ON THE ROAD: YOU'VE seen the LEAF, now meet Nissan's all-electric seven seater.

Based on the Nissan NV200 van, the e-NV200 is squarely - no pun intended - aimed at the likes of minicab drivers.

But while that demographic is clearly the primary target, families looking for zero emission transport might also want to consider it.

Its looks are divisive. My eldest sunk into his seat when I picked him up from football such was his apparent shame, whereas I thought Nissan had done as much as it could to get away from its commercial origins.

The e-NV200 uses the same powertrain as the aforementioned LEAF, the lithium-ion battery cells being produced in Sunderland and shipped to Spain where the vehicles are built.

It's good for 76mph and has a range of 106 miles according to Nissan's official figures, though more of that later.

Press the accelerator and there's instant power, belying the NV200's DNA. That's great around town, but its limitations become apparent on the open road where you need to plan overtaking well in advance.

The ride is pleasant enough and certainly doesn't feel utilitarian.

ON THE INSIDE: YOU sit high up in the e-NV200, affording a good view of the road ahead. There's also acres of glass, meaning you never feel cocooned. Though there's plenty of plastic inside the cabin, the layout actually feels modern and a world away from commercial vehicles.

Once you have had a play with it, the infotainment system is fairly easy to negotiate and there's a welter of information therein, the most important being your current range and where the nearest charging station is.

WHAT DO YOU GET: NISSAN says the equipment on the e-NV200 is more reminiscent of a passenger car, with the likes of automatic headlights and wipers, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, rear view camera, CarWings, heated seats and heated steering wheel.

HOW PRACTICAL IS IT: IN terms of space, it should not come as a huge surprise that the e-NV200 majors on practicality. There's room wherever you look and cubbies to hide stuff away. Getting into the second and third row of seats is also made much easier thanks to the sliding passenger doors. My youngest kids enjoyed sitting in the rear most seats which were definitely fit for purpose and more than just an adornment. With them up, boot capacity is 870-litres, but fold all of them down and you've got 2,940 litres - that's flat moving levels of capability.

When it comes to getting around, the Nissan is more than capable around town and for short hops, but anything longer than that and it loses some of its allure. While Nissan say it is possible to go more than 100 miles, I found that on each charge I got a maximum of 80-miles or so and that was further diminished when I put on the air con and other equipment or drove in anything other than a leisurely fashion. It meant that this was not a vehicle I could always rely on, even if my destination fell just within the stated range. Plug it in at home and you can be fully charged in eight hours, though with the right equipment it is possible to reduce this time to just four hours. It's also possible to get it up to 80 per cent capacity with a 50kW quick charger.

RUNNING COSTS: THERE'S no need to visit the pumps, so there's plenty of potential savings once you've shelled out at the dealership. Nissan states the cost of plugging in works out four times cheaper than filling up a diesel vehicle. In addition, it claims that servicing costs are also 40 per cent lower.

VERDICT: ENVIRONMENTALLY sound but with associated drawbacks. 

ALTERNATIVES: NONE to speak of.