► Shorter but roomier new look
► More range, quicker charging
► EV-only Juke follows next year
Just weeks after taking the wraps off the new electric-only Renault 5-inspired new Micra, Nissan has revealed the Mk3 Leaf, which will be built in Sunderland and goes on sale next year.
It will soon be one of five electric cars in the Nissan line-up, as well as an evolving range of hybrids. The Ariya, Leaf and Micra will be joined by a new electric-only Juke next year, then a smaller EV too.
It’s quite a contrast to when the first Leaf arrived 15 years ago, and almost single-handedly established the mainstream compact family EV as a viable choice for eco-minded buyers. Over two generations it sold 290,000 in Europe and 700,000 worldwide.
The new car sits on a version of the CMF-EV platform used in the larger Ariya. The new Leaf’s overall length is 14cm shorter than the previous Leaf, and it’s slightly taller and wider. The aerodynamically sleek five-door body features a ‘wheel at each corner’ look that helps increase boot and cabin space. The boot capacity is now 437 litres, and it has an underfloor compartment for the first time.
Also contributing to the space-efficiency of the layout is a compact new heating/ventilation unit, which moves forward out of the cabin. The single electric motor, at the rear of the car, is also more compact than before.
It will be available with a choice of battery sizes, 52kWh (Standard) and 75kWh (Extended), the larger one giving up to 375 miles of range and efficiency of 4.4 miles per kWh. With charging capability up to 150kW, and what Nissan claims is a near-flat charging curve, it can gain up to 260 miles in 30 minutes.
The small-battery version has a WLTP range of 270 miles, and makes 174bhp and 254lb ft of torque, with a top speed of 99mph and 0-62mph time of 8.6sec. The big-battery Leaf trumps it with 215bhp, 262lb ft and 62mph in 7.6sec (but the same top speed).
Nissan claims that in its own tests at the Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire the Extended version could circulate at 80mph for 205 miles, while the Standard model reached 270 miles.
A lot of attention during the creation of the Mk3 was put into aerodynamics (including an automatically closing and opening grille) and thermal management (so the heating and cooling of battery, cabin air, seat and steering wheel is fully integrated and ultra efficient). The front door handles are flush, automatically emerging when you approach the car, while the underbody is sealed, contributing to the drag coefficient of 0.25.
There are four trim levels: basic Engage, available only with the smaller battery, is strictly for fleets and commuters; higher levels bring Google nav and infotainment, a head-up display, and two 14.3-inch screens. One 19-inch and two 18-inch wheel designs are available.
A dimmable glass roof is available, as is high-end Bose audio, which includes a speaker in the driver’s head restraint, allowing them to hear nav instructions and incoming phone calls without disturbing the other occupants, who can carry on listening to their choice of entertainment from the Google apps.
Vehicle-to-load charging capability is available from the off, and vehicle-to-grid will follow.
Giovanny Arroba, Nissan Design Europe vice president, told us the design was intended to combine efficiency and practicality with an embrace of Japanese style and a dose of Nissan DNA.
‘We did a lot of soul searching: what is Nissan? It’s not just performance. We’re also adventure, we’re also charm, and balance. We tend to pioneer these cars that have a lot of character, and they become almost a brand themselves – Qashqai, Juke, GT-R, Z. What is Nissan, what is the DNA? Hopefully you’ll see that reflected in cars like this and the Micra.’
He’s also very pleased with the new recurring motif, representing a two (Ni in Japanese) and a three (San). It started with the rear lights, which have an eye-catching combination of two horizontal lines and three vertical, but it also appears on the charger flap and elsewhere.
‘It’s very easy to do a horizontal light bar. I like it – it’s cool – but we wanted to do something more memorable. That’s where the two-three came from. We wanted to make the brand more appealing, more lifestyle-oriented, not just a commodity for mobility, but a desirable Japanese-themed design product.
‘We try to see through the customer’s eyes. But as designers we also have to trust our intuition. Say something new – but at the same time be accessible and approachable.’
Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015, joining CAR as Staff Writer in 2017. With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt, he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025. Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print, digital and social media channels. When he's not out interviewing an executive, driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature, he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game, buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house.
By Jake Groves
CAR's news editor; gamer, trainer freak and serial Lego-ist
