The Nissan Leaf, one of the first mass market EVs, has been transformed into a coupe SUV ahead of its 2026 Australian release. Based on the same platform as alliance cousins like the Renault Megane E-Tech, the new Leaf will offer two battery sizes with up to 604km of range – a big increase on the 385km maximum of its predecessor.

A clean sheet design, the new Leaf is now a coupe SUV than a hatchback, which Nissan says was done for cleaner aerodynamics for better range. While there are some elements of the exterior styling that mimic the brand’s latest products, like the China-specific N7 electric sedan, parts such as the tailights mimic Nissan products from the past such as the 300ZX sports coupe.

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The interior is better quality and more modern than before with new 14.3-inch screens that are even larger than its bigger Ariya sibling, and they now feature Google-based navigation with live traffic and the ability to access the Google Play Store to download apps such as YouTube. The 437-litre boot is healthy for the segment and over 50-litres larger than the previous Leaf.

Two battery sizes will be available with the new Nissan Leaf: either a 52kWh unit or a larger 75kWh with the former capable of 436km of range and the latter 604km. Both are capable of a 150kW DC fast charge for a 20 to 80 percent charge in less than 30 minutes.

The smaller battery uses a 130kW motor and the larger one 160kW. The latter motor is capable of a 7.6-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, which is marginally slower than the previous model.

Available features on the new Nissan Leaf include a Bose sound system with speakers inbuilt into the driver’s headrest, battery pre-conditioning for the best possible charging speeds, a panoramic electrochromatic glass roof, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality up to 3.6kW, a 360-degree cameras with a ‘see-through’ view and over-the-air updates.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf will reportedly go on sale in Australia in 2026, with local pricing and specifications yet to be announced.