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Building an affordable electric car is something most automakers say just can’t be done. The excuses are always the same — batteries cost too much, the market’s too small, and there’s no profit to be made. But try telling that to the 2026 Nissan Leaf. This all-new EV promises over 300 miles of range and a starting price of just $29,990. Even after adding the $1,495 destination charge, it’s still an incredible deal for a long-range electric car.
Base Trim Engine Electric
Base Trim Engine Electric
Base Trim Transmission Single-speed Automatic
Base Trim Transmission Single-speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower 174 hp
Base Trim Horsepower 174 hp
Base Trim Torque 254 lb-ft
Base Trim Torque 254 lb-ft
Base Trim Battery Type lithium-ion
Base Trim Battery Type lithium-ion
Make Nissan
Make Nissan
The Leaf enters its third generation for the 2026 model year, riding on an all-new platform that is shared with the now-discontinued Ariya as well as some Renault and Alpine models sold in Europe. This new model looks more like a crossover than previous iterations, and makes huge improvements to range and charging performance. It may no longer be the cheapest EV in America, as that crown was recently stolen by the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, but based on the price and overall package, we still believe the Leaf is a winner. CarBuzz spent a week in the full-loaded Leaf Platinum+, and found out why it may be the new king of affordable EVs.
If it didn't say "Leaf" on the back, you might not know this is the same car as the previous first or second generation models. The design language is entirely different, looking similar to the Ariya and Murano in the front and even sharing some DNA with the Z sports car in the rear with its taillights. Fun fact: the two-part and three-part light signatures within the taillights signify the Japanese words for "ni" and "san" meaning two and three, combining to be Ni-San.
18-inch steel wheels with aero covers come on the base S+ trim, and net the best possible driving range. The SV+ upgrades to 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Platinum Plus+ rides on 19-inch wheels that more drastically impact the driving distance.
The new Leaf looks more like a crossover, but that is just visual trickery. This third generation model is actually shorter overall and has a shorter wheelbase compared to the outgoing model, and it is actually lower in terms of roofline and ground clearance. It's funny how much some sheet metal and a higher beltline can completely change a vehicle's image without actually altering its functionality. In fact, Nissan lowered the Leaf's drag coefficient from 0.29 to 0.26.
Your choice of colors is limited on the S+: Deep Ocean Blue Pearl, Black Diamond Pearl, Gun Metallic, and Everest White Pearl TriCoat ($450 extra). The SV+ unclocks Everest White Pearl with a Super Black Two-Tone roof ($800) or a bold Seabreeze Blue Pearl with the same black roof ($800). If you want Coulis Red Pearl or Boulder Gray Pearl, both of which come with the Super Black roof ($800), they are only available on the Platinum+ trim.
Credit = CarBuzz
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