2026 Nissan Leaf Review

Everyone loves cheering for an underdog.

In a movie, a book, and even real life — when a character overcomes adversity and the odds stacked against them, it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And in the entry-level electric vehicle (EV) segment, Nissan’s Leaf was a bit of an underdog.

The previous-generation Leaf had become a reliable-if-dated offering with a charging interface that has largely fallen out of favour with the industry at large. Still, buyers looking for a basic — and affordable — EV could add Nissan’s emissions-free hatchback to their shopping lists.

While the redesigned 2026 Nissan Leaf continues to be affordable, at least by modern EV standards, it’s far more contemporary and competitive than ever before. The Leaf used to be an underdog, but this new model has a flashy new look, tons of modern technology, and a more compelling package overall.

Styling 7.5 / 10

Most notably, the new Leaf looks a whole lot different than the old one. It has plenty of Nissan’s most modern styling cues, and an overall profile that’s like a scaled down version of the Nissan Ariya, which certainly isn’t a criticism. Its sweeping fastback terminates at a pert little ducktail, and while the front handles will retract flush into the doors, the rears are hidden in the C-pillars, perhaps in the interest of making the car look sportier and more coupe-like.

It’s a distinctive design, if not quite one that we’d call beautiful, and between the black-painted roof with chrome arch lines and this tester’s bright turquoise paint (plus the unusually styled wheels), this particular example certainly captured a lot of attention.

The interior assembly is tight and precise, while most surfaces are covered in soft-touch materials of varying hues. We aren’t entirely convinced the blue interior panels complemented the teal sheet metal, but the fabric-like effect on the dash is nice. Overall, it’s a simple design that goes without much flash, and that’s totally OK.

User-Friendliness 8.5 / 10

The simplified cockpit equates to a straightforward user experience that’s too often bypassed in favour of hopelessly busy interiors with haptic controls and convoluted menus for even fundamental functions. While push-button gear selectors have been a point of contention in other applications, here it’s simple and easy enough to find in plain sight on the dashboard.

Similarly, the infotainment system provides control over an enormous number of functions and information, yet it’s very easy to navigate with a hot-key button that calls up the most-frequently needed setting adjustments. The row of seat heat and climate controls embedded into a haptic touch panel just below the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen was fiddly at times during this test, requiring more of the driver’s attention than we’d like to precisely hit the desired icon, leaving us longing for simple buttons.

Despite the somewhat sporty, coupe-like profile, the ride height and seating position are like those of most modern subcompact crossovers, which provides a more commanding view than a lower and smaller car, and makes it easier to get in and out. 

Comfort 8 / 10

The front seats employ Nissan’s so-called “Zero Gravity” design that’s meant to minimize strain on backs (and backsides) and reduce fatigue during long stints on the road. The rear seating space is more cramped, and riders larger than this author’s 5-foot-9 height will likely find it short of head- and legroom.

Road and wind noise are well-suppressed. The Leaf’s ride quality is quite good as well, driving very much like most subcompact crossovers and swallowing typical road heaves and small potholes without issue.

Features 7 / 10

The midrange SV+ trim tested here comes with niceties like heated seats both front and rear, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless phone charging. The twin 12.3-inch screens provide bright, crisp graphics, and the infotainment system is quick and responsive to inputs. Ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and power tailgate are all reserved for the top Platinum+ trim, along with larger 19-inch wheels, a 10-speaker stereo, and a head-up display.

Safety 9 / 10

Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had published their crash-test results for the new Leaf at the time of this writing. Even so, each trim comes with a comprehensive list of passive safety equipment — like airbags — and active ones including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure mitigation, automatic emergency braking front and rear with pedestrian sensing, and driver attention monitoring.

Practicality 7 / 10

The Leaf’s hatchback format is handy, but its aggressively raked roofline limits the luggage hold’s functionality. At 566 L with the rear seats up and 1,571 L with them folded, there’s less room for cargo than in competitors like the Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota bZ, and Chevrolet Equinox EV, all of which are slightly larger.

The Leaf’s ground clearance is lower than its competitors, too, and without all-wheel drive some drivers in areas that get plenty of snow may shy away from the Nissan — although with a decent set of winter tires, it should manage most southern Canadian winters without too much difficulty.

Power 7 / 10

The Leaf is only available as a single-motor set up, propelling the front wheels alone. Dispensing with 214 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque — a forthcoming base trim makes 174 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque — it isn’t meant to be a competitor to the high-performance EVs out there, but it still does a great job of effortlessly zipping around in traffic. Like all EVs, the thrust is smooth and immediate, and on cool, damp mornings, and all-season tires fitted to this tester, it was easy to spin them briefly before the traction control system intervened. As a car that’s likely to be a commuter for most buyers, it’s pleasingly quick and easy to drive.

Fuel Economy 8.5 / 10

For now, only a 75-kWh battery is offered; a 53-kWh version arrives later. This SV+ trim is rated for 463 km of range, and even during a wintery morning with a full charge, the Leaf was still boasting a 457 km — enough to comfortably cruise around the Greater Toronto Area while only plugging in to a home Level 2 charger every few days.

Nissan has fitted two charge port doors to the new Leaf. There’s a Combined Charging System (CCS) port on the driver’s side, while the one on the passenger side allows access to Tesla-style chargers. Interestingly, that North American Charging Standard (NACS) port is the only one that will allow the Leaf to hook up to DC fast-chargers.

Having both ports is a nice feature, although Tesla’s Supercharger cables are notoriously short, requiring the Leaf’s nose to almost touch the charger before the unit will just barely reach the port. Nissan promises its own smartphone app will allow users to register a credit card for quick, seamless plug-and-charge capability.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

The Leaf’s tidy dimensions and somewhat elevated seating position make it drive like a subcompact crossover. Its handling is well-mannered, if not overly sporty. The electric steering feel is as numb as expected from most EVs, if not most modern vehicles in general, but body roll and nose dive are well managed.

The only real complaint leveled against the Leaf’s driving feel is its braking. Although strong enough to stop the vehicle effectively, no matter how carefully the driver modulates braking pressure the regeneration makes it very grabby, with lots of herky-jerky movements, particularly at lower speeds. (Nissan doesn’t offer full one-pedal driving, requiring user intervention at speeds slower than about 12 km/h.)

Value 7 / 10

The Leaf occupies the space at the entry-level end of the EV market. And there are others that are similarly priced, like the front-wheel-drive variants of the Toyota bZ, Hyundai Kona Electric, Volkswagen ID.4, and Chevrolet Equinox EV. The Leaf is competitive in terms of features, finishes, and pricing, but it falls behind most of those competitors in terms of interior space, and behind some of them in terms of power and range.

The Leaf S+ has an MSRP starting at $47,093 before tax but including freight ($2,095), which is quite aggressive. This SV+ tester is the Goldilocks choice, offering enough amenities to make it feel worthy of its $50,093 pre-tax price tag, while the $54,893 Platinum+ puts it in more direct competition with higher-performing, dual-motor all-wheel-drive EVs.

The Verdict

Coming into this entry-level EV fight, the 2026 Nissan Leaf was an underdog based on its predecessor. But Nissan’s smallest EV is quick to endear itself as a well-executed, comfortable, and stylish commuter, and one well worth consideration within an increasingly competitive segment, and an underdog worth cheering.