What is it?

Nissan’s Leaf is the car which is often cited as bringing electric vehicle technology to the mainstream. It was the car that took battery-powered propulsion and made it accessible to all drivers, delivering a good amount of range and a more ‘traditional’ driving experience that made it more user-friendly.

Now, the Leaf is back and - shock horror - it has transformed into an SUV for its 2025 arrival. We’ve been behind the wheel to see what it’s like.

What’s new?

Nearly everything is new for this third-generation Leaf. While it might still be produced at Nissan’s Sunderland production site, it now sits on the firm’s ‘CMF-EV’ platform which it shares with the larger Ariya.

Nissan has streamlined the Leaf’s design to help with aerodynamic efficiency, but it has also grown in size which should help boost interior space and practicality.

What’s under the bonnet?

You can get the Leaf in two flavours - ‘Standard Range’ with its 52kWh battery or ‘Extended Range’ with a larger 75kWh unit. We’re driving the latter, which is hooked up to a 212bhp electric motor, enabling a 0-60mph time of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 99mph.

But the real news here is range. Nissan claims that the Leaf can now do up to 386 miles on a charge, while 150kW rapid charging capability means that you can add up to 273 miles of range in just 30 minutes.

What’s it like to drive?

The original Nissan Leaf was never billed as a true enthusiast’s car and neither is this model. What you’re getting, however, is a more comfort-focused setup which is quiet and easy to drive at both low and high speeds. A specific ‘e-Pedal’ mode means that you can pootle about using just the accelerator pedal, too, with the car’s regenerative braking slowing the car down when you lift off the throttle.

Rearward visibility is a bit tight, but you do get a variety of parking cameras and sensors to help you out when parking.

How does it look?

Nissan really has switched things up for the new Leaf in terms of design. Gone is the hatchback design of its predecessor, in favour of a far larger and more upright look. You’ve got lots of neat touches, too, such as the flush door handles and 3D tailight signature which help the Leaf to stand out more than before.

There’s more than a hint of Nissan’s Ariya to the car’s design, but against rivals like the Cupra Born and MG4, it really does look good.

What’s it like inside?

What’s it like inside?

Nissan has put plenty of equipment inside the Leaf, with a pair of 14.3-inch screens providing all your key information and media functions that you need. There’s plenty of storage, too, with large door bins, an under-armrest cubby area and a hidden compartment below the gear selector all helping to provide spots to keep things stored away.

Boot space stands at 437 litres and while that isn’t bad - and more than the Volkswagen ID.3 - it’s less than you’d find in the Kia EV3 or Skoda Elroq.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Leaf have yet to be confirmed, but we do know that four trim levels - Engage, Engage+, Advance and Evolve - will be available. Larger-battery versions will come with an efficiency-boosting heat pump as standard, too, so look out for those if you’re after the best possible range no matter the conditions.

There’s a good chance that the Leaf will qualify for the government’s full Electric Car Grant, too, which could help to bring its price down further.

Verdict

The new Nissan Leaf brings this model into the modern age. It’s far sleeker than before, with a little more design flair than its predecessors could offer. While it might not be the most dynamic of options, it delivers the user-friendly driving style that’ll ensure it appeals to all types of motorists.

There’s no denying that the Leaf will prove to be a very popular option despite its variety of top-notch rivals.