The Nissan Leaf is back, and it's got a controversial new look

One of the big EV innovators that helped push electric cars into the mainstream has been completely reimagined, because where once the Nissan Leaf was a sensible, somewhat awkward C-segment hatchback, this all-new generation is much more interesting. That's not just because of its arresting design, but also because it now packs some impressive numbers that will bring it right back into play against key rivals, such as the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID.3. Advertisement - Article continues below
It's those two key competitors that Nissan has its eye on, appealing to both the short-range urban dweller and, thanks to a new long-range battery option, high-mileage business users. The new long-range battery is a 75kWh unit that gives the Leaf up to 375 miles of range, which matches the EV3's best efforts and besting the ID.3's maximum claimed 369-mile figure. This feeds power to a front-mounted 214bhp electric motor and will go from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, before topping out at 100mph.
Nissan quotes DC charging speeds of up to 150kW, topping up the battery from 20 to 80 per cent in less than 30 minutes. However, a UK-based development team has also been testing the Leaf during sustained high-speed driving that should give owners a better idea of motorway efficiency. In this case, Nissan says the long-range Leaf will still offer around 204 miles on a single charge at a sustained 80mph. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
The entry-level 52kWh battery, which is aimed more at urban use, is still impressive on the WLTP cycle, reaching 270 miles from a charge, with 138 miles achieved on the in-house 80mph test. This version is powered by a slightly less powerful 174bhp electric motor, and slows down the charging to 105kW – yet the smaller battery retains a 30-minute 20-80 per cent refill figure. Its 0-62mph time is 8.6 seconds and hits the same 100mph top speed.
Yet a big battery is only one of the elements required for long range figures, and in this respect Nissan's designers have worked hard to make the Leaf into a much more slippery and efficient EV. The sloping roofline, Kamm-tail rear end and clever aero tricks around the front contribute to an impressive drag coefficient of just 0.25 – excellent for the class and above many key rivals. Advertisement - Article continues below
The sloping roofline has also been a key driver of change when it comes to the car's overall form, with Giovanni Arroba explaining to Auto Express about the latest model's design philosophy. 'The Leaf is all about muscularity, wheel orientation, agility, but it should still have a sense of chic, urban, sleek and sexiness,' he explained. 'The shape of the Leaf very much is again, shaped by bringing 604 kilometres [of range] to the customer within that price range.' Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Nissan has also sprinkled in plenty of nineties-inspired design details, which was a heyday for the brand. Elements such as three-dimensional rear lights and their clever 'Ni-San' (or two-three in Japanese) graphics, plus references to sports models like the 300ZX around the blacked-out rear panel, all suggest that the company is leaning into something the newer Chinese and Korean brands don't have: heritage.
It might appear like a big car, but pictures don't quite do the Leaf justice, because it's one of very few EVs that looks smaller in the flesh. At 4,350mm long, it's only around 50mm lengthier than the boxy Kia EV3. The Leaf is available with 18 or 19-inch wheels, although specific trim levels and pricing have yet to be confirmed for the UK market. Advertisement - Article continues below
The cabin's interior design is much more contemporary, with the clean and uncluttered dash layout prioritising a digital-heavy interface, but without totally relegating physical controls to the bin. The twin-screen display is new for Nissan, and comprises dual 14.3-inch screens that are even bigger than the Nissan Ariya's. They also run a fresh native interface that's powered by the latest electronic hardware, and include elements such as intelligent voice control and a Google-based navigation system. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Just below the main screen bank is a set of touch-sensitive controls for the air-conditioning, and between the air vents are a simple volume knob, track-seek buttons and a shortcut for the parking cameras. High-spec models will also feature a Bose sound system, including a dedicated speaker that can relay navigation and warning sounds to the driver without interrupting passengers.
The rear seats are spacious for the class, with good knee and legroom. A flat floor means foot room is decent, while there is plenty of headroom, despite the sloping roofline. Nissan will offer a glass roof on higher-specification models, which includes the same changeable glass that can block sunlight across the roof in stages. As well as making the cabin brighter, the glass roof also increases rear headroom by 30mm. Advertisement - Article continues below
There's plenty of space in the cabin, with good storage for small items combined with a vast, open area under the dashboard to really hammer home that this is a bespoke EV, rather than one based on an existing ICE platform. The 437-litre boot is also a good size and is 50 litres bigger than the previous-generation Leaf. However, more upright rivals will likely be more versatile when it comes to loading bulky items.
Nissan will split the Leaf into four trim levels: Engage, Engage+. Advance and Evolve. Specific features and pricing for each of these will be revealed closer to its launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, but Nissan has suggested that both the standard equipment and pricing will be competitive with the Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born, Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric.
So while the Nissan Leaf might have been a trailblazer when it first brought EV motoring to the masses, its relative inability to capitalise on that lead has made the previous model something of an afterthought in the era of bespoke EVs from Europe, Korea and, now, China.
However, this new generation signals that Nissan is committed to getting back to the sharp end of the class, and has ensured that its Sunderland factory in the UK is equipped for the sales volume the company hopes to see.
Auto Express Find A Car can help you find the best deals out there on used Nissan Leaf models ...
Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can't be anything but popular
Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can't be anything but popular
The Kia Sportage has earned its popularity over the years and deals like our Car Deal of the Day for June 14 won't do it any harm at all.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Auto Blog

