Don't want to buy a Chinese electric car? 2025 Nissan Leaf-succeeding SUV set for big range boost that will finally make it a competitive EV

Nissan's next-generation electric vehicle may receive a substantial increase in its driving distance, enhancing its competitiveness against rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and BYD Atto 3.

Just to refresh your memory, there are currently two options for the Leaf model – the standard version, which has a driving range of 270 kilometers, and the enhanced version, known as the e+, which offers an extended range of 385 kilometers.

But according to Automotive News, dealers have been granted a sneak peek of the upcoming vehicle, which will transform from a compact hatchback into an SUV in order to offer stiff competition to highly popular electric vehicles.

Additionally, there are plans to increase the driving range by 25 percent. This would allow the vehicle to travel up to 481 kilometers on a single charge, surpassing the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range which can go up to 420 kilometers and the Mazda MX-30 EV which offers a range of 200 kilometers.

Nissan's latest vehicle will also embrace the Ariya's design, albeit downscaled to suit its compact SUV dimensions, as indicated by a dealer who caught a glimpse of the car. Automotive News alternatively describes it as a "crossover coupe-inspired" model.

However, although the upcoming Leaf replacement will utilize the CMF-EV architecture, which is also used for the Aryia, it is not necessarily a reliable indicator of what to anticipate from Nissan's electric SUV in the medium-size category.

In order to explore this, we have to look at the Renault Megane E-Tech, which has similar foundations and compact SUV dimensions as the suggested future replacement for the Leaf.

With dimensions of 4199mm in length, 1768mm in width, and 1505mm in height, along with a wheelbase of 2685mm, the Megane E-Tech is noticeably more compact than the Ariya. However, it manages to offer an impressive driving range of 454km in Australia, all thanks to its 60kWh battery.

The Megane E-Tech is equipped with a sole electric motor that powers the wheels at the front. This powerful motor generates an impressive output of 160kW/300Nm. The price for this electric vehicle begins at $64,990, excluding additional on-road expenses.

With identical technology and dimensions as the Megane E-Tech, Nissan has the opportunity to replicate the trailblazing strategy implemented by Renault with their upcoming Leaf replacement. Consequently, this could lead to comparable pricing for both vehicles.

This positioning would situate the fresh Nissan car in the same league with the Kia Niro EV (starting at $66,590) and Tesla Model 3 (starting at $57,400), while also elevating it to a higher market segment than the current Leaf, which begins at $50,990.

In any case, the release of the latest version is not expected until approximately 2025. However, the Aryia has already been confirmed for Australia, although the exact timing has yet to be determined.