New Nissan Leaf Gets Big Improvements to Make It More Competitive

Nissan’s new third-generation Leaf features big improvements that make it a far more competitive electric vehicle (EV). 

The overhauled Leaf is built on entirely new architecture and shares a platform with the larger Ariya. The new-generation EV will come with two battery options: a 75-kWh battery that will be available initially, and a more affordable, smaller 53-kWh battery that will be available later. This is a significant step up from the previous generation Leaf, which had 40-kWh and 60-kWh batteries, respectively.  

The new Leaf notably comes with two types of charge ports: A Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) port for Level 3 fast charging, which will allow Leaf owners to access the newest Tesla Superchargers, and a combined charging system (CCS) port on the left-hand side for Level 2 charging. 

The Leaf will now be capable of accepting 150 kW when charging, which can take battery charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes under optimal conditions. 

The longest range offering is 488 km for the S+ trim level, while the SV+ will have 463 km, and 417 km for the Platinum+. Range for the smaller 53-kWh battery S trim will be announced later down the line. 

All 75-kWh Leaf versions produce 214 hp, while the smaller 53 kWh battery produces 174 hp. All versions of the Leaf are front-wheel drive. 

Interior space for the new Leaf has also significantly increased over the previous generation, with 566/1,557 L of space with the seats up/down, a big step up from 668/849 L for the outgoing model. 

Every version of the Leaf will come with Nissan’s ProPilot Assist driver assistance system as standard. The S and S+ versions will receive dual 12.3-inch displays, while the SV+ and Platinum+ will be available with dual 14.3-inch displays, which come with a Google-based infotainment system. 

The Leaf features Nissan’s 3D camera system, which allows for multiple angles of the car, including front wide, 3D, 360 degrees, and an “invisible hood” view, which is standard across all trim levels and helpful for seeing what you’re driving over.

The Leaf is the first Nissan to come with an electrochromatic roof that can change from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button and block half the roof if desired. This fixed roof feature replaces a traditional sunroof and will only be available for the top-of-the-range Platinum+.  

The Platinum+ trim also comes with built-in speakers in the headrest. This feature allows the driver to discreetly take a phone call or listen to directions without disturbing the rest of the passengers. 

The Leaf’s new design improves drag coefficient over the previous-generation Leaf, dropping from 0.29 cd to 0.26 cd to improve range, aided by the new flush door handles. 

The exterior has received a notable revamp over the previous-generation model. The Leaf now comes with a full-width running light and illuminated logo, which are only available on the Platinum+ trim, and closely follow Nissan’s current design language. 

The Leaf incorporates a 2-3 line graphic throughout the vehicle, which is meant to represent “Ni-San” in Japanese. Most notably, it can be seen in the Leaf’s new holographic tail light design. 

Other nods to Nissan’s Japanese heritage can be seen in the Leaf’s design, such as the roof rails, which are intended to represent katanas. The grooves in the seats are also meant to represent waves, a reference to a famous Japanese painting. 

All Leaf variants will come with Zero Gravity seats developed in collaboration with NASA and are designed to reduce back pressure when driving. These seats are equipped as standard across all Leaf versions, for both the front and rear seats. 

The Leaf’s launch colour will be Sea Breeze Blue (as pictured) and will only be available in two-tone, with the SV+ and Platinum+ having this option. 

The 75-kWh versions (S+, SV+ and Platinum+) of the Leaf will launch in later this year in the fall, while the 53-kWh base version (S), will be available in the spring of 2026. Pricing is expected to be announced closer to the launch dates.