6 hours ago

• Auto Blog

EV Shops Ditch Grease for Tablets: How Auto Repair Shops Are Transforming

Step into a modern auto shop and you'll find technicians poring over live battery data on tablets, calibrating LiDAR sensors with laser precision, and 3D-printing custom brackets on the fly. Gone are the days of grease-stained overalls and guesswork. The U.S. automotive repair and maintenance market was valued at approximately $183.5 billion in 2023, with continued growth projected through 2032. The ADAS calibration service market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% from 2025 to 2032, reaching $3.15 billion by 2032. Today's garages have transformed into high-tech labs. Drivers now expect advanced safety checks and electric-vehicle expertise, and the best shops deliver with cloud dashboards, rapid prototyping, and digital diagnostics that keep cars—and their owners—moving confidently into the future. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 2025 Nissan Z undercuts Toyota Supra by a surprising amount Watch More Diagnostics Bay Meets Data Lab Technicians plug in OEM-grade scan tools that stream ECU data to central servers. They monitor battery state-of-charge curves, voltage sag under load, or coolant-temperature trends from previous road tests. Cloud-based platforms flag anomalies before a breakdown lands a tow truck on the highway. Shops treat these logs like experimental data: they diagnose intermittent misfires by spotting patterns across dozens of vehicles. EV Service Workshop Electric-vehicle maintenance no longer revolves around oil changes. Technicians inspect battery modules with thermal imaging, verify cell balance, and test regenerative-braking systems with specialized rigs. They update battery-management software and confirm proper cooling-pump operation under simulated loads. Shops invest in insulated gloves and lockout-tagout protocols to handle high-voltage circuits safely. ADAS Calibration Room Nearly 98 million U.S. vehicles now feature ADAS. Every windshield replacement or suspension tweak can misalign cameras and radar. Shops deploy precise calibration rigs: optical targets, radar reflectors, and alignment platforms that position vehicles within millimeters. They run static and dynamic calibrations per OEM specs. Insert 'ADAS calibration setup image' here. These procedures prevent lane-departure false alerts or misread obstacles. Technicians update calibration software regularly, ensuring each sensor array 'sees' true road geometry. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Fabrication and Rapid Prototyping Sometimes parts arrive late or not at all. Modern shops embrace desktop 3D printing for non-structural components: custom brackets, sensor mounts, or trim clips. They machine small adapters on CNC mills for aftermarket upgrades or retrofit kits. This approach speeds repairs and reduces downtime. Technicians treat CAD files like lab blueprints, tweaking dimensions to fit each model. Networked Workflow and Security Connected-shop management systems track work orders, parts inventory, and technician hours. IoT-enabled tool platforms report torque counts on critical fasteners, ensuring bolts meet spec. Shops segment their networks to protect vehicle data and customer information. They install secure Wi-Fi for OEM update downloads and remote diagnostics while guarding against cyber threats. Real-World Recommendations for Enthusiasts When choosing a service center, ask whether their 'science lab' offer: OEM-level scan tools with cloud integration for comprehensive diagnostics. EV-safe bays equipped with insulated tools and battery-test equipment. Certified ADAS calibration rigs meeting OEM tolerances. In-house rapid-prototyping for urgent or rare-part solutions. Secure network practices for over-the-air updates and data privacy. Yes, today's service garage often resembles a lab more than a grease-stained bay. Yet amid diagnostic dashboards and calibration rigs, the goal remains simple: get drivers back on the road safely and confidently. Do you trust a shop that treats your car like a data set or one that still relies on guesswork? In the end, the measure of a modern garage lies in miles driven without worry—because every precise calibration and timely repair fuels the thrill of the next drive. About the Author Brian Iselin View Profile

