Introduction
The 2026 Nissan Leaf Is a Sleek Electric Vehicle With a 303-Mile Range
Nissan’s EV remains front-wheel drive, gets a NACS port, offers a choice of two powertrains, and finally has a telescoping steering wheelOverview
The redesigned 2026 Nissan Leaf has sleek styling and a slightly higher ride height than the stubby four-door hatchback that it replaces. In fact, it has little in common with the old Leaf, except for its nearly identical external dimensions. The new Leaf arrives in dealerships in the fall.
It’s been 15 years since the Nissan Leaf first arrived in North America as a 2011 model. While that fledgling EV was unique when it debuted, its long charging time, short range, use of an odd high-speed charging standard, and awkward ergonomics kept it from remaining competitive with a later crop of larger, more comfortable EVs that also boasted longer driving ranges.
Nissan aims to wipe away all of those memories with the 2026 Leaf. The new model eschews odd designs and oddball controls (such as the previous generation’s hockey puck shifter) for large touchscreens and some touch-sensitive buttons. While the new Leaf has nearly the same exterior dimensions as the previous generation, Nissan says it has 55.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, compared with 30 cubic feet in the old model.
Driving range has also expanded dramatically. Where the older model could go up to only 212 miles on a single charge, the new Leaf promises between 259 and 303 miles, depending on how it’s equipped. It has a Tesla-style NACS (North American Charging System) port for high-speed DC fast charging and a Level 1 and Level 2 charge port. And like most other Nissans, it comes standard with numerous driver safety and assistance features.
Here’s what we know so far:
It goes on sale in Fall 2025. The final assembly point is Tochigi, Japan.
The Leaf competes with the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV, Chevrolet Bolt EUV, and Chevrolet Bolt.