- The 2025 Nissan Leaf is an aging hatchback known for its low price, frumpy looks, and limited range
- The 2026 Nissan Leaf is all-new, with sleek SUV-like styling, much better range, and unknown price
The Nissan Leaf will get one of the most dramatic makeovers in automotive history for the 2026 model year.
Kelley Blue Book will celebrate its 100th birthday next year. When we tell you something is historic, we know what we’re talking about.
The Leaf on dealer lots today deserves respect because it was the first mainstream EV of the modern car era, appearing before even the Tesla Model S. But, in its second generation, it’s a homely hatchback with an aging interior and gets only up to 212 miles between charges. KBB expert test driver Russ Heaps calls its performance just “stable and predictable.”
The 2026 Leaf will be a sleek and attractive vehicle with an SUV-like profile, range of up to 303 miles, a crisp and modern interior, and an updated charging system.
Nissan hasn’t disclosed pricing. The current Leaf starts at $29,280, and Nissan likely can’t raise the next one’s price much while staying competitive.
Sleek New Look Inside and Out
- Taller, curvier SUV-like body
- Minimalist cabin with tasteful use of color
The most obvious change comes outside. The 2026 Leaf won’t even fit into the same vehicle category as the 2025 model.
It’s more like an SUV now, though not one you’ll want to take deep into the woods. While most SUV designs in recent years have emphasized ruggedness, the Leaf is all curves.
It fits visibly into the same family as Nissan’s Ariya and all-new Murano. Door handles that recede flat into the bodywork and a body-color insert where the grille would be (if it needed one) add to the wind-slipping look.
Nissan hasn’t provided a list of colors, but the model shown to the press is such a glossy robin’s egg blue that it looks like a candy shell. We hope the other colors are as bold. We hope, when you bite into it, there’s salted caramel.
Inside, the two-tone color scheme used in press photos contrasts deep blue and cream on the seats and dash. Car designers in 2025 are almost all in love with the idea of two screens mounted as one. In the Leaf, they’re each either 12.3 or 14.3 inches, depending on trim. That’s a lot of display for such a small car, giving it an up-to-the-minute technology look.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Google built-in, including Google Maps, is available. A Bose audio system on the top-of-the-line model features headrest speakers – a rarity outside the luxury classes — but something Nissan has done before, including in the Kicks subcompact SUV.
Little Power Change, but a Range Boost
- 174 or 214 horsepower, but no all-wheel drive (AWD)
- Range up to 303 miles…though Nissan is quiet about the low end of the range numbers
The 2026 Leaf has SUV styling, but not SUV capability. Nissan will offer two levels of front-wheel-drive (FWD) power, but no all-wheel drive (AWD) option.
The Leaf S gets a 174-horsepower motor paired with a 52 kWh battery. All other models have a 214 hp motor and a 75 kWh battery. Nissan hasn’t provided a range estimate for the smaller battery. With the larger cell, you can expect between 259 and 303 miles, depending on trim level.
The 2026 Leaf comes equipped with a Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) port so it can charge at Tesla’s Supercharger stations. Nissan says it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 35 minutes at a DC fast charger – a respectable number for 2026.
The company also promises “consistent charging performance even in cold weather” thanks to a system that uses waste heat from the motor to keep the battery warm.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf is set to arrive at dealerships this fall.