Auto Express

10 hours ago

• Auto Express

Help! I need a £13k warm hatchback that's small and fun

Dear Auto Express, I'm after a warm hatchback for £13,000 with no more than 40,000 miles on the clock. Any ideas? - Tom Carpenter, E-mail In a world of eye-wateringly quick electric cars and 400bhp hyper hatches, it's all too easy to overlook one of motoring's simple pleasures: the well sorted supermini with a decent amount of power. Advertisement - Article continues below The Volkswagen up! GTI is the perfect example. It produces a modest 113bhp, but has only just over a tonne to push along, and sounds rorty while doing so. If you want something bigger, the Ford Fiesta has long been the driver's choice among small hatchbacks. It's particularly sharp in ST-Line guise, and although it lacks the fully fledged ST badge, the Fiesta is an absorbing companion. Like the Ford, the Suzuki Swift Sport packs 138bhp into a small footprint, and with its low kerbweight and pliant suspension set-up, it flows along bumpy roads very nicely. It feels surprisingly peppy, and slipping into the snug bucket seats adds to the racy feel. Here's our expert pick of the three best warm small hatchback available for a budget of £13,000, together with links to buy them through our Find a Car service… For: Eager handling, sporty looks, ample performance Eager handling, sporty looks, ample performance Against: Cheap materials, permanent stability control Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below With slender headlights and a subtle, sporty bodykit, the ST-Line is the raciest Ford Fiesta to look at, bar the hottest ST version. It backs up those looks on the road, too. All Fiestas have a well honed precision, but the ST-Line goes further, with a tauter feel. It's a bigger car than the up!, but still compact enough to thread neatly along narrow roads. Advertisement - Article continues below However, as with the Volkswagen, the stability control can't be switched off, which does keep a lid on how much fun you can have. With a budget of £13,000, you can bag a 2018 Fiesta that's covered less than 19,000 miles. The Fiesta's seat and wheel are widely adjustable, which allows a low-slung, sporty driving position, and quality is generally very good. While you can see the occasional cheap-feeling piece of plastic, the overall design is attractive and more modern than the Suzuki's. Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system isn't particularly cutting-edge, but it does the job, plus both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available and give a slicker interface. The cabin is spacious as well; there's more room in the back than in the VW, allowing even taller adults to fit. The Ford's 311-litre boot is the biggest of this trio, too. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Used Ford Fiesta ST-Line deals For: Chuckable handling, zippy engine, compact size Chuckable handling, zippy engine, compact size Against: Short of steering feel, ESP can't be switched off The Volkswagen up! GTI doesn't shout about its sporting abilities – partly because it's not particularly fast, but mostly because VW's understated approach works as well here as in the original Golf GTI. The up! GTI is lively enough, though. A 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds doesn't sound encouraging, but exercising the engine and slicing your way through the manual gearbox is one of the joys of the GTI. Advertisement - Article continues below It's the smallest car here, too, so you can really enjoy the chassis; we just wish you could loosen the reins of the ESP. With £13,000, you can buy a 25,000-mile example from 2020. Inside, the up! really shines. The GTI gets a sporty, flat-bottomed steering wheel, cloth sports seats and red graphics on the dashboard, the latter of which may not be to all tastes. The build quality is good, though, with a satisfying heft to the major controls. There's a five-inch colour screen, but owners will need to rely on the car's integrated smartphone holder and the Maps + More app for more extensive infotainment features. The up! Is surprisingly roomy for a small car, with just enough space for four adults and a 251-litre boot. The five-door model is more versatile, but the three-door looks slightly better. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Used Volkswagen up! GTI deals For: Well judged ride, feisty engine, distinctive looks Well judged ride, feisty engine, distinctive looks Against: Chassis could be more playful, dated interior Suzuki's original Swift Sport was an instant hit thanks to its funky looks, agile handling and perky engine, and this Mk3 version is much the same. A sportier bodykit and twin tailpipes mark it out as the fruitiest variant of the Swift. Advertisement - Article continues below The Sport weighs less than 1,000kg, and its 1.4-litre motor develops 138bhp. It has a decent mid-range punch, although some might be disappointed at the lack of a raucous exhaust note. The Swift is entertaining to drive, but more relaxed than its rivals, due to its compliant set-up. A 2019 example with less than 30,000-miles on the clock falls within the £13,000 budget. Unfortunately, while the Swift's sports steering wheel, red trim and figure-hugging seats do lift the cabin to some degree, the Suzuki lags behind its rivals when it comes to the interior. The material quality isn't a match for Ford's or Volkswagen's, and the infotainment system is far from snappy. It's an aftermarket touchscreen that's slow to respond and really dates the interior, although Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration is the set-up's saving grace. All Swift Sports are equipped with sat-nav and a forward collision warning system, but it's a smaller car than the Fiesta and thus less accommodating for rear seat-passengers. However, the 261-litre boot is a fraction larger than the Volkswagen's. Used Suzuki Swift Sport deals Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too . Find a car with the experts Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK The success of the GR Yaris has persuaded Toyota that there's room in its UK range for the high performance Corolla New Audi A3 e-tron proves the brand isn't turning its back on smaller cars New Audi A3 e-tron proves the brand isn't turning its back on smaller cars Audi has confirmed it's bringing a posh all-electric take on the MEB platform to market, and in good time Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028 Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028 The industry is in a race to bring solid-state to the market, and Nissan isn't too far behind the leaders

