The 2025 Nissan Leaf EV Is Better Where It Counts The Most
The priorities for the new third-generation 2025 Nissan Leaf EV were to improve efficiency and to ensure a smooth, quiet, and enjoyable driving experience, according to company execs. To do this, the updated Leaf's CMF-EV platform afforded a lot of opportunities for improvement, including a quieter cabin in the city, improved handling with an updated suspension, more interior cabin space, and better efficiency, as outlined in a series of new videos by Nissan.
Nissan claims that its target customer for the Leaf has pivoted from early adopters of the EV technology to a more regular group of buyers looking for a nice driving experience in an electric package. The new Leaf jumps to an updated CMF-EV platform, which it shares with the new Nissan Ariya electric SUV, bumping the former hatchback up to the crossover-SUV category, as well. The battery is housed in the floor, offering a flat base for the cabin and keeping the center of gravity low. The new base third-gen 40-kWh battery pack Leaf is good for 149 miles on a charge, and the larger 60-kWh battery nets you 212 miles.
Heat-Sucker Saves You Miles When It's Cold
To retain some efficiency, the new Leaf pulls heat from various sources to keep the battery at an optimal temperature, including heat produced from the onboard battery charger. The system is said to help maintain optimal battery performance and conserve energy to extend range. The system should also enhance battery regeneration potential in cold weather environments. The new three-in-one inverter and motor setup is 10 percent smaller than the previous Leaf design, and the HVAC unit has been moved to under the hood, increasing interior cabin space in front of the dashboard.
More Comfort In The City
The new Leaf is also designed to be more comfortable to drive in the city, and the improvements here over the smaller prior hatchback are somewhat impressive. Nissan claims that the interior is now 2 decibels quieter at city speeds of around 31 mph, and there's now also a multi-link rear suspension setup with a 66 percent increase in lateral stiffness, which should improve overall handling. There's also a 3.94-inch improvement in turning radius (now 5.3 meters, or 17.4 feet) over the second-generation Leaf, despite an upgrade on this new model to 19-inch wheels on some trims.
Nissan will have more detailed updates about the new Leaf EV next week, in its final video installment in this series; the previous 2025 Nissan Leaf video focused on aerodynamics.
