Fifteen years ago, Nissan was at the forefront of electric vehicle development. It unveiled the Leaf in mid-2009, just as the world’s economy started to recover from the Great Recession. It entered production in 2010 as the first mass-market EV, offering just 73 miles of range. But a lot has changed since then, and Nissan has given its affordable EV a significant makeover for 2026.
2026 Leaf Powertrain Choices
The company has been teasing the new Leaf since the end of March, but we finally have concrete details about the new compact crossover. It’ll be available in four trims: S, S+, SV+, and Platinum+. The + trims all have a 214-horsepower electric motor making 261 pound-feet of torque previewed earlier this month. It pairs with a 75-kilowatt-hour liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery.
Photo by: Nissan
Photo by: Nissan
The entry-level S will feature a smaller 52-kWh battery with an electric motor making 174 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. Nissan says this powertrain won’t be available until spring 2026. The rest of the lineup will begin reaching dealers this fall.
2026 Nissan Leaf Range and Charging Details
The 2026 Nissan Leaf S+ has a range of up to 303 miles on a charge, way more than the 212 miles available in the 2024 model. The 2026 Platinum+, which comes standard with larger 19-inch wheels, can go up to 259 miles. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard on the other trims. The SV+ has a 288-mile range, while Nissan hasn’t determined how far the entry-level S will go. We expect the company to announce that closer to the trim’s on-sale date next year.
Photo by: Nissan
The new Leaf comes with two charging ports—the Tesla-compatible NACS on the passenger side and the J1772 port on the other. The new Leaf recharges from 10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes. A heat pump is standard on the top two trims, with an optional battery heater available as an option.
2026 Nissan Leaf Technology and Cabin
Inside, the new Leaf takes advantage of its electric powertrain, with a flat floor under the dashboard. A pair of 12.3-inch units for the infotainment display and the driver’s screen are standard on the S and S+. The higher trims come with two 14.3-inch displays with Google Built-In. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every Leaf. Thank goodness.
Photo by: Nissan
Photo by: Nissan
Buyers who get the Leaf Platinum+ will also enjoy a 10-speaker Bose audio system and a head-up display as standard features. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist is standard across the range, along with several other safety technologies like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, high beam assist, lane departure warning, and more.
How Much Will the 2026 Nissan Leaf Cost?
Nissan hasn’t announced the pricing for the 2026 Leaf just yet. A source told our colleagues at InsideEVs that it wants the Leaf to have a starting price in the low-$30,000 range, which would be an increase from the outgoing version. The 2025 Leaf starts at $29,290, including the destination charge. However, the 2026 model is a proper compact crossover that’s larger than the car it’s replacing, so buyers should expect to pay more.
Another factor that could affect the Leaf’s price is the tariffs. Nissan says it’ll build the new EV at its Tochigi plant in Japan, which would make it subject to the 25-percent import duty. That could add thousands of dollars to the price tag, squashing the brand’s hopes of offering an affordable electric vehicle in the United States.
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