NewCars-Data.com- There’s been a lot of talk about Nissan’s popular electric car, the LEAF. People are saying it might change into a small SUV. As reported by CarsDirect, The big boss at Nissan in Europe, Guillaume Cartier, said they’re planning to make a new electric SUV at their factory in the U.K. It’s supposed to come out in 2025 and would be the third version of the LEAF, but the fifth electric SUV from Nissan.
We’re not sure if this new car will be the next LEAF or if it’ll replace the LEAF altogether. Our guess is that it’ll be a whole new design, going from a small car to a small SUV, but they’ll still call it the LEAF. So based on that we call it The New 2026 Nissan LEAF.
2026 Nissan LEAF Design, Specs
It is reported that The new Leaf design will be based on The 2021 Chill-Out concept car. This concept was a cool-looking crossover with a wide grille and lights shaped like wings on its sides. The roofline was simple and curved, and there were neat details along the sides.
At the back, there was even a see-through panel with taillights inside, although that might not end up in the final version. But expect most of these stylish touches to stick around when the new 2026 Leaf hits the road.
The Chill-Out concept looks different from the current Leaf design. Instead of the Leaf’s smooth and simple look, it has sleek metal panels and clean lines. The way the windows are shaped makes it seem like a sporty car, especially with those large wheels at the corners. It doesn’t have the Leaf’s big V-shaped grille, but it keeps a similar style with black parts at the front and lights that follow the same shape.
Right now, However, we don’t have the official details about what the next LEAF will be like. But it’s expected to be a crossover with two rows of seats, room for five people, and all their stuff.
Safety Features
When it comes to safety features in the 2026 Nissan LEAF, we’re still in the dark. But it’s safe to assume it’ll come packed with all the latest safety goodies. It might even carry over some of the cool features found in the current LEAF, like regenerative braking and automatic emergency braking to keep you safe on the road.
Plus, there could be extras like blind spot monitoring and lane intervention to give you even more peace of mind. We’re crossing our fingers for Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system to come standard, but we’ll just have to wait and see what they’ve got up their sleeves.
Battery, Ranges, and Performance
Nissan’s got big plans for going electric. By 2025, they want all their cars to either be electric or have a special kind of hybrid system. And by 2030, they’re aiming for 80% of their cars to be electric. That’s because they’re gearing up to meet the tough rules about emissions, especially in Europe.
We don’t have any official info yet about what powers the third-gen Leaf. But rumors say it might use the same platform as the Ariya electric SUV. That means it could have a motor making either 214 or 238 horsepower, or if it’s got two motors, it could go up to 335 or even 389 horsepower. Plus, you might have a choice between batteries with 66.0 or 91.0 kilowatt-hours.
It looks like the next 2026 Nissan Leaf will be able to go farther on a single charge than the one you can get now. Right now, the Leaf can go about 215 miles before needing a recharge when it’s running at its best. But the new batteries they’re talking about should be about 30% better than the ones they’re using now. So, that could mean you’ll be able to drive at least 230 miles before needing to plug in again.
But here’s the thing: it seems like the Leaf won’t get Nissan’s super fancy solid-state batteries right away. Those won’t be in any cars until 2028. We’ve heard from Motor1, that Nissan’s planning to switch most of its cars to a new kind of charging system called NACS, and the Leaf might get that too.
Prices
As for the price tag of the 2026 Nissan LEAF, well, it’s still a mystery. Since this new model is going to be an electric SUV, it’s likely going to fall into a similar price range as other electric SUVs out there. That means it could be a bit pricier than the current LEAF, which starts at around $28,375. But until Nissan spills the beans on the exact price, we’ll just have to wait and see.
| 2026 Nissan LEAF | Estimated MSRP: Higher than $28,375 |
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2026 Nissan LEAF Release date
So, here’s the scoop on when you might get your hands on the 2026 Nissan LEAF: it’s slated to hit the streets sometime in 2025. That means we’ve got about a year or so to wait before it makes its debut. But don’t fret! With that much time left, we can expect to hear more juicy details about what to expect from this compact SUV soon.
Right now, Nissan makes the Leaf in a few places like Smyrna, Tennessee; Sunderland, England; and Yokosuka, Japan. That’s good news for folks in the U.S. because it makes them eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,750 when they buy one.
But hold onto your hats because things are changing. Nissan is thinking of stopping production in the U.S. by the middle of 2025. What does that mean? Well, if they do, the next Leaf won’t qualify for that big $7,500 tax credit anymore.
