Rumours continue to swirl that the next comprehensive update for the Nissan Leaf will see the model morph from its familiar hatchback roots into a compact crossover, ready to tackle the likes of the MG ZS EV.
In the meantime, however, Nissan continues to give the model minor updates. Overnight the brand showed off the latest set of tweaks to the nameplate, focusing mostly on cosmetic changes.
Chief among the visual changes is the blacked-out front fascia, which deletes the chrome highlight that used to sit there. The updated Leaf also gets Nissan’s revised logo.
The model gets new wheels, too, with the car in the press images wearing a slick set of 17s with a fascinating design. Nissan has also given the model two new colours; Universal Blue and Magnetic Blue.
Under the skin, it appears that a lot of the model’s mechanicals carry over, with battery size and claimed range being largely unchanged.
The brand says that the new Leaf in its flagship e+ long-range form delivers a range of 385km on the revised WLTP cycle; equalling the range of the outgoing e+.
Nissan currently produced the Leaf two different battery options; a 40kWh battery and a 62kWh battery. The former is paired to the more humble 110kW/320Nm powertrain, while the latter gets the 160kW/340Nm powertrain.
It’s a similar story inside, with the Leaf’s cabin being unchanged. European models boast ProPilot semi-autonomous driving, Amazon Alexa integration, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with most of this accessed through the 9-inch touchscreen.
Local spec, pricing, and arrival times have yet to be confirmed.
Nissan New Zealand currently offers the Leaf with both powertrain and battery formats. The 40kWh entry-level variant is priced from $61,990 and the flagship e+ from $69,990.
