2024 Nissan Leaf: The Next Generation Nissan LEAF EV Compact Car Review

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2024 Nissan Leaf when Nissan unveiled a batch of EV concepts last year, much of our focus turned to the nifty pickup truck that headlined the group. But amidst the futuristic clamor, there is one show car dubbed the Chill-Out concept. Sharing the CMF-EV architecture and dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with Nissan’s upcoming Ariya SUV, it’s arguably the most production-worthy concept of the bunch.

Well, we’ve found evidence that the Chill-Out will be produced as a thing, as evidenced by the patent images of a longer, less showcased version of the concept that was published to the European patent database in late May.

We’re pretty sure this low-key compact crossover will be the next Leaf, and here’s why: The Leaf is a genuine everyman EV, the first affordable, mainstream electric car. Since its debut in 2011, however, its competitors have matched and, later, surpassed its overall mileage and appeal.

Take the Leaf’s body styling, for example: Even in its most recent form, Nissan took the form of a dowdy economy hatchback. That format made sense when every cheap EV was some kind of compact, soulless thing built mostly to meet regulatory requirements—the so-called “compliance car”—but today it’s out of its element for a variety of reasons.

Customers have largely switched from cars in general, electric or otherwise, to crossovers and SUVs, and trucks. And, thanks to Tesla’s success in the marketplace and the variety of cars it’s equipped with, EV buyers now expect some style and performance when they drive through the gas station.

This means that the next Nissan Leaf will likely graduate to the crossover class in much the same way the original Bolt tall hatchback matured into the Bolt EUV crossover. The Chill-Out and, now, this patented production vehicle, seemed the perfect vessel for that transformation. Take a look at similar entry-level-ish EVs from the competition: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, Kia’s EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

These are all compact to midsize EV SUVs with flash and multiple dashboards. The vehicle in these patent images certainly brings flash: It shares a swoopy roofline with the Chill-Out concept, wears a sharp nose, and has an attractively cropped tail. The concept’s big wheels are replaced here with a more normal-looking rolling stock, albeit with the attractively narrow cross-section of a show car.

Some of the details are so similar to the show car that we wouldn’t be surprised if this was just a patent for the concept, though Nissan would be curious to apply for a patent for the design five months after its debut. To our eyes, the patented design features a slightly longer tail (more of the rear hanging over the rear wheel) and a squarer bonnet.

The cool taillights carry over, which look like tabs of LEDs shining from a mostly dark panel; in fact, the design of the lighting elements is reminiscent of the new Z sports car, adding an element of production confidence to them. It is possible that the greenhouse also has more realistic proportions.

Of course, the patent says nothing about the car’s interior, which in concept is a kind of steering-less lounge. Expect this car to have a relatively normal steering wheel, pedals, and dashboard.

Underneath, as in the Chill-Out concept, Nissan’s Ariya bones will enable both front and all-wheel drive configurations, not to mention more range and power than the current Leaf delivers (up to 226 miles and 214 hp). While the show car has a solid-state battery, we doubt Nissan will have a production one ready in time (or cost-effective enough) to debut in the next Leaf.

2024 Nissan Leaf Review

Rumors have speculated that Nissan will be discontinuing the vehicle in the near future. That means a new generation of vehicles isn’t on the horizon. Because of this, the 2024 Nissan LEAF is expected to be a carryover model without major changes.

2024 Nissan Leaf

In 2023, Nissan updated the LEAF’s design with updated exterior lights, a revised front bumper, and a new grille. These changes are expected to continue into 2024, as the LEAF’s design should remain the same as the current model. Compared to newer electric cars, the LEAF doesn’t have the same wow factor, as it has a rounded design with simple headlights and a few prominent body lines.

The LEAF’s current interior design matches the vehicle’s age. Nissan is not expected to update its electric car design for 2024. The electric LEAF has a simple interior design with a center console that protrudes slightly from the dashboard. There are lots of physical controls for the infotainment and HVAC systems. Due to the LEAF’s interior design, this small hatchback has ample seating in both rows.

Each LEAF comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, four USB ports, and four audio speakers. These features will continue to be standard for 2024. Available features will include a digital instrument cluster, navigation, and six audio speakers.

Nissan offers the LEAF with two powertrains. The electric hatchback comes with a standard single electric motor at the front that produces 147 horsepower. The powertrain also includes a 40-kWh battery pack. The LEAF SV Plus comes with a 214 hp electric motor and a 62 kWh battery pack. The range for the base LEAF is rated at 149 miles, while the SV Plus can cover up to 215 miles. This powertrain will continue to be available for the 2024 model year.

