One of the first modern-era electric cars has been reinvented as a coupe-styled SUV, promising to address its predecessor’s weaknesses with up to 604km of range, and a modern cabin.
The pioneer of mass-market electric cars – the Nissan Leaf – has been reborn as an SUV, offering a claimed driving range more than 50 per cent longer than the hatchback it replaces.
But Australians may need to wait close to two years, as Nissan has confirmed it is due in showrooms sometime in the 2026 Japanese fiscal year, which runs from March 2026 to April 2027.
Stock of the current Leaf has all but sold out in Australia, leaving Nissan without an electric vehicle (EV) until the larger Ariya arrives towards the end of this year.
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The outgoing second-generation Leaf hatch was unveiled months after the Tesla Model 3 hit US roads, but slow charging, modest driving range, and outdated cabin technology saw it quickly left behind.
The new, SUV-shaped Leaf aims to bring the nameplate into the 2020s, with up to 604km of claimed range, new features, a much more modern interior, and quicker charging.
Battery packs are finally liquid-cooled, not air-cooled, so they can charge faster – and more reliably over a long road trip.
And European – and likely Australian – models now offer the much more common CCS charging socket, ditching the obscure CHAdeMO plug still used on Japanese examples, but fitted to only a handful of EV models here.
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Sized similarly to a Kia EV3, the new Leaf claims a low drag coefficient of 0.25 to boost range, helped by flush door handles, a coupe-styled roofline, and an enclosed underbody.
Seen around the car – including in the 3D ‘holographic’ tail-lights – is a new signature comprised of two vertical rectangles and three horizontal ones, reflecting the numbers two and three in Japanese, which are pronounced ‘ni’ and ‘san’, phonetically creating the brand’s name.
Buyers can choose from 18-inch steel, 18-inch alloy or 19-inch alloy wheels, depending on market, as well as “special … door mirror designs” in Europe to maximise range, and a black roof on high-grade models.
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Inside, there are two large screens – both measuring 12.3 or 14.3 inches across, depending on market – with customisable backgrounds, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and remote software updates.
The gear shifter has moved to a row of buttons on the dashboard, while shortcut buttons remain under the centre display to access the air-conditioning controls which now run through the screen.
A traditional volume dial has been retained on the dashboard.
There are three interior colour combinations – black/dark green, light grey/blue, and white/blue-violet – for the cloth or leather-look seats, and contrasting trims around the cabin.
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Nissan touts the Leaf’s “NASA-inspired Zero Gravity” front and outboard rear seats, and a panoramic roof with liquid-crystal tech to dim the panel in four settings at the touch of a button.
Available interior features include wireless phone charging, a 10-speaker Bose stereo with headrest speakers, hands-free power tailgate, 64-colour ambient lighting, and built-in Google apps, including Maps and Assistant.
Boot space is quoted as up to 437 litres in European models, up from 405L today.
Underpinning the new Leaf is the same CMF-EV electric-car platform as the Renault Megane E-Tech and larger Nissan Ariya electric cars.
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Entry-level versions use a 52kWh battery and 130kW/345Nm front electric motor for up to 436km of claimed driving range in European WLTP testing.
Long-range models upgrade to a 75kWh pack and 160kW/355Nm electric motor, boosting range to 604km under WLTP testing – up from 270km to 385km for the outgoing Leaf hatch.
DC fast charging is now rated at up to 150kW – up from 50kW to 100kW in the old Leaf – for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in a claimed 35 minutes.
New technology allows excess heat from the onboard charger to warm the battery, and uses the topology of the navigation route to cool the battery and conserve energy when it is predicted the load on the electric motor will be low.
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Nissan claims a 66 per cent increase in lateral rigidity, with a 10cm-smaller turning circle, and a new three-in-one electric motor.
Available safety features include traffic jam assist technology that optimises regenerative braking in city traffic while maintaining the gap to the car ahead, plus the likes of adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist, and a 360-degree camera.
Leaf SUVs sold in certain markets will include 1500-watt power outlets in the boot for powering external devices, as well as vehicle-to-grid technology that allows energy from the car’s battery to be returned to the energy grid at a profit for the owner.
The new 2026 Nissan Leaf will be built in Japan and the UK. More details for Australia are due closer to launch.
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