The 2026 Leaf will be available with two battery sizes: a 75 kilowatt-hour and a 54 kilowatt-hour with the larger one going up to 488 kilometres on a single charge.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Small hatchbacks are out and crossovers are in, at least when considering the new Nissan Leaf. Hatchbacks might be more practical, but North Americans largely ignore them, so it was probably a good idea that Nissan decided to reimagine the long-standing Leaf as a crossover for 2026.
Crossovers are generally more expensive to buy and run, so prices are likely going to go up. Nissan hasn’t said what they are yet, but the current Leaf can be had for just under $45,000. It’s currently one of the lowest-priced electric vehicles on the market, but the new one has grown in size, content and technology.
Andrew Harkness, director of product planning and electrification at Nissan Canada, says that the Leaf will be priced “aggressively” in its competitive space. One of those competitors, he says, is the Hyundai Kona EV, which has an after freight price of just under $50,000.
Nissan has always been a value brand, but EVs aren’t value propositions and the new Leaf might not be changing that. Still, it’s one of the best-known and longest lasting EV nameplates in the industry and has a loyal following.
Trunk space is decent, especially with the rear seats folded.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Back in 2010, the Nissan Leaf made headlines as the first mass-market EV to gain worldwide success. Its range of 117 kilometres would be laughable today, but it was groundbreaking just 15 years ago. But EVs have progressed rapidly and most now get about 400 to 500 kilometres of range.
The Leaf might have been first out of the gate, but it fell behind quickly. When the second generation launched in 2018, it could only go 242 kilometres on a full charge, while the Tesla Model 3 could travel 500.
“We learned a lot from [the Leaf] over the first two generations, and we are long overdue to get it refreshed,” says Harkness. He says that the company’s direction during the pandemic was partly responsible for delays in launching a new Leaf and they were focusing on getting the larger and more expensive Ariya out instead.
It seems like the steeply raked roofline would cut into rear seat headroom, but it doesn't.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
“I think most of the EV space is all a similar size, with (Chevrolet) Equinox, (Ford Mustang) Mach-E, and the Ariya,” says Harkness. “The Leaf is smaller, more affordable, has smaller batteries and front-wheel drive and will draw in customers that have been sitting on the sidelines, struggling with affordability.”
The 2026 Leaf will be available with two battery sizes: a 75 kilowatt-hour and a 54 kilowatt-hour. The smaller battery available on the base Leaf “S” won’t be available till next year. Range figures were not provided for the small battery, but the larger battery will allow the Leaf to travel up to 488 kilometres between charges. It has one electric motor driving the front wheels, producing 214 horsepower and no option for all-wheel drive, which Nissan says will help keep costs down. The small battery Leaf will also get a slightly less powerful 174-horsepower electric motor.
Headroom is still good in the rear seats.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The Leaf sees a big drop in aerodynamic drag, which matters more for an electric car, and it’s a big contributor to the increased range. Nissan says the steeply raked roofline was inspired by a Katana blade and the profile of the Nissan Z sports car. It seems like it would cut into rear seat headroom, but it hasn’t. The Leaf has never been more spacious, with two being able to sit comfortably in the back. Top trims even get a glass roof that can be dimmed electronically.
Top trims come with a glass roof that can be dimmed electronically.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Charging speeds have increased to 150 kilowatts, which the company says is good to go from 10 to 80 per cent in 35 minutes, but the bigger news is the addition of a North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, which was developed by Tesla. Leaf owners will now get access to the Supercharger network. All trims will get it with an adaptor to charge at CCS-equipped stations as well. There’s also a second charge port that houses a dedicated Level 2 (J1772) connector.
The cabin is clean and uncluttered, with minimal controls and either two 12-inch or two 14-inch screens. There are dedicated buttons for the climate control and a physical volume knob, which are nice features to see in a new car.
The cabin is clean and uncluttered, with minimal controls and either two 12-inch or two 14-inch screens.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Nissan says the Leaf was designed for use in Canada with much improved cold-weather performance, including a standard heat pump and new thermal management system and a preconditioning system that uses an electric heater to prewarm the battery for optimal charging.
The 2026 Leaf will be produced in Japan and goes on sale later this year, probably closer to the fall. But we’ll have to wait longer for the base model, which will likely be the best value.
The new Leaf has one electric motor that drives the front wheels. All-wheel drive isn't an option.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
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