In terms of safety features, LEAF currently comes standard with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot monitoring, and automatic high beam assist. Available safety features include a surround-view parking camera, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system, and a driver’s attention monitor. LEAF 2024 should continue to be available with these features.

Concept

2024 Nissan Leaf further information which is a production car concept that enables the Next Generation rather than the Nissan Leaf EV. By the time Nissan unveiled a bunch of EV concepts last year, most of our focus shifted to the nifty pickup trucks that made the group title.

Rumors speculate that Nissan will be discontinuing the vehicle in the near future. That means a new generation of vehicles is not on the horizon. Therefore, the Nissan LEAF 2024 is expected to be a carryover model without major changes.

Earlier last year Nissan updated the LEAF design with updated exterior lights, a revised front bumper, and a new grille. The changes are expected to continue into 2024 as the LEAF design must remain the same as the current model.

Compared to newer electric cars the Nissan EAF doesn’t have the same wow factor, as it has a rounded design with simple headlights and some prominent body lines.

In the midst of the futuristic commotion, there is an exhibition car dubbed the Chill-Out concept. Sharing the CMF-EV architecture and dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with the upcoming Nissan Ariya SUV, it’s arguably the most production-worthy concept of the bunch.

There we discovered that the Chill-Out would be produced as evidenced by patent drawings of a longer and less attractive version of the concept published to the European patent database at the end of May.

We’re pretty sure this compact and low-key crossover design will be the next Leaf because The Leaf is everyone’s original EV, the first affordable and mainstream electric car. Since its debut in 2011, however, it has seen competitors match and, subsequently, exceed its driving range and overall appeal.

The Leaf’s body style in its most recent form takes the form of a dowdy economy hatchback. The use of crossovers, SUVs and trucks in the EV type has now been widely used in the world.

Thanks to Tesla’s success in the marketplace and the types of cars it provides EV buyers now expect some style and performance as they pass gas stations.

It’s safe to say that the next Nissan Leaf will likely graduate to the crossover class in the same way the original Bolt tall hatchback matured into the Bolt EUV crossover.

This patented production vehicle looks like the perfect ship for transformation with similar entry-level-ish EVs from the competition: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, Kia’s EV6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

READ NEXT: 2024 Nissan Pathfinder: The Next Adventure Nissan Pathfinder SUV Review

2024 Nissan Leaf Redesign

These are all compact to midsize EV SUVs with flash and multiple dashboards. The vehicle in this patent image certainly carries flash: It shares a swooping roofline with the Chill-Out concept, sports a pointed nose, and has an interesting truncated tail.

2024 Nissan Leaf

The concept’s big wheels are replaced here with a more normal-looking rolling stock, albeit with an attractive narrow cross section like a show car. Some of the details are so similar to the show car that we wouldn’t be surprised if this was just a patent for the concept, although it would be curious if Nissan filed a patent for the design five months after its debut.

2024 Nissan Leaf Report

On the other hand, according to an interesting Automotive News article based on unofficial sources, the Nissan LEAF will be phased out gradually.

Production of the LEAF (currently in three locations: in Japan, in the US, and in the UK), is expected to end by the middle of the decade, the source said. Since we’re already in the middle of 2022, that means only a few more years, at best.

There is no next-generation version of the LEAF on the table, but rather an all-new replacement model.

Automotive News notes that Nissan representatives don’t want to speculate on the rumors but we wouldn’t be surprised if they were true.

In fact, in the case of the Sunderland factory in the UK, we already know that in the pipeline there is a new electric crossover based on the CMF-EV platform. It will be produced as a replacement for the LEAF, starting around 2025.

The Nissan LEAF is a pioneering model but has not lived up to the expectations of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan started early and invested heavily in electric cars, including three in-house battery manufacturing sites (through a joint venture with NEC). The company hopes to introduce a total of 4 models and reach mass scale.

Unfortunately, sales were an order of magnitude weaker than expected. The factory in Smyrna, Tennessee alone is expected to produce 150,000 units and 200,000 battery packs.

Yet even in its best year (2014), Nissan only sold 30,200 units in the US. Today, LEAF’s annual sales are under half.

Nissan canceled several additional plans and models (besides the Nissan e-NV200). Now, it seems that the LEAF will only coexist with the Nissan Ariya until the all-new BEV model improves.

