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The new Nissan NX8 isn’t what we’ve come to expect from the Japanese brand’s electric cars.
First, it’s not Japanese – it is part of the brand’S partnership with Dongfeng in China. This means it’s cheaper than other brand EV models, because it will also be built there.
And it’s a bit more ‘mainstream’ in its approach, too – in a very ‘Chinese EV’ kind of way. It’s not like the Ariya mid-size electric SUV, and nothing like the Leaf electric hatch, and that could be to its advantage.
I got to spend a very short amount of time in the NX8 during a Nissan event in Japan, ahead of a likely Australian release before the end of next year – read on for more.
Note: This review primarily contains marketing imagery, as access to images from the first drive event was limited.
How much does the Nissan NX8 cost?
No official confirmation of the Aussie market for this car is made – it’s going to be here at the end of 2027, in all likelihood.
Pricing and specification levels are expected to be high, and likely to give the likes of the Zeekr 7X and Tesla Model Y a run for their money, not to mention the stacked Mazda CX-6e.
But a sharp starting price – less than $60,000- is almost certain for the electric SUV space, as Nissan will be keen on taking sales from rivals.
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What is the Nissan NX8 like on the inside?
Honestly, I had just over two hours of NX8, so this may be more like an overview about the cabin than a deep dive (I have been there for almost 20 minutes) but it certainly impressed you.
The interior design isn’t what I’d describe as unfamiliar for an electric SUV from China, with a Hyundai Elexio-like twin-screen panel across the centre and passenger sections, two-tone trimming and some flashy flourishes.
But I was impressed by the cream, grey and rose-gold trim elements, not to mention the rib-like contours on the door panels and the material quality throughout the cabin. Frankly, it feels more audacious than an Ariya, more extreme than an X-Trail and, importantly, it makes you feel as though you’re sitting in something special.
It is very comfortable and incredibly flexible seats.’ I didn’t get to try the apparently AI-powered system that adjusts the seat according to your body’s size, shape or contour and comfort requirements but was cushy and comfy anyway. Additionally, in addition to the big glass roof there is a large glass and thanks to its electrically retractable shade.
It is well-sorted across storage, with varying cupholders between the front seats, a large storage area below the bridge-type centre console, large bottle holders in the doors and under the fridge/freezer compartment (which could keep your meat pie warm or your Eskimo Pie cold), temperature adjustment between -6°C and +55° C.
Any of the buttons you may be hoping for are a little bit more than that, but it’s just one of those things which is an obvious absence from the cabin. Touch control The climate system has touch controls – no knobs or dials – and even the direction of airflow is adjusted on-screen. The doors have buttons, though – they’re automatic so you don’t push the door out and also close itself too.
Another level is the rear seat experience of . A small margin (dimensions below) of the NX8 is a larger than the X-Trail, and with my driver’s seat set to my preferred position at 182cm/6’0”, I had inches of room ahead of my knees, overhead and lots of foot space too due to the flat floor.
As well, the seat is lavishly appointed; electric recline adjustment (a massage function that will sort out those knots in your back), outer seat heating and ventilation are also available. This includes the necessary bottle and cup holders, which are also included in accounted for (not including USB-C charging ports, direct rear air vents, storage pockets) as well as a flip-down table behind the passenger.
A further large place is the boot, which has a 773 litres of claimed cargo capacity and underfloor storage for cables and tyre repair kit. For example, in the NX8 EV (assuming it is rear-wheel drive), there’s a ‘frunk’ or ‘front boot’ under the bonnet which provides additional storage to 95 litres of memory.
| Dimensions | Nissan NX8 |
| — | — |
| Length | 4870mm |
| Width | 2917mm |
| Height | 1920mm |
| Wheelbase | 1680mm |
| Cargo capacity | 773L – Boot 95L – Frunk |
What’s under the bonnet?
The Nissan NX8 has range-extender (REEV) and battery-electric (EV), while we’re likely to get the EV as our priority, but a two-prong approach can’t beruled out yet.
| Specifications | NX8 BEV | NX8 REEV |
| — | — | — |
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric | Single-motor range-extender hybrid |
| Battery | 81kWh LFP | 43.2kWh LFP |
| Power | 250kW | 195kW |
| Torque | 310Nm | 310Nm |
| Drive type | RWD | RWD |
| Claimed range– CLTC | 630km | 310km |
| Max DC charge rate | 463kW | 270kW |
Monstrous charging rates are based on those charging charges, with the battery from CATL that can charge 5C fast-charging. While there is no EV chargers in Australia that currently support 463kW, some brands will soon be offering ultra-charging solutions.
