2026 Nissan Leaf: First Spin (Preview, Costs, and Specs) | The Day by day Drive

When the Nissan LEAF was launched for the 2011 mannequin 12 months, it was the primary mass-produced, totally electrical passenger automobile focused at a mainstream market. It was a quirky-looking, bug-eyed automobile that primarily helped pioneer the present EV phase. For perspective, although Tesla was on the scene in 2011, the one automobile in its lineup on the time was the area of interest Roadster. The Mannequin S didn’t hit the streets till 2012.

Now, 25 years later, the third-generation LEAF is hitting the streets, and Nissan intends for it to be a sport changer. Throughout our transient first look, we expect this 2026 Nissan LEAF hits the mark, and it’s going to set the bar for all inexpensive EVs that comply with.

A is for Reasonably priced

You will have assumed that LEAF or “Leaf” was merely an iconic illustration for being “inexperienced.” However alas, it’s truly an acronym:

• Main
• Environmentally pleasant
• Reasonably priced
• Household automobile

Traditionally Reasonably priced

And all through its life, Nissan Leaf has positioned the emphasis on “inexpensive.” Think about the truth that when it launched in 2011, it had a base worth of $32,780, and that first-gen mannequin was eligible for the $7,5000 federal tax credit. When the second-gen launched in 2018, the worth went down to $29,990, and on this era it was eligible for some federal credit each pre- and post-Inflation Discount Act. Nonetheless, because the tax credit for EVs disappear on the finish of September 2025, this new 2026 Nissan LEAF received’t qualify for any federal tax credit–and but the worth holds the road at $29,990 (with out vacation spot charges).

discount Trim Stage Coming

The large information right here is that this isn’t going to be the bottom, base worth. A lower-range LEAF with a smaller battery pack is anticipated as a late launch (both a late 2026 or early 2027 mannequin), and a number of other publications are estimating that automobile might be priced round $26,000. That may undercut the worth of each different electrical automobile presently available on the market. By loads. Aside from the present Nissan LEAF, the opposite inexpensive EVs embody the Chevrolet Equinox EV ($34,995 with out present money incentives) and Hyundai Kona EV ($34,470).

Costs and Trim Ranges

The present trim-level breakdown for the 2026 LEAF as of this writing, together with vacation spot charges:

S+ ($31,485): Consists of 18-inch metal wheels, 75 kWh battery, 160 kW motor, North American Charging Commonplace port for 150 kW DC quick charging, twin 12.3-inch digital shows, 360-degree digital camera views, and wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

SV+ ($35,725): Provides 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, artificial leather-based seating surfaces, 14.3-inch digital shows, Google built-in, heated entrance seats, and wi-fi cellphone charger.

Platinum+ ($40,485): Provides 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED “3D” signature taillights and entrance lighting signature, dimming panoramic roof, Bose Private Plus audio system with 10 audio system, vehicle-to-load inside retailers, and hands-free energy liftgate.

Massive Vary

Once you survey most people, the minimal vary most individuals appear to search out acceptable in an electrical automobile is 300 miles. The Nissan LEAF has by no means come near that mark–till now. The S+ trim can stand up to 303 miles. Whereas this doesn’t beat the Equinox EV’s 319 miles of max vary, it bests the Kona EV by 42 miles. So, if persons are really in search of vary and affordability, the S+ goes to be the winner.

Vary does go down because the trims stage up, however that’s the trade-off for extra know-how and extra tools. Even so, vary stays higher than or similar to the Kona EV, with the SV+ trim getting 288 miles of vary and the Platinum+ trim bringing in 259 miles of vary.

What’s New?

The 2026 Nissan LEAF is all new in each sense of the phrase. Along with the redesign and further vary, that is the primary time LEAF sits on an EV-specific platform. It shares the CMF EV platform with the paused Ariya. It additionally has a brand new 3-in-1 powertrain with an built-in motor, inverter and reducer.

New options on the LEAF embody flush door handles, a flat underbody, 3D holographic taillights on higher trims, the dimming panoramic roof on the Platinum+ trim, and the usual NACS charging portwhich allows entry to the Tesla Supercharger community. The 2026 LEAF additionally features a J1772 port for Stage 2 or at-home charging.

