New Nissan Leaf is here with crossover looks and 375 miles of range

Nissan has officially unveiled its all-new third-generation Leaf, reinventing its pioneering EV as a crossover with a 375-mile range.

Set to go on sale in the coming months, the new Leaf will be built in the UK and Nissan says the SUV-styled EV has been engineered to meet the needs of European customers.

Nissan helped kickstart the mainstream EV revolution with the first generation Leaf but has fallen behind rivals in recent years. It says that this all-new model will build on the original’s legacy while addressing key barriers to EV adoption.

Built on the same CMF-EV platform as the larger Nissan Ariya, the new Leaf will offer two battery options. A 52kWh standard range model will return up to 270 miles of range while a 75kWh pack should give up to 375 miles on a charge – almost 150 miles more than the previous model.

Nissan is also proud of the Leaf’s high-speed capabilities, claiming it will cover more than 205 miles at a constant 80mph.

Using a new platform means the old Leaf’s outdated CHAdeMO connection has been replaced with the industry-standard CCS and the Leaf will now charge at up to 150kW, allowing a 10-80% charge in 30 minutes. The new Leaf also features vehicle-to-load capability as standard and is vehicle-to-grid compatible.

Nissan hasn’t confirmed which motor is used in the Leaf but two-wheel-drive versions of the Ariya uses a 214bhp front-mounted unit, as do the Renault Scenic and Megane, both of which share the same basic platform.

While the mechanical changes are huge, the most obvious shift between generations of the Leaf are on the surface where the awkward hatchback styling has been replaced with a sleeker SUV style.

There’s more than a passing resemblance to the smooth front of the Ariya, with big C-shaped lighting units joined by a full-width lightbar above an illuminated Nissan badge. While the Ariya’s grille area is black to contrast with the bodywork, the Leaf’s is body coloured, giving a more unified look. The simple, smooth approach continues along its flanks, enhanced by flush-fit door handles, while at the rear a coupe-inspired roofline dips down into a duck-tail spoiler. The Nissan name is spelled out across the tailgate between 3D-effect rear lights. The Leaf will be offered with 18- or 19-inch alloys and the option of a dimmable panoramic glass roof.

Without giving away any measurements, Nissan says the new Leaf is compact and manoeuvrable on the road but with a spacious interior designed to meet family needs.

Drawing some inspiration from the low-set and open cabin of the Ariya, the Leaf features a panoramic digital display using two 14.3-inch screens, above a simple block of media control switches and a row of Ariya-style haptic controls on the dashboard.

The new infotainment system is based on Google’s Android Automotive system which will support smart route planning linked to the car’s battery status. All versions of the Leaf will get adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and driver monitoring as standard.

Full specifications and prices are expected to be announced in the coming weeks but the Leaf is likely to be competing with models such as the Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq and Volkswagen ID.3, suggesting pricing in the region of £30,000-£40,000.

The new Leaf will be built at Nissan’s Sunderland factory, where the 6,000-strong workforce is also preparing for the start of production of the next-generation Qashqai and the new Juke EV. The Leaf and Juke will be powered by batteries produced at the neighbouring AESC factory.

Alongside the new Leaf and Juke, Nissan will strengthen its EV offering with the new Micra, due later this year, and a new city car which will arrive in 2026 to sit beneath the Micra in the Nissan line-up.