The Nissan Leaf has undergone a complete transformation into a stylish SUV, promising a range of up to 375 miles and aiming to set the standard for future electric vehicles, according to its chief engineer. Originally launched in 2010 as a mid-sized hatchback, this third-generation model is designed to compete with vehicles like the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 in the family crossover segment. Manufactured at Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK, the new Leaf has already been put through its paces by Autocar on the Grandrive test track in Japan and at Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK.

New Nissan Leaf: Technical Details

The latest Leaf is built on the CMF-EV platform, shared with the larger Nissan Ariya and various Renault EVs, marking a departure from the first two generations of the Leaf. Despite this, chief engineer Hiroki Isobe emphasized that insights from over 700,000 global sales and 17 billion miles of driving experience with the earlier models were crucial in the development of the new Leaf. Isobe stated, "The aim was to set the standard for future electric vehicles. We're building on the Leaf DNA and focusing on creating an easy-to-use EV that meets the needs of everyday customers. Our extensive customer data guided us in maximizing the efficiency of the Leaf, resulting in a sleek, aerodynamic design with features like flush door handles, a raked windscreen, and an underfloor cover, achieving a drag coefficient of just 0.25."