The Nissan LEAF is now a crossover with some pretty major upgrades. Nissan unveiled the third-gen EV, dropping the iconic hatch design for a stylish crossover. It now has significantly more range, and it even has an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Here’s our first look at the new Nissan LEAF EV.
Nissan unveils the new LEAF EV
As the first mass-market EV, Nissan’s electric hatch kicked off a new era, arriving in 2010. With more advanced models now available from nearly every brand, most with more range and faster charging, the LEAF has lost some of its lust.
That’s about to change. Nissan revealed the third-generation LEAF on Wednesday, which has morphed into a “sleek and spacious family-friendly crossover.”
Underpinned by its new CMF-EV platform, the same one underpinning the Ariya SUV, Nissan promises the new LEAF will have “significant range improvements” over the outgoing model. It will also be available with 19″ alloy wheels and a panoramic moonroof for the first time.
One of the most exciting upgrades is that the new LEAF will be Nissan’s first EV with an integrated NACS port so you can charge up at Tesla Superchargers. This alone will make it more competitive in the US.
Nissan said more details will be shared mid-year. However, Nissan vehicle programs chief, Francois Bailly, told TopGear.com the new LEAF is expected to have 373 miles (600 km) driving range (WLTP). It will draw power from Nissan’s new 3-in-1 EV powertrain.
The new LEAF will arrive in the US and Canada later this year, joining the Ariya electric SUV. It will be one of ten new and refreshed vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.
In 2026, Nissan will launch the fourth-gen Rogue, the first based on its third-gen e-POWER system. Although no EV version is planned, a PHEV model will be offered.
However, a new “adventure-focused” electric SUV is in the works. It will be built at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant. Following that, a new luxury Infiniti electric SUV is set to arrive in 2028.
In Europe, Nissan will launch the next-gen LEAF later this year, followed by a new Micra EV city car and the Qashqai crossover. Next year, the new Nissan Juke EV will join the lineup.
Author: Peter Johnson
Source: Electrek
Generally, this looks pretty good. I have to say, though, that the original Leaf had a mildly sci-fi look to it that I found endearing. Even the 2nd gen kept at least a bit of that. This new Leaf that Nissan is turning over looks cool, but kind of generic.
Earlier this year, we got a closer look at the new Nissan LEAF testing in the US, revealing its crossover design (shown above).