How does the Nissan NX8 drive?
This is a very short drive experience, but the signs are good from our brief drive history – again this was hardly an test with just one lap of the Grandrive test facility outside Tokyo.
Then it felt like the NX8 doesn’t go too far from the approach of Chinese-built electric SUVs, with more comfort than anything else — even if there were some slower corners and a couple of lumped bumps in the surface.
That’s for the people who live in that segment – thanks to the electronic adaptive damping system which is said to reduce ‘head-topping’, and body wobble when the vehicle moves forward or accelerates quickly and for driver with soft and easy-feeling steering likely to be less direct than the more enthusiastic handlers are expected to enjoy.
It doesn’t feel like lightning-fast as other electric cars in this class, probably because it has less power and torque than some of the benchmarks on that topic.
I thought it was measured in its acceleration, like the Ariya is, but still responded smartly in Sport mode and firmer foot.
It has the required system of regenerative braking with multiple settings too, but I didn’t get much to play with it and no one was called for real brakes on my very short jaunt around the track.
The X8 would be nice in its own position among Australia’s EV pack, perhaps the short-lived experience it may have had.
What do you get?
Australian specifications aren’t confirmed, but here are some of the highlights of the model I tested in Japan.
2026 Nissan NX8 equipment highlights:
- LED headlights
- LED tail-lights
- Configurable light signatures
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic doors – open/close
- Electric tailgate
- ‘AI Zero Gravity Seat 2.0’ incl. 25 massage, support airbags
- ‘Motion sickness prevention technology 3.0’
- Front seat heating, ventilation, massage
- Rear seat heating, ventilation, massage
- Electric front seat adjustment
- Electric rear seat recline adjustment
- Onboard refrigerator/freezer – -6°C to 55°C
- Dual 15.6-inch displays
- 10.25-inch instrument cluster
- 63-inch AR head-up display with blind-spot monitor projection
- Qualcomm 8295P chip
- 25-speaker audio system – 2000W output
- AI-powered voice interaction across four zones
Details of any NX8 that might eventuate are still to be confirmed – although we would not expect the configurable exterior lighting system in China.
In the NX8, strict requirements for lighting are governed by Australian Design Rules (ADRs), and the customisable LED signatures provided in the original-made version of the film’s design code, which is not expected to meet them.
Is the Nissan NX8 safe?
Does the roof have a little bump? That’s what is the LiDAR system, which has very advanced autonomy and Nissan says it provides ‘Level 2++’ autonomy.
But, as with the lights, we don’t expect the LiDAR to be part of our package in Australia – again because ADRs.
On the other hand, you can bet on a gamut of active safety systems such as autonomous emergency braking with vehicle (i.e obstacle-based), pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist detection; adaptive cruise control that will follow smartly enough to meet speed limits — most of the stuff in your highway commute is hard like stopping, starting or steering (to varying degree).
And there’s a lot of camera-based surround-view monitor around the car, with – and an impressive surround view. The ‘full scenario’ self-parking tech is also fitted with.
There’s also a brilliant head-up display that includes not only your speed info and directions but can also show blind-spot camera view in your line of sight – like the Kia and Hyundai Blind-Spot View Monitor, which projected onto the windscreen rather than down on the driver info display.
How much does the Nissan NX8 cost to run?
That’s just a few months from away, but if you look at Nissan’s current ownership scheme it could be an attractive prospect indeed.
In Australia, the Japanese brand has a standard five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty; however, if you service with the company’s dealer network that can be extended to 10 years or 300,000km – whichever comes first.
Market standards for battery warranty are expected to be at least eight years and 160,000km, with a 70 or 75 per cent state of health guarantee.
As well as 10 years or 300,000km of roadside assistance for customers who service their car with the brand, Nissan Australia also provides up to a decade or more. 12 months and 20,000km are likely for the set intervals as well as being serviced, even if we use Ariya EV (Ariya) as a guide.
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Nissan NX8
It is important to have the NX8 and Nissan Australia needs it – but that could be whether ‘late-2027’ will be too late.
That’s what is the reality behind this part of the market – that’d be true – and the NX8 could be an absolutely critical component of our brand’re revival in our market… if it comes soon enough to make its mark on ‘amazingly important parts’.
Let us know in the comments below if you think the Nissan NX8 would be a good fit in Australia.
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Thanks for reading 2026 Nissan NX8 review: Quick drive
