LEAF Nismo. No power, no AWD, no UK!
LEAF has sold around three-quarters of a million units worldwide since its 2010 launch. In 2026, Nissan introduced the all-new third generation, surprising many with its crossover SUV styling that is actually smaller than its predecessor, but bigger inside thanks to improved packaging.
Based on the 2026 car, the LEAF NISMO is the latest addition to the company’s racing stable, but is this quite the thoroughbred?
First impressions are favourable. It comes in the three signature colour schemes. Stealth Gray will be familiar to most - it’s the only colour you can buy the previous NISMO, the ARIYA in. The red Arterial Magma strip that laps the car is there. It all looks very recognisable.
But hold your horses! The white and black NISMO colour are back and they look very handsome! Buyers can specify a black roof instead of body colour.
The interior is up to the usual NISMO standards. Dark and moody, if a bit dull when seen after dark. The red accents remind you of the provenance. You can specify Recaro (yes, they did go bust but were rescued and restructured in 2024) seats. And you should - In ARIYA NISMO, the standard seats from the Advance trim are fitted. They have no extra bolster and just feel a bit loose in a car that is capable of so much lateral grip.
The 19-inch Enkei aluminium wheels are pure NISMO, clad in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres. The front splitter, subtle ducktail spoiler and wider stance are more than just window dressing – the car sits lower (official ground clearance is 135 mm) and the bodykit is designed to reduce aerodynamic lift as well as look the part.
Underneath, Nissan has done proper work. NISMO-specific springs, thicker anti-roll bars and revised member bushes stiffen the suspension, while the same swing-valve dampers used on the X-Trail NISMO keep initial body roll in check without turning the ride into a bone-shaker. Steering response is sharper, and the drive modes have been recalibrated – Sport is now called NISMO Mode and delivers more linear, immediate throttle response. The dedicated regen paddles have been tuned for this car.
It’s a coherent chassis package that should make the Leaf feel keener and more agile than the standard car. What it doesn’t get is any extra power, all-wheel drive, or the sort of wholesale hardware upgrade that would turn it into a true hot hatch. It looks like a contender, but has a hefty handicap.
There are two versions, B7 and B5, based on the 75 kWh and 52 kWh cars respectively. The Recaro option is only on the B7.
You want the bad news? Strap yourself in, there’s quite a bit. There are no improvements to the power output, it’s front wheel drive only and it’s not coming to the UK. That’s the short version!
It looks great. The original car wasn’t a minger, so what’s going on here? The platform and rear subframe is the same as ARIYA and that offers e-4ORCE all-wheel drive and other NISMO models on this architecture have gained power through relatively straightforward intverter and software changes. Why not here?
Perhaps it is cheap? The B5 is a little cheaper than the top range LEAF and the B7 is about a few hundred thousand yen more - that’s about £5,000. If they were to import it, this car would probably get the £1,500 Electric Car Grant. If they were to build it in Sunderland, it might get the full £3,750. All academic, of course because there are no plans to sell the car outside of Japan.
Are we disappointed? Of course! This could have been an extraordinary car - a missed opportunity. It has the looks and pedigree, but not the pure bloodlines of a true racehorse.
Do we love it? Yes! It looks fabulous. Clearly the focus here is on handling, not pure grunt. A well schooled galloper, rather than an out-and-out sprinter, perhaps. We hope the Recaro partnership continues. It’s a good fit for NISMO.
Are we surprised? Nah. Nissan have cleverly, some might say cynically, raided the parts bin and produced a desirable car on the cheap. It does look the part though.
Might they bring it to the UK? We hope so. Thus far, it’s been left in the stalls in Japan - shame.