Nissan Teases Several New Models, Gives First Look at Next-Gen LEAF
Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan plans to launch over 10 new vehicles in Canada and the U.S. (including some under its luxury brand Infiniti) by the end of fiscal year 2027 as it works to accelerate its turnaround. There will be hybrids, plug-in hybrids, next-generation EVs and advanced ICE-powered models.
"North America is a key market and we are taking quick actions to get us back to growth and set the stage for the exciting products to come,” Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier said. “We’re simplifying our operations and retail programs so that we can attack our cost structures, allowing us to deliver the right products to our customers, when they want them, where they need them, and for the right price.”
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LEAF Morphs Into an SUV
Sometime between now and the end of March 2026, Canada and the U.S. will be the first markets to launch the all-new, third-generation Nissan LEAF, which will be a small crossover slotting below the Ariya as previously reported.
The company is talking about a “sleek and spacious family-friendly crossover” boasting “substantial improvements in aerodynamics” along with 19-inch wheels and a panoramic roof. For the North American market, an NACS charging port will also be integrated, enabling direct access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
This new LEAF sits on Nissan’s modular CMF-EV platform (which debuted with the Ariya) and promises more efficient energy management, extra power, enhanced driving performance and significant range improvements over the previous generation. Oh, and faster charging, too. Further details will be shared this summer.
What Next?
As we wrote several months ago, Nissan will also introduce a plug-in hybrid variant of the Rogue compact SUV (a spinoff of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV), a new generation of the Sentra compact sedan (pictured below) and a refreshed Pathfinder midsize SUV later in 2025. Over at Infiniti, the three-row QX60 will get a mid-cycle update, as well, while the full-size QX80 will receive a new Sport package.
Next year or early in 2027, production of the fourth-generation Rogue will begin. The model will be the first to offer Nissan’s innovative e-POWER technology to consumers in Canada and the U.S. Infiniti will add the QX65, a sportier, coupe-like QX60 derivative with two rows of seats only.
Finally, an all-new EV is scheduled to commence production at the Canton, Mississippi plant sometime in late 2027. Nissan calls it an “adventure-focused SUV,” and we fully expect it to revive the Xterra moniker. It will be joined in 2028 by Infiniti’s first-ever electric SUV, inspired by the Vision QXe concept. Both will feature U.S.-made batteries supplied by SK On.
