Third-Gen Nissan Leaf Bows In as a 214 HP-Rated EV SUV

The third-gen Nissan Leaf EV has debuted officially, featuring a new coupe SUV look with up to 214 HP and 488 KM range.

Following several teasers and prior announcements, the third-gen Nissan Leaf has finally debuted. And yes, what many consider to be the world’s first mass-market EV is now an SUV crossover instead of a hatch, featuring promising figures and specs to go toe-to-toe with segment leaders out there.

We’ve already talked about how the new Leaf design is based on the Nissan Chill-Out concept from 2021, featuring a sporty coupe SUV crossover bodystyle with some familiar design cues borrowed from other Nissan EVs, most notably the Ariya SUV. 

Besides the obvious bits like the Toyota-esque C-shaped LED headlights and Tesla Model Y-inspired silhouette, the new Leaf also features some distinct design features. Key highlights include the hidden rear door handles, sculpted lines on the side, a sporty rear end design with dark-tinted taillights and an integrated rear spoiler a la Nissan Z, 18- to 19-inch alloy wheels, and many more.

Despite adopting a supposedly more practical SUV bodystyle, the new Leaf is actually smaller than the previous hatch, spanning 4,405 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, 1,550 mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 2,690 mm. More importantly, its sleek body isn’t just for show, as Nissan claims the new Leaf is their most aerodynamic production vehicle to date, with a drag coefficient of 0.25 Cd for the European-spec model.

The dramatic changes continue as we get inside the new Leaf, where it ditches the hatch’s dated cabin for a more minimalist and tech-laden layout. For starters, it now adopts a new digital cockpit setup comprising dual 12.3-inch or 14.3-inch screens depending on the trim and region. They are joined by a new two-spoke steering wheel, touch-sensitive shortcut buttons on the front dash, and the standard gear shifter has been changed to simple buttons.

To make the new Leaf more comparable to its futuristic Chinese rivals, Nissan has offered the EV SUV with an optional panoramic sunroof with an electrochromic e-Dimming function, thus eliminating the need for a physical sunshade. Topping off the cabin amenities list is the new Bose Personal Plus audio system with  built-in speakers on the front seats’ headrests.

On the mechanical front, the new Leaf underpins the same CMF-EV platform as the Ariya EV, although it is only available in a single, front-mounted motor setup, which Nissan claims to be 75% quieter and 10% more compact than the previous model.

The entry-level variant Leaf gets a 52-kWh battery pack, while its single-motor FWD setup is capped at 174 hp (130 kW) and 345 Nm. The flagship variant, on the other hand, comes with a larger 75-kWh battery and a more powerful electric motor delivering 214 hp (160 kW) and 355 Nm.

With the 75-kWh unit, the new Leaf is good for up to 488 km of maximum range, which is a significant improvement over the previous model. Charging-wise, this EV SUV can support DCFC at up to 150 kW, allowing it to go from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes. Speaking of charging, the US-spec Leaf will get Tesla’s NACS charging port, while the Japanese model will retain the ageing CHAdeMO port, and the rest of the world will get the standard CCS2 port.

Set to be manufactured at Nissan’s Tochigi plant in Japan and the Sunderland factory in the UK, the third-gen Nissan Leaf will be making its first market entry in the US later in fall this year, followed by Europe, Japan, and the rest of the world by the end of this year. No pricing details were shared for now, but we can expect them to fetch more premium than the previous hatch.