While the electric crossover market now feels thoroughly oversaturated like a garden after a week of thunderstorms, the 2026 Nissan Leaf feels like one that’s worth looking forward to. We already know it looks like a funky crossover coupe and features a fairly handsome interior, but specifications were a bit vague until now. Fortunately, further details have since been released, and on paper, this Leaf reboot seems rather competitive.
Every trim but the base model gets a 75 kWh liquid-cooled battery pack sending power to a 160 kW electric motor. With this powertrain configuration and the 18-inch steel wheels with full covers included in the S+ trim, Nissan’s targeting 303 miles of EPA range, a properly respectable figure.
Admittedly, range drops off to 288 miles in the SV+ and 259 miles in the Platinum+ trim, possibly due in part to different wheel packages, but sometimes that’s the price of appearances. Of course, the base model’s smaller 52 kWh battery pack and 130 kW electric motor don’t have an announced range yet, but I’d expect it to be considerably less than 300 miles, considering it features almost a third less energy capacity.
That’s batteries and motors sorted, what about charging the new Leaf? Here’s where things get a bit unusual, because Nissan is equipping this thing with both a J1772 port and a NACS port. Keep in mind, the J1772 port doesn’t support DC fast charging, but it does offer vehicle-to-load capability, and it’ll be good for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. The Tesla-style NACS port will support DC fast charging at up to 150 kW, decent enough for an entry-level EV.
Because the new Leaf is an entry-level EV, some stuff that you might actually want comes locked to the higher trim levels and isn’t available on the S+ model with the longest range. Features like a heat pump for improved cool weather performance, rear seat air-con vents, rear USB-C charging ports, a wireless phone charger, a clever cargo divider, an audio system with more than just four speakers, and the bigger 14.3-inch screens. However, even the base model gets dual 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment and gauges, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED lighting, a robust suite of advanced driver assistance systems, and 10 airbags.
However, if you do want to splash the cash on the top trim, you are going to get some nice toys in exchange for the range hit of that model. Stuff like a Bose 10-speaker audio system, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a power liftgate, and an electrically dimming panoramic moonroof like you get in a Maybach. Yeah, we really have come a long way since 2010, when the first Leaf rolled off the line.
Other than the range of the 52 kWh base model, there’s one thing we don’t know yet: Pricing. Expect Nissan to reveal more about just how much the 2026 Leaf costs closer to its on-sale date this autumn. If it works out to be competitive with models like the 319-mile, $34,995 Chevrolet Equinox EV, there’s a good chance Nissan could have a hit with this thing.
Top graphic image: Nissan
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It seems fine and I want it to be a success, because I want to see Nissan survive and prosper. Also, that’s a pretty shade of robin’s egg (or Tiffany?) blue, so kudos to them for that. I couldn’t care less about an electrochromatic roof. I hope that the new Leaf is genuinely affordable, with the base cost managing to come in at sub-$30K regardless of tax incentives, but I won’t hold my breath.
Recently rented a Kia EV6 in Southern California for a week. I’m a longtime Leaf owner and the EV6 was a perfectly capable and even fun-to-drive car, but I was amazed at how expensive public charging is. Between the average 60 cents per kWH and the summer heat, the EV6 was as expensive to operate as a ~30mpg gas car (but with the added hassle of locating EV charging in an unknown area and not knowing whether it will take 20 minutes or 2 hours).
I’m used to absurdly cheap home charging for my Leaf, on the order of 25% the cost of my local gas. But if my experience is what it’s like for renters, road-trippers, or tourists, I’m beginning to see how our EV infrastructure does not support a use case for more electric cars. Tesla may be an exception with their end-to-end system, but I haven’t tested it.
If the new Leaf is a mass-market and “cheaper” EV, I hope it’s priced in line with the mass market’s cost of ownership reality.
Just took a 320 mile business trip in my Mini SE. Three charge stops (remember, the Mini’s range is only about 100 miles depending on the conditions,) cost a little over $30 dollars. I’m glad I primarily charge at home.
But saving money isn’t my only reason for going electric. I like not spewing foul exhaust into the air, and the instant acceleration is just so darn fun.
Took a trip of a similar length last week in my 2010 Insight Hybrid (a bit past its prime,) and the cost in gas was about the same as today’s electrons for the Mini.
If the price is comparable to the current leaf and it isn’t to expensive for the heat pump upgrade and heated seats/steering wheel, this might actually be a compelling car. It’s not pretty but if it can be priced similar to a Honda Civic or Buick Envista, Nissan might have something.
So, no carbon on the valves with this new Leaf?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: They should have just given the current Gen Leaf a NACS port and maybe implement some more cost saving measures.
My guess is that this new gen will be sold at Model Y prices, which means it has to compete with every other Model Y knockoff automakers make, and in that competition it loses.
If they instead kept selling second gen Leafs but gave them a NACS port in place of the CHAdeMO (like on this new Leaf) and worked on keeping them cheap they’d still sell and sell quite well.
As a former Leaf owner I completely agree. They should have just done NACS and a liquid cooled pack. It’s a value car, spending anymore seems like a waste.
This thing won’t be competitive with the higher end “entry level” EVs. I’ll be shocked if they can compete on price with M3/Y.
Hell, a fan would be plenty to cool it.
That thing is goofy looking
Its on brand then
No one pedal driving, so it’s a no go for me (also too late, as I traded in my 2018 Leaf two months ago).
I hate that they kept the trend going of making the Leaf ugly. The Ariya is not a good looking car, and the same styling is somehow worse on the Leaf. I really, really hope they take a look at what Toyota did with the Prius and make the next generation of Leaf (assuming Nissan lives that long) attractive to look at.
Agreed
The Ariya is one of those cars that manages to look even worse in person than in photos; there are far too many where I live and I’m annoyed at how often I have to see them.
I hear that. Some friends recently leased one when they were having the crazy lease deals on them a few months ago, so I get to see theirs all the time. The friends are “cars are appliances” people and don’t care what their vehicles look like as long as they meet their needs, but no matter how many times I see it I can’t help but recoil at how unattractive it is.