2026 Nissan LEAF

The Nissan Leaf has the bragging rights as America’s first modern mass-market electric vehicle (EV) and now enters its third generation for 2026. It’s been reimagined into a small electric SUV, deviating from its roots as a compact hatchback, but retains much of what people love about the Leaf.

Nissan’s new entry-level EV boasts impressive range and efficiency ratings, a versatile interior with good cargo room, and the latest technology. It also charges pretty fast, and it’s the only mainstream EV on the market with two charge ports, so you won’t have to fuss with an adapter to use a public charging station. The new 2026 Nissan Leaf will be out this fall.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf is fully redesigned. This third-generation model has grown from a hatchback into a small SUV-like crossover and achieves its best-ever maximum range of 303 miles.

On-Sale Date

The 2026 Nissan Leaf will go on sale in the fall of 2025.

We believe the most-popular buy will be the S+ trim. It boasts the longest estimated range and the higher horsepower version of the motor, which is what separates it from the entry-level S grade. Otherwise the S and S+ provide pretty much the same standard features.

If we follow Nissan’s lead and call the redefined Leaf a subcompact SUV, among its key competitors are the reimagined Toyota C-HR, the Kia Niro EV, the all-new Chevy Bolt, the Hyundai Kona Electric, the all-new Subaru Uncharted. All but maybe the Bolt will cost more than the Leaf.

Before buying a Leaf, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Nissan Leaf resale value is historically below average for the segment, but this redesigned model could change that. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf is powered by a 174-horsepower electric motor and front-wheel drive in the base S trim, but every other model uses a 214-horsepower motor. We expect the new Leaf’s driving experience to improve upon the outgoing model’s, which had less power and torque. The old Leaf was getting long in the tooth, but we always enjoyed its pleasant and agreeable driving character with the smooth and quiet performance synonymous with EVs.

Range and Charging

The 2026 Nissan Leaf’s maximum range rating crushes the old one’s; it now gets up to 303 miles of range on a full charge, versus the 2025 model’s 212-mile max range. Notably, only the S+ trim gets that 300-plus-mile range, while the SV+ is rated at 288 miles, and the Platinum+ gets 259 miles. This beats the max range ratings of the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, which don’t reach the 300-mile mark.

Nissan estimates a charge time of 10% to 80% in 35 minutes with DC fast charging, which is about on par with modern-day EVs. One big perk of the new Leaf is its two charge ports; a familiar J1772 port on one side and a Tesla-style NACS port on the other. Moreover, Nissan is promising the Leaf’s battery thermal management system will keep the charge times consistent, even in winter temperatures.

The redesigned cabin in the 2026 Nissan Leaf is a huge upgrade over the aging hatchback it replaces. This thoroughly modern cabin reminds us of pricier Nissan SUVs like the Ariya and Murano. One frustrating thing about the outgoing Leaf was its bulky center console monopolized by an awkward gear shifter. The shift controls have been relocated to the dash, creating a nice, open space with room for cupholders, cubbies, and a slimmer center console. This repackaging should make the front seats feel a little more open and airy.

The NissanConnect infotainment system uses a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the S models and a 14.3-inch screen in the upper trims. Both systems have a digital gauge cluster the same size as the central screen. The bigger screen also brings Google Assistant and Google Maps. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard across the board.

Although the Nissan Leaf has grown from a hatchback into a small SUV, the 2026 model actually has slightly less rear legroom than the 2025 model. However, its 31.8 inches of legroom still makes the back seats accommodating for kids and average-sized adults. The new Leaf also boasts much more maximum cargo room  than the outgoing hatchback — which had an awkward hump in the cargo area — by a factor of 85 percent. Cargo space behind the second row is 20 cubic feet, which grows to 55.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

A sleek and modern exterior design is a highlight of the redesigned 2026. After spending two generations as a compact hatchback since its introduction, the Leaf has adapted to changing tastes and turned into a small SUV. The original Leaf wasn’t known for attractive design, its second generation got a little better, and we can confidently say that this is the best-looking Nissan Leaf yet. Size-wise, it’s Nissan’s smallest EV, slotted below the Ariya.

303-mile max range
The Nissan Leaf deserves credit as the first mass-market EV, but its range has always been somewhere between bad and okay. Finally, the Leaf has a maximum range that’s actually good, specifically up to 303 miles on a full charge.

Fast charging
With DC fast charging, the Nissan Leaf can replenish its battery from 10% to 80% in as little as 35 minutes. This takes some of the range anxiety out of the EV ownership experience.

Two charge ports
The Nissan Leaf comes with two charging ports, which means you can plug into tons of public chargers without needing an adapter. It has a J1772 charge port on one side for charging at home and many public Level 2 stations, and a NACS port on the other for charging at Tesla Supercharger and IONNA stations.

ProPilot
The Nissan ProPilot Assist driver assistance system adds safety and convenience to every drive with features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. It’s standard on every Leaf.

NissanConnect
The Nissan Connect infotainment system combines two screens into one wide display, creating a high-tech look and feel in the Leaf’s cabin. The lower trims use a pair of 12.3-inch screens and the upper trims get 14.3-inch screens with Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on every trim.

Bose Personal Plus audio
We love this feature in the Nissan Kicks, and we’re happy to see it come to the Leaf. It’s a 10-speaker premium audio system that includes speakers in the front headrests. In addition to excellent sound quality for music and podcasts, the driver can focus on phone calls and navigation directions, with those sounds only coming through the driver’s headrest speakers.

The Leaf S uses a 52 kWh lithium-ion battery, while every other trim employs a 75 kWh battery. Both batteries come with a 7.2 kW onboard charger. The Nissan-estimated combined efficiency rating for the + models is between 103 and 121 MPGe, depending on the trim. These efficiency ratings are on par with those of the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Nissan’s traditional new-vehicle limited bumper-to-bumper warranty applies to the Leaf: three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. It also has the standard powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. This coverage is common among mainstream marques, but Hyundai and Kia do better. Nissan Leaf batteries are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, whichever occurs first.

Safety

The standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 safety tech suite on every 2026 Nissan Leaf bundles automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure prevention, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning. Every Leaf also comes with the ProPilot Assist highway driving assist system.