Redesigned 2026 Nissan Leaf starts at $31,485 for the base S+ trim, but an even more affordable S trim will join the menu later.
The Leaf is now a crossover but is positioned about $10,000 below the Nissan Ariya, which starts at $41,160.
The Leaf arrives in a much more diverse EV market than its predecessors faced, with quite a few rivals in this price and size range.
With the redesigned Leaf on the way, Nissan has a chance to turn its EV fortunes around after the delayed Ariya saw a slightly lukewarm reception.
The Ariya, to be fair, also landed in what is now a busy segment at an awkward time, and the segment is becoming busier with every few months.
But a smaller and less expensive option might interest EV shoppers a bit more, now that there are more than enough options north of the $50,000 mark among electric crossovers.
"The Leaf really kicked off the mainstream EV market when it launched 15 years ago, and Nissan's still committed to making electric driving accessible to all," said Vinay Shahani, senior vice president of US Marketing and Sales at Nissan.
The next-gen Nissan Leaf will ditch its commuter hatch roots and will become a crossover, while maintaining enough distance from the Ariya when it comes to exterior size to avoid much overlap. And pricing will be one of those factors.
Nissan said the 2026 model will start at $31,485 for the base S+ trim, so about $10,000 south of the $41,160 starting price of the Ariya.
Leaf Cracks 300-Mile Range
But it will have one distinct advantage over the Ariya, including a range above 300 miles in the EPA cycle. The Leaf's magic number is 303, while the best the Ariya has managed is 289 miles in the longest-ranged trim.
The mid-grade Leaf SV+ model will start at $35,725, and it will serve up 14.3-inch displays instead of the 12.3-inch screen in the S+ trim among the upgrades, while also offering 18-inch alloy wheels.
The top Platinum+ flavor, once again about $5,000 north of the trim below it, will feature goodies like Bose audio, larger 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic roof with a dimming function.
All three trim levels will feature a 75-kWh battery and will be powered by a 214-hp motor positioned up front.
So there won't be any dual-motor flavors—that's what the Ariya is for.
"We've stuck to our mission of engineering EVs that are affordable but packed with value. That's how we've kept the Leaf's price steady over three generations—all while giving owners more style, more technology, more features, and a vastly improved driving range over the original 2011 model," Shahani added.
But a true base model is still on the way, Nissan said, and it will be even more affordable.
The S trim will be the fourth version of the new Leaf, but it won't launch at the start of sales. We'll have to wait for a bit.
The third-gen Leaf will face a much wider cast of competitors even in comparison to the era in which the second-gen model arrived.
But it will be one of the more affordable options in this rapidly ballooning world of car prices—and also still one of the smallest EV crossovers by exterior size.
So it should differentiate itself enough from its frenemies.
Will the new Leaf be a hit in the EV market, like the Tesla Model Y, or has the EV-buying public moved on to other segments and brands? Please comment below.
Comments