The Nissan LEAF returns to Italian roads. Sixteen years after its debut, the third generation abandons the shape of the compact sedan to become a crossover, with batteries up to 75 kWh and a declared autonomy of 622 kilometres. In 2010 this car helped bring electric vehicles out of the enthusiasts’ niche, when finding a charging station could already be a challenge.
For several years the LEAF was the best-selling electric car in the world. Presented in 2010, it had five doors, five seats and a 24 kWh battery. Nissan was aiming for a car intended for everyday use, in a period in which the offer of fully electric models was still very limited. In January 2014 it had already reached 100,000 units sold worldwide and, according to data released by Nissan at the time, it represented approximately 45% of the global electric car market. A huge share, which also shows how small that market still was.
©Nissan
The new LEAF changes shape and reaches up to 622 kilometers
The third generation is 4.35 meters long and uses the CMF-EV platform. The bodywork is higher than in the past, with crossover lines and aerodynamics designed to reduce consumption. The declared air resistance coefficient is 0.25.
There are two batteries available, 52 and 75 kWh. For the version with the larger battery Nissan claims up to 622 kilometers of autonomy according to the WLTP cycle. The 52 kWh variant instead reaches up to 450 kilometers in the Engage version, again according to the WLTP cycle and with data still awaiting approval.
©Nissan
The capacity of the largest battery is therefore more than three times that of the first LEAF. The distances declared in 2010 and 2026, however, cannot be compared directly because they were measured with different approval procedures. Even the current 622 kilometers should be read for what they are: a value obtained through standardized tests, useful for comparing different models. In daily use, autonomy depends on speed, temperature, driving style and route conditions.
©Nissan
For longer journeys, the version with 75 kWh battery supports direct current fast charging up to 150 kW. Nissan declares the possibility of recovering up to 420 kilometers of WLTP equivalent autonomy in approximately 30 minutes, using a suitable charging station and in the conditions envisaged by the manufacturer. Then there is a rather practical function: the navigator integrated with Google Maps can locate charging stations along the route and prepare the battery at the most suitable temperature before arrival. A way to limit waiting times, especially when it’s cold.
©Nissan
How much does the new Nissan LEAF cost in Italy?
The Italian price list of the new LEAF starts at 36,950 euros for the Engage version with 52 kWh battery. To have the 75 kWh battery and reach the 622 kilometers of declared autonomy you need to start from 40,950 euros.
According to UNRAE data published on November 2, 2026, fully electric cars represented 7.8% of Italian registrations in the first ten months of the year. In October alone the share was 6.1%. In 2010, Nissan needed to convince drivers that an electric car could work in everyday life. Sixteen years later, with dozens of models to choose from, he has to convince them to buy his.
