The new Nissan Leaf is here, and we’ve had a look around it
June 17, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the all-new Nissan Leaf, a long-awaited replacement for the brand’s aging electric car. We’ve had a look around this Volkswagen ID3 alternative to see what’s changed.
- New Nissan Leaf revealed
- Carwow takes a look around new electric car
- Much more modern design than before
- Interior and infotainment are much-improved
- Up to 375 miles of range
- On sale later this year
The new Nissan Leaf is finally here, and it’s a radical departure from the dated electric hatchback we know today. It has over 200 miles more range, a much more modern design and an all-new infotainment system with Google built-in.
Order books for this Volkswagen ID3 alternative will open later this year, but we’ve been given access to the new Nissan Leaf before it hits the showrooms to get some first impressions.
New Nissan Leaf design
The last two Nissan Leaf’s haven’t been the most attractive-looking cars, both prioritising aerodynamics over style. The first one had strange protruding headlights to direct air around the wing mirrors, for example.
The focus on slipping effortlessly through the air hasn’t been forgotten for the third-generation Leaf, but it’s now a lot cooler to look at than before. The headlights are neatly integrated into a black trim strip which loops around the body-coloured front facia, and there are active grilles lower down which can close when they’re not needed.
The wheels have also been designed to aid aerodynamics, and they range from 18- to 19-inches. Unlike the old Leaf, this new one has more of a teardrop shape from the side with a sporty-looking sloping roofline.
It’s at the rear where you find the coolest design feature on this car: the taillights. They have a 3D effect to them which looks like something out of an old video game. They may also remind you of the Nissan Z sports car, and the layout has a significance as well.
You have two horizontal lines and three vertical lines. This is because, in Japanese, Ni means two, and San means three. You get this Nissan motif all over the car as well, including on the charging flap and the door sills.
New Nissan Leaf interior and practicality
Inside, the new Nissan Leaf has had an equally dramatic makeover. It looks much more modern than the outgoing car, with two 14.3-inch screens dominating the dashboard.
The central infotainment system also runs Google-based software, meaning you get apps such as Spotify, Waze and even YouTube built in, so you can watch your favourite Carwow videos while waiting to charge.
It’s a really bright and responsive screen with sharp graphics, and the menus are pretty easy to navigate. You can also still connect your phone wirelessly and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto if you’d prefer.
Material quality has also taken a big step up over the old Leaf. The dashboard and doors are all covered in a nice-feeling leatherette material, and higher-spec models get a snazzy white fabric across the interior which contrasts nicely with the dark blue on this car.
Finding your ideal driving position is easy thanks to ample adjustment in the seats and steering wheel, and you get a handful of useful cubbies through the cabin. The glovebox is about average, but you also get a hidden second glovebox in the centre of the car.
Moving to the rear seats things aren’t quite so good. Headroom is pretty limited thanks to that sloping roofline, although the panoramic glass roof does help slightly. Speaking of that roof, it uses clever dimming glass which can go dark at the touch of a button, negating the need for a physical blind. Even so, a Kia EV3 is much more spacious in the rear.
The boot stands at a respectable 437 litres, making it 52 litres bigger than a Volkswagen ID3’s and 137 litres up on the Mini Aceman. Loading stuff in is easy thanks to the lack of a loading lip, and you get a clever divider which can split the boot in two if you don’t want loose shopping bags to roll around so much.
New Nissan Leaf range, charging and driving
Powering the new Nissan Leaf you have a choice of two battery packs: 52kWh or 75kWh.
The smaller pack gives you 270 miles of range, which is already a big improvement on the 170 miles you got from the old Leaf, and the 75kWh battery can manage up to 375 miles on a charge.
That’s around 25 miles more than the Volkswagen ID3, and it’s exactly the same as the Kia EV3, a car which has a slightly bigger battery than the Nissan.
That aerodynamic bodywork is part of the reason this new Leaf can get such impressive range out of a modestly-sized battery, but there are also some clever things going on under the skin.
This car’s heating, charging and battery systems are all connected, meaning it can capture heat from the on-board charger which is usually wasted and use it to warm up the battery, making it more efficient.
Speaking of the charger, the new Leaf can top up at up to 150kW from a rapid DC station, allowing you to add 260 miles of range in 30 minutes.
We’ve not been able to drive the new Leaf just yet, but Nissan’s engineers have made a number of changes which should make it more comfortable and refined than the old car. Hiroki Isobe, Chief Vehicle Engineer at Nissan, says the new Leaf has more advanced rear suspension, a quieter and more refined electric motor and a tighter turning circle than before.
New Nissan Leaf price and specs
The new Nissan Leaf will be available to order later this year, with first deliveries expected towards the end of 2025. Prices haven’t been finalised just yet, but you can expect it to float around the £30,000 mark to keep it in line with cars like the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID3.
There will be four trim levels from launch: Engage, Engage+, Advance and Evolve. The first two get the smaller battery, while the top two get the larger 75kWh pack.
The exact equipment lists haven’t been finalised yet either, but you’ll get the Google-based infotainment system on all but the basic version and the clever glass roof will also be fitted on higher-spec cars.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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