Reuters

14 hours ago

• Reuters

Breakingviews - Renault exit could grease Nissan's turnaround

HONG KONG, June 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A Renault ( opens new tab exit could speed Nissan Motor's (7201.T), opens new tab turnaround. Selling the remaining $2 billion stake in its longtime French partner would help buy time to put its house in order. Accepting the end of an era makes sense for both. Japan's Nissan has money for a rainy day. The cars business boasted, opens new tab $10.3 billion net cash as of March 2025, as well as unused lines of credit worth $14.5 billion. But a lengthy recovery could erode those funds. The unit's free cash flow turned negative to the tune of $1.7 billion last year, when it reported an operating loss of 268 billion yen ($1.8 billion). Things will get worse before they get better: it won't earn operating income until 2029, per analyst estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. That could make refinancing some $4 billion of bonds due in 2026 more challenging. Meanwhile, the Renault relationship has drifted. In 2023, their Alliance was rejigged, opens new tab to allow for new partners. Now, new CEO Ivan Espinosa's plan involves selling Nissan's stake in their joint Indian plant and consolidating production in Latin America, where the revamped Alliance was supposed to stay strong. Anchoring what remains through a cross-shareholding is unnecessary. True, there are ongoing projects. Renault factories currently produce three models for Nissan. Three more will follow in India, and Nissan's Micra in Europe will use its partner's EV platform. The latter is important as the European Union's carbon emissions rules demand carmakers buy credits if they cannot sell enough battery-powered vehicles. But this cooperation could continue or even expand without the pair's mutual holdings. Moving on would unlock cash. Nissan's full 15% stake in the French carmaker is now worth some $2 billion. The pair's most recent agreement in March allows them to reduce their respective stakes to 10%: Espinosa intends to exercise that option, the Nikkei reported on Monday. He could ask Renault to let him sell the lot. Nissan's share price, at 351.9 yen as of Thursday's close, is well below the 400 yen Renault paid in 1999, so the group – fresh from its own successful turnaround – has a vested interest in doing whatever it can to reboot the beleaguered brand. For the same reason, Renault seems unlikely to reciprocate by dumping Nissan's stock immediately. The downside is that then Renault would still hold its stake with 15% voting rights, giving it more influence over the Japanese group. But Espinosa is in no position to be picky if an exit helps to kickstart new beginnings. Follow Katrina Hamlin on Bluesky, opens new tab and LinkedIn, opens new tab.