Nissan has put the LEAF NISMO on sale in Japan, adding a sharper, sportier version of its all-new third-generation electric hatchback to the NISMO road-car range. The car pairs bespoke suspension, sports tyres and a retuned drive mode with aggressive aerodynamic styling. Nissan describes it as an ‘agile intelligent sport crossover’ built to feel lighter and more responsive than its size suggests.

Nissan has launched the LEAF NISMO in Japan, where it also went on sale today. It is the newest addition to the NISMO road-car line-up and is based on the all-new third-generation LEAF that reached the Japanese market in January 2026 with a new EV platform and, according to Nissan, improvements in range, performance and technology.

The LEAF has been one of the electric car era’s early success stories: Nissan says the model has sold roughly 700,000 units worldwide since the first generation arrived in 2010. The NISMO version follows the sub-brand’s usual recipe of blending race-bred tuning with everyday usability.

Chassis tuned for sharper handling

The NISMO treatment centres on the chassis. Nissan fits exclusive springs, stabilisers and selected member bushes to raise suspension rigidity and sharpen steering response. As on the X-Trail NISMO, the LEAF NISMO uses swing valve-equipped shock absorbers, which the company says reduce initial body roll while keeping the ride settled over changing surfaces.

The car rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres wrapped around lightweight 19-inch Enkei aluminium wheels, a combination Nissan says maximises grip and stability.

A dedicated NISMO drive mode

Three of the standard LEAF’s four drive modes — Standard, ECO and Sport — get unique NISMO tuning. Sport mode is reworked to deliver what Nissan calls powerful, linear acceleration and is rebadged as ‘NISMO Mode’. The LEAF NISMO is also the first EV in the NISMO range to get regenerative braking paddles with dedicated tuning: across four settings, Level 1 reduces deceleration force while Levels 2 to 4 increase it compared with the base car.

Aerodynamics and design

Visually, the LEAF NISMO gains a wider, lower stance. The front bumper carries corner finishers with air-guide functionality, while a rear bumper with a boat-hull-shaped under spoiler and an extended ducktail spoiler is said to add downforce without raising drag. An ‘Arterial Magma’ red accent runs through the body, and the door mirrors get a gloss-black finish with a red line.

Buyers can choose from six colours, including two variations of the NISMO-exclusive Stealth Gray. Inside, there are NISMO-tuned RECARO sport seats, a TailorFit synthetic-leather steering wheel with red stitching, and red-accented details on a black cabin.

What it means

Nissan has not published performance, price or range figures for the LEAF NISMO in this release, and the launch is so far confined to Japan. As a hotter take on a mainstream EV, it competes in a small but growing field of performance-focused electric hatchbacks.

The Nissan LEAF NISMO is on sale in Japan now.

Source: global.nissannews.com