Look Out, World: The 2026 Nissan Leaf Won’t Be Frumpy Anymore
Nissan’s entry-level EV will
What It Is
The next generation of Nissan’s Leaf electric car, reimagined and SUVified for today’s tastes. We expect this new Leaf to make its debut next year as a 2026 model, and if our predictions are correct, it will be dowdy no more.
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Why It Matters
Once an innovator but now a time capsule, the Leaf is best known today for its cheap price, unimpressive range, and maiden-aunt styling. It’s an ignominious fate for a car that led Nissan’s charge (heh) into electric cars.
The first indication things might change came when Nissan showed a trio of concept cars in the summer of 2022, one of which—the Chill Out—will serve as the basis for the 2026 Leaf. Drawings submitted for European patents, which are likely closer to the production model than the concept, show an attractive four-door coupe-style crossover. The fast roofline and clipped tail give it vague Polestar and Mustang Mach-E overtones, but the smooth front fascia, with its spreading-wings LED headlight motif, is clearly inspired by Nissan’s Ariya electric crossover.
Nissan envisioned the Chill Out concept as a “mobile lounge” where you could literally put your feet up and, er, chill out while the car drove itself. We expect the new Leaf to have a more conventional interior with a dashboard in place of the concept’s ottoman and, of course, a steering wheel. We hold out hope that some of the concept’s elements, such as the full-width LCD panel and full-length sunroof, will remain, but the new Leaf will likely share interior elements with the Ariya. That certainly won’t be a bad thing.
All signs indicate the Leaf will maintain its identity as a low-cost EV (current model shown below and in gallery), but one with slick SUV-esque styling that will appeal to young city and suburb dwellers. The Leaf will no doubt be an important model in Europe, as well, where legacy automakers are battling an influx of low-cost Chinese EVs. According to Automotive News Europe, Nissan is upgrading its plant in Sunderland, England, to build up to 100,000 Leafs per year. Nissan sold about 7,000 Leafs in the U.S. in 2023, down 40 percent from 2022, so chances are the bulk of those are not coming stateside and that Nissan will end U.S. production of the model. That means it won’t be eligible for a federal tax credit, which would drastically impact its appeal as an affordable EV. Expect base prices to exceed the $30,000 mark, leaving a gap of up to 10 grand before the Ariya takes over.
Platform and Powertrain
The chilled-out Leaf is expected to share the Ariya’s CMF-EV platform, which will give it the capability for dual-motor all-wheel drive. Further, the new Leaf’s battery will have 30 percent more energy density, and Nissan has told dealers to expect a roughly 25 percent improvement over the existing Leaf SV’s 212-mile range. While welcome, that still won’t be enough to grant the Leaf admission to the 300-mile club.
Estimated Price $33,000
Expected On-Sale Date 2025
After a two-decade career as a freelance writer, Aaron Gold joined MotorTrend’s sister publication Automobile in 2018 before moving to the MT staff in 2021. Aaron is a native New Yorker who now lives in Los Angeles with his spouse, too many pets, and a cantankerous 1983 GMC Suburban.
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