November 2021 saw Nissan debut a number of concepts, including the Chill-Out, as part of the Ambition 2030 electrified mobility plan. From the very beginning, we knew the Chill-Out previews the long-awaited replacement of the Leaf, which our carparazzi have recently spied testing as a prototype in Spain.
To our best knowledge, it's the first time Nissan rolled out a production-intent Leaf prototype on public roads. Although camouflaged like there's no tomorrow, we can easily determine that major changes are in the offing for the compact electric vehicle.
While it may feature Leaf SL Plus-inspired alloys with five lug nuts per corner, we can't see any rear wiper. That doesn't mean the third-gen Leaf is going four doors, for the camo wrap suggests a hatchback rather than a sedan-like trunk lid. Considering that both the first and second incarnations of the Leaf are hatchbacks, elevating the storied nameplate to a five-door crossover is the right call.
Rolling on Hankook iON electric vehicle tires, the prototype rocks pop-up handles for the front doors and C-pillar hidden handles for the rear passenger doors. A shark fin-style antenna, roof rails, and A-pillar quarter windows are in the offing as well, along with a radar sensor in the low central part of the front bumper, a forward-facing camera in the high central part of the windshield, and light-emitting diodes obviously fore and aft.
Expected to be heavier than its forerunner, this fellow sure looks a bit larger, yet not as large as the Ariya. The ground clearance appears to be higher than the 2025 Leaf as well, which is only natural of a crossover utility vehicle.
Photo: Baldauf
As far as the European market is concerned, we know from the EV36Zero business plan that Nissan will build an all-new electric crossover at the Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom. No fewer than 423 million pounds sterling will be invested, with Nissan estimating maximum production capacity at up to 100,000 examples of the breed yearly.
That all-new crossover is – without a shadow of a doubt – the 2026 Leaf. Codenamed ZE1, the second generation is made in Sunderland, Smyrna in the United States, and Yokosuka in Japan, leading us to believe that Nissan will retool both the Smyrna and Yokosuka facilities in preparation for the 2026 model.
With the Chill-Out concept boasting CMF-EV underpinnings and e-4ORCE technology, we can look forward to a 400-volt setup and front-wheel drive by default. Also known as AmpR Small after the Ampere division of Renault, said platform currently underpins the aforementioned Nissan Ariya and two Renaults in the form of the Megane E-Tech Electric and the Scenic E-Tech Electric.
Although gross battery capacity tops 90 kilowatt hours in the Ariya, the Japanese automaker isn't likely to offer such a large battery in the all-new Leaf. Not only does it appear to feature a smaller wheelbase than its platform sibling, but in order to keep the production costs low to sell as many units as possible, a compromise has to be made.
Because it's a ground-up redesign, the 2026 Leaf is certain going to cost a wee-bit more than its hatchback-bodied predecessor. As of October 2024, the US version is $28,140 for the 40-kWh pack or $36,190 for the 60-kWh pack. Said prices don't include destination.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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