2026 Nissan Leaf revealed, Australian launch timing confirmed

The covers have been whipped off the third-generation Nissan Leaf before it enters production later this year, and sales of the radically different new EV will commence in Australia in 2026.

As has been previously telegraphed by the carmaker, the new Leaf will abandon the hatchback body style that adorned its first two iterations to become a crossover or SUV.

Nissan published a set of front profile shots of the third-generation Leaf, showing the new car’s taller body and ride height, as well as black plastic wheel-arch extensions.

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There’s also flush-fitting front door handles, hidden rear door handles, and a blacked-out roof with matching A-, B-, and C-pillars. Up front, the car’s dark 7-shaped headlights are joined by a piece of black plastic, which is embossed with the Leaf name and includes a light bar.

Styling for the new Leaf seems to be an evolution of the Chill Out concept, which made its debut way back in 2021.

Unlike the first two generations, the new Leaf’s charging port isn’t front and centre under the Nissan logo, but on the right-hand side behind the front wheel-arch.

Nissan says the new Leaf will be available with 19-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof. In the North American market, it will be fitted with a NACS charging port and will be compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network.

Unfortunately, Nissan didn’t publish any technical details today, but promised the new car will have “significant range improvements”. More will be revealed in the middle of this year.

Under the skin, the new Leaf employs the CMF-EV architecture that underpins the Ariya electric crossover. The platform, rebranded as AmpR Medium, also serves as the basis of the Renault Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech.

The Ariya is available with 65kWh and 90kWh battery packs, and a selection of drivetrains, starting with a 160kW/300Nm front-wheel drive setup and topping out with a 290kW/600Nm all-wheel drive dual-motor system.

Depending on the drivetrain and battery pack combo, the Ariya’s WLTP driving range is between 360km and 500km.

By way of comparison, the second-generation Leaf – which is currently in run-out mode in Australia – has a 110kW/320Nm motor paired to a 39kWh battery in its base trim, offering a WLTP driving range of 270km.

The e+ variant has a beefier 160kW/340Nm electric motor, larger 62kWh battery, and a WLTP range of 385km.

Unlike most other EVs sold in Australia today, which are equipped with a CCS port, the second-generation Leaf uses the less popular CHAdeMO standard. The related Ariya crossover is equipped with a CCS port in most export markets.

For the European market, the third-generation Leaf will be built at Nissan’s UK factory in Sunderland. Australian market Leafs have been sourced from Sunderland, and we understand this arrangement is set to continue.

The new Leaf and the upcoming Micra EV were revealed at an event hosted by Nissan’s chief planning officer and soon-to-be CEO, Ivan Espinosa, where he detailed many of the models the carmaker will launch in 2025, 2026 and into early 2027.

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