Nissan launched the LEAF NISMO in Japan on July 22, 2026, bringing the NISMO performance badge back to the automaker's electric hatchback for the first time since the previous-generation version was discontinued in 2025. Built on the redesigned third-generation LEAF, the new NISMO trim keeps the same 174 hp and 215 hp motor options as the regular lineup but wraps them in NISMO-tuned suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, a functional aero kit, and an available Recaro sport seat package. It is a Japan-only model for now, priced from ¥6,601,100 (about $40,500) and topping out at ¥7,227,000 (about $44,300) with the Recaro option. Nissan is positioning it as an everyday-usable hot hatch for buyers who want a livelier version of Japan's best-selling EV without sacrificing the LEAF's practicality.
Performance & Specs
The LEAF NISMO is offered in two grades that mirror the standard LEAF's battery lineup. The entry B5 NISMO uses a 55 kWh pack driving a 130 kW (177 PS / 174 hp) front motor with 345 Nm (254 lb-ft) of torque, while the B7 NISMO steps up to a 75 kWh pack and a 160 kW (218 PS / 215 hp) motor producing 355 Nm (262 lb-ft). Nissan's engineers did not touch peak motor output or torque figures — lead engineer Kenichiro Naruitomi described the goal instead as extracting more of the motor's existing potential through retuned throttle mapping, borrowing calibration work from the Ariya NISMO. Every LEAF NISMO is front-wheel drive only, with no AWD option, and gets a reworked Sport mode renamed "NISMO Mode" for sharper, more linear acceleration on top of the carryover Standard and Eco modes.
| Powertrain | Single-motor FWD BEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 160 kW (218 PS / 215 hp) |
| Torque | 355 Nm (262 lb-ft) |
| Drivetrain | FWD only |
| Battery | 75 kWh |
| Range | Up to 702 km (JP cycle) |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Battery-electric (BEV) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 174 hp (B5) / 215 hp (B7) |
| TORQUE | 345 Nm (B5) / 355 Nm (B7) |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD (front motor only) |
| BATTERY | 55 kWh (B5) / 75 kWh (B7) |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | Up to 521 km (B5) / up to 702 km (B7), Japan WLTC cycle |
| COMBINED RANGE | — |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,360 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,810 mm |
| Height | 1,550 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm |
| Ground clearance | 135 mm |
The LEAF NISMO shares its core body-in-white with the standard third-generation LEAF, which grew into more of a coupe-roofline crossover-hatchback shape than the boxier previous generation. NISMO-specific body addenda — the front corner finishers, side skirts, rear under-spoiler and ducktail spoiler — sit within the standard car's footprint rather than dramatically altering it. Curb weight rises versus a comparable standard-grade LEAF because of the sport suspension hardware, bigger 19-inch wheels and (on Recaro-equipped cars) the added structure of the bucket-style seats; a B7 NISMO fitted with ProPILOT 2.0 has been reported at around 1,940 kg. Nissan has not published a separate cargo or frunk figure for the NISMO grade specifically, so buyers cross-shopping cargo space against the standard LEAF should check with a dealer.
| LENGTH | 4,360 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,810 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,550 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,690 mm |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | 135 mm |
Charging & Battery
Both LEAF NISMO grades carry over their battery packs unchanged from the regular LEAF lineup: 55 kWh on the entry B5 NISMO and 75 kWh on the B7 NISMO and B7 NISMO Recaro. DC fast charging peaks at around 150 kW via CHAdeMO, with Nissan quoting roughly 30 minutes to recover a 10-80% charge on the larger pack under ideal conditions; independent real-world testing of the equivalent B7 grade has recorded closer to 33-35 minutes. AC home charging tops out at 6 kW. Nissan has not issued a NISMO-specific WLTC range figure separate from the base LEAF grades, so the 521 km (B5) and 702 km (B7) figures quoted here are the standard-grade ratings on Japan's WLTC test cycle; expect the NISMO's grippier, sportier Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires to trim actual range somewhat versus a standard-grade car riding on eco-focused rubber.
| BATTERY | 55 kWh (B5) / 75 kWh (B7) |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | 6 kW |
| DC FAST CHARGING | Up to 150 kW (CHAdeMO) |
| DC 10-80% TIME | About 30 minutes (B7, official) |
Design & Interior
Visually, the LEAF NISMO gets a NISMO-specific front bumper with more aggressive intakes, side skirts with a red lower accent, a rear diffuser-style bumper insert, and a raised ducktail spoiler that Nissan says is functional rather than purely decorative. Buyers can choose from six exterior colors, including two exclusive "NISMO Stealth Gray" shades not offered on other LEAF grades, all riding on lightweight 19-inch two-tone Enkei alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. Inside, the cabin follows Nissan's now-familiar black-and-red NISMO treatment: standard seats carry embroidered NISMO logos and red perforated upholstery, while a synthetic-leather "TailorFit" steering wheel adds a red center mark and red stitching. The headline interior option is a pair of NISMO-tuned Recaro sport seats, available only on the B7 grade for an extra ¥275,000, with heating, manual slide and power recline built in.
