The Nissan LEAF is now a crossover with some pretty major upgrades. Nissan unveiled the third-gen EV, dropping the iconic hatch design for a stylish crossover. It now has significantly more range, and it even has an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Here’s our first look at the new Nissan LEAF EV.
Underpinned by its new CMF-EV platform, the same one underpinning the Ariya SUV, Nissan promises the new LEAF will have “significant range improvements” over the outgoing model. It will also be available with 19″ alloy wheels and a panoramic moonroof for the first time.
One of the most exciting upgrades is that the new LEAF will be Nissan’s first EV with an integrated NACS port so you can charge up at Tesla Superchargers. This alone will make it more competitive in the US.
Nissan said more details will be shared mid-year. However, Nissan vehicle programs chief, Francois Bailly, told TopGear.com the new LEAF is expected to have 373 miles (600 km) driving range (WLTP). It will draw power from Nissan’s new 3-in-1 EV powertrain.
The new LEAF will arrive in the US and Canada later this year, joining the Ariya electric SUV. It will be one of ten new and refreshed vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.
I imagine it will be the same ballpark as the Model Y. And for US markets, given the existing Trump and Biden tariffs on cheap Chinese batteries and production lines, and federal incentives likely going away, your best bet for a more affordable EV is still going to be a used car.
Colorado had a crazy rebate deal that allowed people to lease a Leaf for $20/month (after $2,400 upfront).
The $2,400 upfront is for taxes and fees… Usually you don’t actually have to pay it upfront and can instead roll it into the monthly payments, which results in a lease with no upfront payments at all ($0 drive off).
With a lease, it’s usually better to pay as little as possible upfront (ideally $0).