2026 Nissan Leaf First Look: 300 Miles of Range, 2 Charge Ports, Fun Design

Any new smallish, affordable EV that hits the market is worth attention, but that goes doubly so for the 2026 Nissan Leaf. As the pioneering first mass-produced EV in history—available in all 50 states from the get-go—the Leaf beat everyone to the punch. But a lack of innovation and style subsequently cost it the lead in the EV race, mostly its low range figures and slow charging speeds. The new Leaf seeks to fix this.

To date no other EV has made it to a full-fledged third generation, and this new model brings a completely redesigned exterior, better range, and two charge ports to maximize convenience.

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A New Face

You may have realized from the pictures, but the Nissan Leaf is one of those cars whose different generations look absolutely nothing alike. The first one was kind of goofy, the second was far more conservative, and this third model is the most expressive yet, evincing some of the playful spunkiness small Japanese cars are often known for.

Thanks in part to a downward-sloping nose and flush front door handles, Nissan claims a drag coefficient of 0.26, 0.03 lower than the previous Leaf’s. There are pillar-mounted rear door handles and either 18- or 19-inch wheels, depending on trim.

Scythe-shaped front lighting defines the new Leaf’s front end, and we absolutely love the retro-inspired 3D rear taillights that look like they were inspired by the current Nissan Z.

The color palette includes Seabreeze Blue Pearl, Coulis Red Pearl, Everest White Pearl Tricoat, and Boulder Gray Pearl, all with a contrasting black roof. Monochrome paints include Deep Ocean Blue Pearl, Everest White, Gun Metallic, and Black Diamond Pearl.

Note the Leaf now has two charging ports. The first one, on the driver’s side front fender, is the familiar J1772 port that can be employed at most Level 2 public chargers or at home. On the passenger side front fender is a NACS fast-charge port that gives owners access to more than 20,000 compatible Tesla Superchargers.

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Modernized Cabin

A flat floor gives the Leaf’s cabin a newfound airiness. Our first impressions of the seats are that they’re comfortable and supportive, with some trims sporting attractive patterns on the inserts. Climbing into the back seat, it no longer feels like you’re clearly sitting on top of a battery pack. Those seats are comfortable and offer surprisingly good leg- and headroom, even for tall passengers.

Dual widescreen displays provide all the relevant information, with S and S+ cars getting a 12.3-inch touchscreen and SV+ and Platinum+ models getting the bigger 14.3-inch screen. A fixed bar with climate controls is positioned below.

The Leaf also adopts a push-button shifter setup, opening up the center console and enabling a full pass-through below. The wireless charging pad is stamped with a small image of a gingko leaf—a nod to the company’s heritage.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all grades, as are two USB-C ports in the front, Amazon Alexa built-in services, and ProPilot Assist (Nissan’s advanced adaptive cruise control system). On SV+ and Platinum+ cars, Nissan also makes native Google apps such as Maps, Assistant, and Play Store available.

On Platinum+ cars, you can get a panoramic roof that’s dimmable in sections.

The cargo area appears quite functional, with a hatchback opening exposing a low load floor. There’s also a small cubby under the floor that opens so you can store additional items.

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Two Battery Options

The new Leaf rides on the same CMF-EV platform that underpins the Nissan Ariya. Two battery options will be offered.

The first, arriving at launch, is a 75-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion pack that feeds a single electric motor—the Leaf is front-drive only—good for 214 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. This pack charges at speeds of up to 150 kWh, according to Nissan. Range estimates vary by trim:

• Platinum+: 259 miles
• SV+: 288 miles
• S+: 303 miles

This is the first time a Leaf has been projected to break the 300-mile-range barrier, a mental milestone for many shoppers.

Later on, a 52-kWh battery pack will join the fray in the base S trim. No range figures were provided at this time, but we’re told these cars will make a claimed 174 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. They’ll also have the NACS port for fast DC fast charging.

The Leaf will have V2L—vehicle to load, or the ability to power, say, your house—capability via its J1772 port with a necessary adapter. Otherwise, Platinum+ models will have a V2L plug in their cargo areas.

As mentioned, all Leaf models will be front-wheel drive. There will not be an option for all-wheel drive. So if you want an AWD Nissan EV, you’ll have to look to the Ariya.

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A Car or an SUV?

Looking at the new Leaf begs the question: Is this an SUV or a car? We’re getting mixed signals.

On one hand, Nissan’s official literature calls the Leaf a “crossover.” However, the Nissan spokespeople present at the reveal event wouldn’t definitively come down on one side or the other, saying only that it’s sized more like a car with SUV shapes rather than an SUV shrunk down to the size of a car. Furthermore, AWD is usually a hallmark of an SUV, although it’s not explicitly required.

Size wise, the Leaf is bigger than the Toyota Prius hatchback but smaller than the Kia EV6 crossover.

How Much? We Don’t Know Yet

Historically, the Leaf has been an EV for the masses. Its small footprint and no-frills, functional interior made for a great runaround car, even if its range wasn’t stellar. Now, though, Nissan has finally brought the Leaf into the modern age by increasing both its range and charging speeds.

But the final and most important piece of the puzzle? Price.

Nissan hasn’t yet announced how much the Leaf will cost, but we’re hoping it stays in the sub-$30,000 to $35,000 price range of the current one. There’s a real need for small, capable, and affordable EVs, as there are only a handful currently for sale.

The new Leaf will arrive at dealerships this fall, and we expect to hear more about pricing closer to then.