Technology & Features
The LEAF NISMO carries over the third-generation LEAF's Google-built-in NissanConnect infotainment system, running across a 14.3-inch dual-display layout with Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play integration baked in rather than bolted on as a phone-mirroring afterthought. NISMO buyers get its own set of driving-focused tweaks on top: a four-level regenerative braking paddle with a lighter setting tuned for a coasting feel and a stronger setting sharpened for emphatic one-pedal deceleration, plus an e-Pedal button and drive-mode selector finished in NISMO's signature red-accented switchgear. Suspension changes run deeper than badge-engineering — NISMO says front suspension member bushing rigidity is up roughly 30% per component and about 20% across the vehicle, paired with KYB swing-valve shock absorbers first used on the Ariya NISMO, aimed at cutting low-speed body roll while keeping the ride composed over rough pavement.
Safety & ADAS
The LEAF NISMO retains the standard LEAF's driver-assistance suite, including Nissan's ProPILOT 2.0 hands-on-wheel highway assistance system, which is available on the equivalent B7 grade and carries over onto the NISMO trim. Nissan has not called out any NISMO-exclusive changes to the ADAS hardware or software, so the sensor suite and camera/radar coverage are expected to match the standard B5 and B7 LEAF grades it's based on.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2 (ProPILOT 2.0 available) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | ProPILOT 2.0 hands-on highway assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot intervention, rear cross-traffic alert |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B5 NISMO | 174 hp | 345 Nm | FWD | 55 kWh | 521 km* | — | $40,500 | Entry NISMO grade, standard NISMO sport seats, 19-inch Enkei wheels |
| B7 NISMO | 215 hp | 355 Nm | FWD | 75 kWh | 702 km* | — | $42,650 | Larger battery, more power and torque, standard NISMO sport seats |
| B7 NISMO Recaro | 215 hp | 355 Nm | FWD | 75 kWh | 702 km* | — | $44,300 | Adds NISMO-tuned Recaro sport seats (heated, power recline) |
*Range figures are Japan's WLTC-cycle ratings for the equivalent standard-grade LEAF; Nissan has not published a separate NISMO-specific range figure, and the sportier tires fitted to the NISMO may reduce real-world range slightly.
Pricing & Availability
The LEAF NISMO went on sale in Japan on July 22, 2026, priced from ¥6,601,100 (about $40,500) for the B5 NISMO, ¥6,952,000 (about $42,650) for the B7 NISMO, and ¥7,227,000 (about $44,300) for the B7 NISMO with the Recaro seat package, which adds ¥275,000 to the standard B7 NISMO price. This isn't the badge's debut on the LEAF: Nissan previously sold a LEAF NISMO on the second-generation, 40 kWh platform from December 2019 until it was discontinued in October 2025, so the 2026 car marks the NISMO trim's return rather than a first-ever appearance, now built on the redesigned, longer-range third-generation LEAF. As of August 2026, Nissan has not announced plans to bring the LEAF NISMO to any market outside Japan.
How It Compares
Against our own catalog, the LEAF NISMO's $40,500-$44,300 window puts it well above budget hot hatches like the MG4 EV and Leapmotor Lafa 5, both of which undercut it heavily on price while roughly matching or beating its power figures — the Lafa 5's 268 hp and 530 km range are a genuinely sharper spec sheet for nearly half the money, a reminder of how aggressively Chinese EV makers price performance hardware. The CUPRA Born sits at the opposite end, asking over $10,000 more for 322 hp and a longer 599 km range, framing the LEAF NISMO as the more affordable, more accessible way into a factory-tuned electric hot hatch. None of these three are sold in Japan alongside the LEAF NISMO, so the comparison is a value framing rather than a real cross-shopping list — but it shows Nissan is charging a premium for the NISMO badge, chassis tuning and interior finish rather than for outright power.
- Genuine chassis engineering — retuned suspension, bushings and steering, not just a styling package
- Up to 702 km of WLTC-rated range on the B7 grade keeps daily usability intact despite the sportier focus
- Optional NISMO-tuned Recaro seats and a functional aero kit add real distinction over the standard LEAF
- No power increase over the standard B5/B7 motors — this is a handling and feel upgrade, not a straight-line one
- Japan-only launch with no confirmed export plans, and a several-thousand-dollar premium over the regular LEAF for buyers who can access it
The 2026 LEAF NISMO is for the Japanese buyer who wants their daily EV to feel more alive without giving up range or practicality — it nails the brief Nissan set for it, with real suspension and bushing changes rather than a badge-and-spoiler special. The trade-off is that this is a chassis and feel upgrade, not a power upgrade, so anyone chasing bigger numbers should look elsewhere in this price range, including within our own catalog. As a Japan-only proposition with no confirmed export path, it's more of a signal that NISMO is back on Nissan's EV lineup than a car most of our readers can actually buy today, but it's a welcome one.