By 2030, Nissan wants to expand its lineup to 15 electric cars (23 electric cars). In the US, 40% of new Nissan sales are expected to be BEVs by 2030.

While the Nissan Ariya is a different model, we don’t know what new model might replace the LEAF.

Some previews of its possible successor will be the Nissan Chill-Out concept, shown in late 2021 (among other types).

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2024 Nissan Leaf Exterior

The patented design features a slightly longer tail (protrudes more back behind the rear wheels) and a more square hood.

The cool taillights look like LED tabs that glow from a mostly dark panel; in fact, the design of the lighting elements is reminiscent of the new Z sports car, adding an element of production confidence to the elements. It could be that the greenhouse has more realistic proportions as well.

2024 Nissan Leaf Interior

The current LEAF interior design is the age of the vehicle. Nissan is not expected to update its electric car design for 2024.

2024 Nissan Leaf

The electric LEAF has a simple interior design with the center console protruding slightly from the dashboard.

There are plenty of physical controls for the infotainment and HVAC systems. Due to the LEAF’s interior design, this small hatchback has roomy seats in both rows.

Each LEAF is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, four USB ports, and four audio speakers. These features should continue to be standard for 2024. Available features will include a digital instrument cluster, navigation, and six audio speakers.

READ NEXT: 2024 Nissan Z: All-New Nissan Z Coupe Sports Car Review

2024 Nissan Leaf Engine

As with the Chill-Out concept, Nissan’s Ariya bone will allow for all-wheel and front-drive configurations, not to mention greater range and power than the current Leaf offers (up to 226 miles and 214 hp). While the show car has solid-state batteries, we doubt Nissan will have a production one ready in time (or cost-effective enough) to debut in the next Leaf.

2024 Nissan Leaf

2024 Nissan Leaf Powertrain

Nissan offers the LEAF with two powertrains. The electric hatchback is equipped with a standard single electric motor at the front wheels that produces 147 horsepower. The powertrain also includes a 40-kWh battery pack. The LEAF SV Plus is equipped with a 214-hp electric motor and a 62-kWh battery.

The range for the base LEAF is rated at 149 miles, while the SV Plus can go up to 215 miles. This powertrain will continue to be available for the 2024 model year.

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2024 Nissan Leaf Features

When it comes to safety features, the current LEAF comes standard with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane guard assist, rear traffic warning, blind spot monitoring, and automatic high beam assist.

2024 Nissan Leaf

Available safety features include a surround-view parking camera, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system, and a driver attention monitor. LEAF 2024 should continue to be available with these features.

2024 Nissan Leaf Price

With no changes expected for the 2024 model year, the upcoming Nissan LEAF should continue to have the same price tag as the model sold. LEAF currently ranges from $29,135 to $37,135 including destinations

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2024 Nissan Leaf Release Date

2024 Leaf is expected to arrive in the summer of 2023.

People also ask Nissan Leaf 2024

Q: Will the Nissan Leaf be discontinued?

A: A new report from Automotive News claims that Nissan wants to slowly discontinue the Leaf over the next few years as it focuses on bringing more modern EVs to market. Leaf production will end in the middle of this decade. An unnamed source confirmed the news to the outlet.

Q: Is there a new Nissan Leaf coming out?

A: The 2022 Nissan LEAF builds on more than a decade of excellence to deliver the ultimate driving experience! Meet the 2022 Nissan LEAF, the future of one of the world’s best-selling electric vehicles. The Nissan LEAF has impressed EV drivers since it was first released in 2011.

Q: Will the Nissan Leaf be redesigned?

A: The Nissan LEAF 2023 lineup has now been streamlined to offer two of the most popular models, the S and SV PLUS. To keep the LEAF fresh, Nissan redesigned the grille, front fascia, and headlights, and offered new optional 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Q: Is the Nissan Leaf still worth buying?

A: The Nissan Leaf is impressive in almost all areas. It’s easy to drive and comfortable, especially around town, and has a decent range that makes it attractive to many buyers. Considering how much it costs, there’s a range of technology on offer as well, and it has enough room for all the family.0

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Sean Tucker is a writer specializing in consumer-focused coverage of the automotive and energy industries. As an automotive news journalist, I have contributed to US News and World Report, Yahoo Autos, MSN, Dub Magazine, and other publications. He has been on TV news as an expert guest to talk about automobile shopping.