Full Redesign of Nissan ROOX Caught in Spy Shots on Public Roads – Front Face Finally Revealed
The all-new, fully redesigned Nissan ROOX, scheduled for announcement in late July 2025 and release in October 2025 (though now rumored to be delayed), has been spotted once again undergoing testing on public roads in Japan.
Front Face Captured for the First Time
In the latest development, Spy shots not just of the rear, but also of the front fascia of the test vehicle. This prototype was spotted parked at Ohi Parking Area (eastbound), located along Tokyo’s Bayshore Route.
Wearing a temporary license plate reading “Yokohama 14-02,” the prototype is heavily camouflaged, but part of the headlight design and grille area is now clearly visible.
Nissan plans to offer two facial designs: the standard look and the Highway Star variant. The latter features a wider lower grille and horizontally-aligned LED headlights in a dual + single lamp configuration. The test vehicle shown here has a vertically-stacked dual + single lamp LED layout, suggesting it is the standard design.
Given it was spotted at a highway parking area, it is believed the car was undergoing testing for safety equipment excluding ProPilot, likely making it the naturally aspirated S or X trim.
A Close Look at the Front Design
A second close-range shot reveals a panel without a grille, which appears to be reserved for radar sensors or the Nissan badge. The new ROOX’s front design, with blacked-out elements from the headlights to the upper grille area, presents a futuristic look, somewhat reminiscent of the Honda N-BOX Custom.
The vertical LED headlights seem to include orange elements at the top, likely indicating integrated front turn signals. The single main LED may include auto high beam functionality. LED fog lamps are also visible; these are expected to be optional on S and X grades, and standard on the Highway Star.
Rear Quarter Reveals More Grade Hints
At the rear, the prototype sports 14-inch single-spoke alloy wheels, suggesting it is indeed an S or X grade. For comparison, Highway Star X and X ProPilot Edition come with 14-inch alloys, while Highway Star G Turbo trims get 15-inch gloss black alloys.
Brake Lamp Captured Illuminated for the First Time
A different prototype, seen on public roads in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, bore a temporary plate “Yokohama 14-06” and was captured with its brake lights illuminated—the first time this has been seen. The brake lamp lights up at the top for visibility, with the bottom clear section serving as the turn indicator.
This same tail lamp design will also be shared with the next-generation Mitsubishi Delica Mini, which is being co-developed with Nissan.
A Crucial Model for Nissan
Originally, pricing and estimate tools were expected to be available from early July 2025, but due to internal delays at Nissan, the release may be pushed back to December 2025.
With declining stock of the current ROOX and Delica Mini, and no new vehicles available to fill the gap, Nissan faces a challenging few months. The ROOX is a key model for the brand, and they cannot afford to fail with its launch.
In addition to the ROOX, Nissan is planning releases of several important models including the new Leaf (ZE2), a major facelift of the X-Trail e-POWER (T33), and an updated Serena (C28). With rising vehicle costs, delays must be avoided to prevent a prolonged period of having “nothing to sell.”