Nissan unveils new SUV-style Leaf bound for Australia in 2026

Japanese automaker Nissan has unveiled the third generation of its groundbreaking all-electric Leaf, ahead of a full launch in the middle of the year, now presented as a small SUV and heading to Australian shores in 2026.

Unveiled as part of a wide-ranging announcement of new vehicles and launch dates, the new “reimagined” Nissan Leaf is one of several new electric or electrified vehicles the Japanese stalwart will be releasing over the coming two years.

Now in its third generation, Nissan has transformed its Leaf into a “family-friendly crossover” boasting “substantial improvements in aerodynamics” with a new and advanced EV architecture.

The new Leaf will be built atop the CMF-EV platform designed as part of Nissan’s alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi, and which debuted with the Ariya.

“Efficient energy management, streamlined packaging and enhanced driving performance from Nissan’s new 3-in-1 EV powertrain, are expected to help deliver significant range improvements over the previous generation,” the company explained, promising further details in the middle of the year.

Already locked in for a launch in Australia in 2026, the new Leaf will be available with 19-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic moonroof, while in the North American market, the Leaf will be integrated with a NACS charging port so as to allow for charging on the Tesla Supercharger network.

The “next generation” of Nissan vehicles unveiled still includes advanced internal combustion engine (ICE) models, maintaining its commitment to “powertrain diversification” under the guise of tailoring its product strategy “to better meet customer needs and drive top-line growth,” according to Guillaume Cartier, chief performance officer at Nissan.

“Through powertrain diversification and new models, we will provide a broader range of options that cater to diverse customer preferences, further distinguishing Nissan and Infiniti brands,” Cartier added.

Nissan’s third-generation e-Power hybrid powertrain, which will be paired with a 1.5-litre e-Power dedicated engine, will debut on the Qashqai in Europe later in the company’s 2025 financial year (FY25) – which runs from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. This will be followed in FY26 with the next-generation Rogue in North America as well as a large minivan for the Japan market.

The company claims that its e-Power system “delivers notable improvements in efficiency” with a supposed 15 per cent enhancement in economy at high speeds compared to the current, second-generation hybrid drivetrain. Added as something of an afterthought in the company’s press release, this new third-generation will also “deliver lower emissions”.

Specific release details for Oceania and Australia were sparse, with Nissan promising only that it will deliver a “pair of EVs” as well as a one-tonne pick-up supposedly “leveraging Nissan’s partnership with Mitsubishi Motors”, an all-new Nissan Patrol, and the third-generation e-Power hybrid system offered as an option for the Qashqai.

For Australia specifically, Nissan has promised to deliver the all-electric Ariya crossover to Australia in FY25.

Nissan also has a new EV exclusively for Europe in FY25, an all-new Micra EV city car which has been produced in collaboration with Renault.