You’ll additionally see Google built-in on the SV+ and Platinum+ trims, which is able to enable for clever route planning through Google maps. Not like the Equinox EV, it additionally gives Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims. It’s additionally price noting that the Google built-in could have a one-year free trial, however it is going to require a subscription after the trial expires.

Although Nissan is looking this new LEAF a “crossover,” it’s extra from a design standpoint than a dimension perspective. The 2026 Nissan LEAF is shorter, decrease, and fewer broad than the earlier era.

Energy and Efficiency

One of many key issues Nissan needed for this next-gen LEAF was for it to be enjoyable to drive. You would possibly ask how that’s attainable with a motor that delivers simply 214 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, however it’s. The engineers tuned the LEAF to get that instantaneous torque, so you’ve gotten an instantaneous enhance once you hit the accelerator from a cease. Plus, it has the correct amount of energy for passing maneuvers on the freeway. Whereas this doesn’t really feel super-car quick, it was quick sufficient to offer my abdomen a little bit flip and push me again in my seat.

Outdoors of that, its compact dimension makes it really feel nimble round curves, and it has a good turning radius for tight metropolis maneuvers.

Adjustable Braking

Along with being enjoyable to drive, Nissan needed this new LEAF to be simple to stay with – particularly for somebody who’s by no means owned an EV. So, one of many issues the automaker did with this next-gen LEAF is to permit the motive force to set the regenerative braking. Should you’re not conversant in an EV, it’s bizarre idea to wrap your thoughts round lifting your foot off the accelerator to brake. Thus, the LEAF will will let you choose minimal regeneration, which provides you the coasting feeling you get when lifting off the fuel pedal of a standard ICE automobile. For these conversant in EVs who need max regen and a one-pedal-driving really feel, you possibly can hit the “e-Step” button. This provides important braking when lifting your foot off the accelerator, however in contrast to true one-pedal driving, it received’t deliver you to a whole cease.

Drive Modes

I saved the automobile in Eco mode throughout my transient drive time and had the e-Step regen engaged. I favored the general really feel of how the LEAF operated in full EV mode, however I do want that the e-Step allowed for full one-pedal driving.

Charging

We had been driving the Platinum+ mannequin, and even with the decrease vary, I didn’t really feel any form of vary nervousness. Granted, we weren’t going removed from our dwelling base, nevertheless it was the Google built-in with the vary estimator that actually allayed any sense of fear. That and the NACS cost port. Tesla chargers are extra extensively accessible, so in the event you do must cost outdoors of the house, it’ll be simpler to discover a place to plug in. Moreover, the brand new LEAF can cost from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes.

Not Good

Whereas the 2026 Nissan LEAF is a horny and well-put-together automobile, there are some issues which may want some consideration. First, let’s speak about menu icons. The 14.3-inch display screen on the Platinum+ trim has a collection of icons throughout the underside that take you to issues like your maps, local weather controls, dwelling display screen, and Apple CarPlay. This makes it simple to navigate between the native system and any cellphone mirroring system you is likely to be utilizing as a result of the menu icons are static. Yay! The issue: The icons are tiny, and I discovered that even with my small fingers, I needed to flip my hand at awkward angles to have interaction the icons with the pad of my finger reasonably than the tip of my fingernails. There’s a equally awkward attain for the HVAC controls which can be inset and slightly below the display screen.

Second, the wi-fi cellphone charger is simply good for brief stints. I’ve a powerful dislike for many wi-fi chargers in automobiles as a result of they have a tendency to overheat your cellphone and solely problem a trickle cost. There are some exceptions on the market–particularly in Normal Motors automobiles–however for probably the most half wi-fi chargers in automobiles are pointless. Such is the case for the wi-fi charger within the 2026 Nissan LEAF. It stopped charging my cellphone after only a half an hour on the pad as a result of my cellphone wanted to chill down. So, in the event you really must cost otherwise you’re going to be driving longer than a half an hour, deliver a charging twine and wire in.

CG says:

The 2026 Nissan LEAF is best than its predecessor in each means, and the truth that it holds the road on pricing whereas together with extra tech, extra vary, and entry to extra chargers is a giant deal. Nissan calls this new era of LEAF a “notion shifting EV,” and I’ve to agree. Proper now, I don’t suppose there’s a greater inexpensive EV on the market.

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2026 Nissan Leaf Photos

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