Nissan has pulled the sheet off its Leaf today. The name is an obligation: in 2010, the first generation of the compact car was one of the earliest electric vehicles (EVs). Now Nissan is presenting the third generation. On a new platform and with ambitious range promises. The order books are due to open in autumn.
Nissan is bringing the Leaf back. The Japanese company announced that it will launch the third generation of its electric car still this year. Production of the second generation was discontinued in Sunderland, UK, in March 2024. The new Leaf will be available to order starting in autumn, with Nissan targeting the first deliveries for spring 2026. The price has not yet been announced, but the manufacturer has revealed all the essential technical data.
“With the all-new LEAF, we are delivering an electric vehicle that blends elegance, confidence, and breakthrough range, wrapped in a design that’s as smart as it is emotional,” said Arnaud Charpentier, Region Vice President, Marketing & Mobility, Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania). “It brings the best of Nissan innovation to the mainstream, and we’re incredibly excited to introduce it to European roads.”
New design and tech
It was already known in the run-up to today’s presentation that the new Leaf features a new design and is based on the AmpR Medium platform (previously known as the CMF-EV platform), similar to its larger sibling, the Ariya. Measuring 4.35 x 1.81 x 1.55 meters and with a wheelbase of 2.69 meters, the five-seater is positioned between the Ariya (4.60 meters long) and the smaller Micra (3.97 meters).
The latter is a sister model of the electric Renault 5 and therefore differs fundamentally from the other two Nissan electric models in terms of its technical construction kit.
The Leaf will be available in two variants, a basic version with 130 kW of power and a 52 kWh battery for a range of up to 436 kilometers, according to WLTP, and a technically more powerful version with a 160 kW motor, a larger 75 kWh battery, and a range of up to 604 kilometers.
The torque and sprint power differ slightly between the two (345 vs. 355 Nm of torque, and 8.6 vs. 7.6 seconds from 0 to 100 kph), but not the top speed, which is limited to 160 kph for both versions.
While the Leaf with the larger battery can draw direct current of up to 150 kW at the fast-charging station, the version with the small battery can only draw 105 kW. According to Nissan’s preliminary figures, both models require just under 30 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%, which is rather mediocre for an electric car launched in 2025.
The manufacturer also states an AC charging capacity of 11 kW, and a V2L function with a maximum of 3.6 kW is available for charging external devices. The new Leaf is also prepared for V2G, or vehicle-to-grid technology. However, the Japanese company has not specified when this function will be activated in which market.
For the chassis layout, Nissan has opted for a MacPherson front suspension in combination with a multi-link rear axle for driving comfort. A boot capacity of 437 litres, according to VDA measuring, is also intended to contribute to the practicality of the car. Depending on the equipment variant, the Leaf also has roof rails for mounting roof racks.
Nissan also lists a bundle of driving assistants as safety features, including an intelligent adaptive speed and distance control system, a lane departure warning system, and a driver monitoring system. The level of recuperation can also be adjusted via paddle shifters, including the ‘e-Pedal Step’. The ProPILOT Assistant system, which adapts the speed to bends and changing speed limits thanks to networking with the sat nav, is also available as an option.
Smaller, more aerodynamic
The third generation differs significantly from its predecessors. Nissan’s Global Design Studio, based in Japan, has trimmed the Leaf for aerodynamics, which is reflected in a drag coefficient of 0.25. This is better than the 0.28 of the second generation Leaf, although at 1.79 meters it was two centimeters slimmer (and incidentally also 15 centimeters longer) than the third generation now presented. Nissan cites flush door handles, the flowing roofline, and a complete underbody panelling as guarantees for good aerodynamics.
Other design features include a continuous light strip at the front, striking 3D tail lights at the rear, and a tinted panoramic glass roof. Inside, the designers emphasised clear lines and good visibility.
“For the all-new Leaf, we’ve introduced a refined new expression of electric design, confident and modern, with unmistakable Nissan DNA,” said Giovanny Arroba, Vice President, Nissan Design Europe. “Its aerodynamic silhouette, distinctive lighting signature, and carefully crafted interior details reflect a deep understanding of what modern European EV drivers value, not just in function, but also in form and feeling.”
In terms of connectivity, Nissan relies on Google services, which can be controlled directly via the two 14.3-inch screens in the vehicle. The new Leaf also enables passengers to control functions such as navigation, air conditioning, and media using voice commands. The model also supports over-the-air updates and the manufacturer’s central service app, ‘NissanConnect Services’.
Made in Sunderland
The new Leaf will be built at the British Nissan plant in Sunderland as the first model under Nissan’s EV36Zero initiative, which aims to turn Sunderland into an eMobility production hub. In this context, a component plant of the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO) and another battery factory have also been announced on site. Like the existing battery cell plant, they will presumably be built together with partner AESC (formerly Envision AESC).
Nissan presented the EV36Zero project in 2021 with an initial investment volume of £1 billion (€1.17 billion) and has since announced an expansion of the investment to £3 billion (€3.5 billion). At the heart of EV36Zero are three all-electric models: the now-unveiled successor to the pioneering Leaf model and electric versions of the popular Qashqai and Juke ranges.
The Leaf has a special status at Nissan. With 700,000 sales worldwide, the first model in particular became the first eMobility bestseller. This first generation was produced from 2010 to 2017, and the second generation was presented in September 2017 and delivered from January 2018.
European vehicles were always produced at the British plant. The second generation was not the success that was hoped for, and the battery was not cooled with liquid, which led to overheating and extremely low charging performance in summer or during repeated fast-charging processes over long distances.
“The all-new LEAF reflects our commitment to delivering EVs that exceed expectations, not just in range, performance, and technology, but in how seamlessly they integrate into the daily lives of our customers,” emphasized Clíodhna Lyons, Regional Vice President, Product and Services Planning of Nissan AMIEO.
“This evolution of our iconic nameplate represents the very best version of itself. It’s smarter, more connected, and more capable for a new generation of drivers,” she added.
