventional petrol or diesel car on the road and this can only be a good thing that can help to ease the driver's transition into life in an electric car.
What about the tech?
This is where the Nissan Leaf gets clever. Recently a man in the US used his Leaf to power a kettle and his fridge during Storm Sandy when power across the neighbourhood had gone.
While this mod is not a standard feature (or recommended by Nissan), the Leaf does have enough unique technology to impress even the most ardent petrolhead.
Download the iPhone app and a world of opportunity is open to you. The app allows you to check the Leaf's charge remotely, find nearby charging points and, ideal for winter, set the air conditioning to warm the car up before you've even left the comfort of bed.
It also comes with more standard technology such as satellite navigation - although this can sometimes be inaccurate and is not on par with the same feature offered in the likes of the Juke and Qashqai.
Should I buy a Nissan Leaf?
Now we come to the tricky part. The Nissan Leaf will cost you £26,000 and this is after the £5,000 government plug-in car grant is taken into account.
Considering a Ford Focus starts at £14,000 and doesn't come with range anxieties, it is difficult to find an argument for Leaf ownership.
However, incredibly low running costs are a big draw and for those who are interested, the Nissan Leaf is a car with a conscience when it comes to environmental matters.
Nissan has also moved to reassure drivers about residual values by insisting the expensive battery pack can be reused elsewhere or repaired as individual cells to cut costs.
Never before has a car been so brilliant for such a niche group of drivers. Take MotorTorque Mum for instance; for ten years she has driven a (pristine) Volkswagen Lupo the ten miles to work and back.
When it comes to a routine service, the mechanic is regularly astonished at the low mileage and condition of the little-used supermini.
For her, the Nissan Leaf makes perfect sense. Charged overnight, it could last several days on a single charge and save plenty in petrol costs.
However, with such a low mileage, would the £26,000 price-tag ever be recouped? Probably not. In the end, the Nissan Leaf is the perfect car for those who travel short distance, want low driving costs and are actively seeking to buy an electric or 'greener' car.
How many drivers are out there that fit this criteria? Latest sales figures show very few - less than 500 to-date in 2012 have bought a Leaf and half that number took the plunge in 2011.
Which is a pity, because as forward-thinking electric car technology goes, the Nissan Leaf is the best around. For now.
