2026 Nissan Leaf takes on BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3 and MG S5 with new small SUV body and improved range

Nissan has unveiled a lengthy-awaited current period Leaf, ditching its most modern hatchback device for a shrimp SUV body, and gaining a mountainous 75kWh battery which guarantees up to 570km of range.

The present Leaf has plan a perfect distance from its 2nd gen predecessor, scoring current looks and abilities sooner than its scheduled arrival in Australia between April 2026 and March 2027.

The Ouncesmarket Leaf is more seemingly initially a probability of 52kWh or 72kWh battery alongside a single, front-mounted electrical motor. Just like the current Nissan Ariya, the Leaf is built on the CMF-EV platform shared with Renault.

Charging the Nissan Leaf now makes use of a high-velocity effectively matched CCS charger inlet, inserting off the outgoing CHAdeMO fitting. Search recordsdata from a fleet 150kW DC mark from 10-80% in roughly 35 minutes.

The third-period Nissan Leaf is exclusively front wheel drive. The 52kWh battery outputs 130kW and 345Nm, while the 72kWh battery delivers 160kW and 355Nm. Every batteries are lithium-ion devices, with liquid cooling and thermal conditioning.

Inside of the third-period Leaf is a mountainous 14.3-accelerate digital dashboard, sitting flush against a 14.3-accelerate infotainment touchscreen. Underneath the multimedia conceal is a dedicated digital climate alter panel, and push-button gear selector.

Nissan claims the internal ground is ‘nearly’ flat, because of the ambiance pleasant packaging of the drivetrain and battery. Pick comely grades will additionally take advantage of a Bose sound machine with speakers built-in into the front headrests.

The present Leaf is expounded in most dimensions to the outgoing mannequin, though is a tiny shorter at merely over 4.4 metres tip to tail.

The third-period Nissan Leaf’s device is up to the moment, with crisp LED lighting and flush fit door handles. A dimming panoramic roof is fitted as customary; it’s some distance heat insulated, and might perhaps transition from clear to opaque on the touch of a button.

Nissan claims the current Leaf might perhaps private a drag coefficient of 0.25 Cd, credited to ‘aero-tuned’ 19-accelerate wheels and a flat underbody. Here is a 0.03Cd development over the outgoing Nissan Leaf (0.28Cd), nonetheless is serene fearful of the Tesla Mannequin 3’s spectacular 0.219 Cd posting.

The 2 battery decisions aren’t merely supposed for driving. Confirmed for the US market is ‘Automobile-to-Load’ (V2L) functionality, that methodology shrimp to medium  dwelling equipment can entry two 1500W shops mounted within the cabin and boot.

Meanwhile, within the European market, the Leaf gains ‘Automobile-to-Grid’, or V2G, allowing for owners to send kept, unrequired vitality relieve into the power grid.

Nissan has confirmed its supreme feature – ‘Automobile-to-Dwelling’ (V2H) – for the Japanese market. It lets in owners to send energy to their dwelling by use of the Leaf’s battery – very supreme in a blackout.

Those with solar panels will additionally take advantage of V2H, which is optimised for charging the automobile right thru the day.

This will be one feature coming to Australia. V2G is for the time being equipped by the outgoing period of Leaf alongside basically the most modern Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and has been trialled spherical the nation.

The Australian Renewable Energy Company has additionally launched a roadmap detailing most modern and future areas for bi-directional charging. It’s seemingly V2H will play an main feature for Australian households in some unspecified time in the future.

A Nissan Australia spokesperson said extra shrimp print on V2X tech might be equipped nearer to the birth of gross sales in native markets.

Nissan has but to exclaim Leaf pricing, nonetheless this could be one other indispensable element within the current EV’s success with names love the BYD Atto 3, MG S5 and Kia EV3 all beating the Japanese imprint’s EV to market vastly, with pricing starting within the mid-$40K area.