When Nissan introduced the Leaf in 2011, it was more of a curiosity than a viable EV. The original Leaf came with a 24 kWh battery that delivered just 73 miles of range (EPA) and was neither heated or cooled. It looked futuristic but also dorky, and didn’t strike much excitement for anyone beyond EV early adopters and green energy enthusiasts. But it was the first battery EV sold in the US, and it cost a reasonable $32,780.
Over the years, the Leaf gained more range, but was quickly surpassed by pricier Tesla EVs (Model S in 2012, Model X in 2015, and Model 3 in 2017) and by the $37,495 Chevrolet Bolt in 2016. Between its compliance car-like range, lack of battery conditioning, non-standard DC fast-charging port (ChaDeMo), and appliance-like road manners, the Leaf quickly lost its appeal. And the second-gen Leaf in 2018 didn’t address these limitations.
As such, the Leaf became the vehicle of choice for price-conscious EV drivers and for those wanting a short-range EV to run errands. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, Nissan really needed to step things up with the third-gen Leaf, and thankfully, it’s finally delivering an affordable model that nails it and a strong contender for best budget EV.
Refreshing, modern design
The new Leaf delivers plenty of thoughtful design touches
While the 2011 Leaf looked futuristic but also dorky in an endearing kind of way, and the second-generation Leaf simply looked boring and nondescript, the 2026 Leaf looks great, both inside and out. It inherits much of the Nissan Ariya’s design language, but scaled down in size. Unlike the Ariya, which is Nissan’s compact crossover EV, the Leaf’s proportions are more car-like (fastback), even though it’s still a practical hatchback.
Despite having some questionable, crossover-like design elements, such as the plastic trim surrounding the wheel arches, the new Leaf delivers plenty of thoughtful design touches, from the stacked rectangular lighting elements and LED projector headlights in front, to the flush motorized front door handles, to the Nissan Z-like 3D holographic LED taillights that spell out Ni-San (the numbers 2 and 3) in Japanese.
The roofline is sleek, with katana blade-inspired accents, and the front grille is minimal, and includes active shutters for better aerodynamics (0.26 Cd). I drove the Platinum+ trim ($38,990) in the striking two-tone Seabreeze Blue Pearl color (with a black roof, black roof pillars, and black wheels). The 2026 Leaf’s interior is quiet, spacious, refined, and minimalistic, but doesn’t skimp on buttons for essential features like climate and audio.
With the Platinum+ trim, you also get a dimming panoramic roof, a Bose Personal Plus sound system with speakers integrated in the front headrests, 64-color ambient lighting, and a hands-free power liftgate. The white and grey zero Gravity TailorFit seating in the car I drove was super comfortable. According to Nissan, this material is also softer than leather, more durable than vinyl, and made with 65% recycled materials.
In other words, the new Leaf delivers a lot of style and refinement for the money — at least in the Platinum+ trim. There are a few misses, though. For example, the driver’s window switch is the only one with auto-up and down functionality. How is this still a thing in 2025? Also, the passenger seat is manual on all trims (no power adjustment). That saves cost, I suppose, but then again, why cut those amenities yet offer a dimming panoramic roof?
Charging conveniences, tons of room
The 2026 Leaf packs a 75kWh battery which delivers a range of up to 303 miles (EPA) in S+ trim ($29,990), 288 miles in SV+ trim ($34,230), and 259 miles in Platinum+ trim ($38,990). It can be DC fast-charged at up to 150kW (10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes). A 52kWh battery with less range will be available later. The Leaf has two charging ports, one on each front fender — J1772 (AC only) on the left, and NACS (DC only) on the right.
Dual charging ports aren’t unheard of (Porsche and Audi EVs also have this), but what’s strange with the new Leaf is that the NACS port is DC only. This is going to be confusing for some, especially when charging at Tesla Destination Chargers and other AC chargers with a NACS plug, since it will require using the Leaf’s J1772 port with an adapter. I asked Nissan about this, but wasn’t given a valid explanation for this quirk.
The 2026 Leaf offers Tesla Supercharger access and plug-and-charge functionality, making long-distance travel easier. In addition, SV+ and Platinum+ trims boast an Android Automotive-based infotainment system with dual 14.3-inch displays, and Google built-in, which enables native Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store integration, and provides accurate route planning for road trips.
Rounding up the tech features, the Platinum+ trim comes with a heads-up display and 120V outlet, and both SV+ and Platinum+ trims offer a wireless (Qi) phone charger and a heat pump. Standard equipment includes front USB Type-C ports, Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera view, Level 2 ADAS (Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist), and V2L functionality (120V / 1,500W) via an optional J1772 adapter.
Since the new Leaf was built on a dedicated EV platform, there’s plenty of interior space. Front legroom is 42.4-inches, rear legroom is 31.8-inches, and the floor is perfectly flat. There’s 55.5 cu.ft of storage in the trunk with the 60/40 split rear seats folded down, and 20 cu.ft of storage with the seats folded up, but unfortunately, the Leaf still doesn’t have a frunk. It also lacks a resistive battery heater (essential in cold weather) as standard.
Fun to drive
I drove the 2026 Nissan Leaf on city streets, on the freeway, and on winding country roads, and I came away rather impressed. As a long-time car enthusiast who has driven almost every EV available in North America, my standards are high. Considering its FWD layout and affordable price point, I was expecting the Leaf to drive like any generic crossover: safe and competent, but not remotely exciting. And boy was I wrong.
Surprise! The new Leaf is actually engaging to drive. It rides and handles particularly well in the twisties and on broken pavement, thanks to a reasonable curb weight (about 4200lbs) and a multilink rear suspension. And while 214 hp and 262lb-ft of torque isn’t going to blow your socks off, the Leaf is plenty fast enough (0-60mph in six seconds). Plus, the 3-in-1 powertrain (integrated motor, inverter, and reduction gear) is very efficient.
As you’d expect, the 2026 Leaf’s steering is light and precise, but not communicative. The brakes do an okay job at blending regen and friction braking, but lack a proper one-pedal mode, which is extremely annoying. Plus, you can’t turn off creep mode, which is another miss. On the plus side, the SV+ and Platinum+ trims come with steering wheel paddles that provide four levels of regen braking when lifting off the accelerator.
The new Leaf also features four drive modes — normal, sport, eco, and personal — but I mostly drove it sport mode. Nissan’s Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System), called ProPILOT Assist, is adequate, but doesn’t inspire the same level of confidence you get from Tesla’s Autopilot, GM’s Super Cruise, Ford’s BlueCruise, or Mercedes and BMW’s current advanced driver assistance systems. Still, it’s nice for Nissan to include it as standard on all trims.
You won't have to spend a fortune
In all, Nissan’s third-gen Leaf is a well-rounded, affordable EV that’s light years ahead of its predecessors. I found it great to look at, easy to live with, and fun to drive. With a range of up to 303 miles, a comprehensive set of tech features, and a price tag of just $29,990, the new Leaf delivers superb value.
While it's a strong contender, it still needs to prove it's just as good as other affordable EVs — like the Chevrolet Equinox that gets 315 miles of range and costs $35,995, along with the Hyundai Kona Electric at $32,975. The way I see it, the 2026 Leaf might just be the most compelling vehicle Nissan has made in years. And that’s a big deal.
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