The new Leaf has two charging ports with the Level 3 NACS and CCS (with an adapter) on the right front fender and Level 2 CCS on the left.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Nissan will sell an electric vehicle in Canada for less than $30,000 after government rebates, but before fees and taxes, the Japanese automaker announced Thursday.
The new 2027 Leaf S – which has a smaller battery – will offer less range and power than the current entry-level model.
Equipped with a 53-kilowatt-hour battery, the vehicle will have a range of up to 341 kilometres and 174 horsepower – down from the S+ model’s 75 kWh, 488 kilometres and 214 horsepower.
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The vehicle has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $34,998 – or $37,966 after delivery fees – making it Canada’s lowest-priced EV. The current entry-level Leaf starts at $44,998, a price that will rise to $45,198 for 2027. All variants are eligible for the federal government’s $5,000 rebate.
“We’re making electric mobility even more accessible for Canadians,” Steve Rhind, president of Nissan Canada Inc., said in a statement. “The new grade brings the lowest-priced entry point into EV ownership for Canadians while maintaining many of the technologies and capabilities found elsewhere in the lineup.”
The new shape is more aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.26 (down from 0.29).Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Like all Leaf models, the S will be front-wheel drive and feature a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port with plug-and-charge capability. It also features a J1772 port on the opposite side of the vehicle for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
The least expensive EV in Canada is currently the Kia EV4, which starts at $38,995, followed by the Tesla Model 3 at $39,490 and the Fiat 500e at $39,995.
Earlier this year, Ottawa reached a deal with Beijing to allow an initial 49,000 Chinese EVs into the Canadian market at a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent, lowering the duty from the previous 100 per cent. The quota will rise to 70,000 EVs in five years. Part of the allotment will be for EVs with a price tag of $35,000 or less. By 2030, those lower-cost models will account for half of the vehicles imported from China.
So far, none of those lower-cost Chinese EVs have arrived, but the deal appears to be putting pressure on established automakers in the Canadian market to find ways to make their EVs more accessible. One obvious method is selling an existing EV with fewer features and, most importantly, a smaller battery. However, because charging infrastructure remains a primary reason why Canadians hesitate to switch to EVs, the question is whether they will buy a lower-range model, even at a reduced price point.
Nissan wanted the interior and its materials, many of which are sustainably sourced, to exude quality.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The Leaf has a long history of making electric driving more accessible. It was one of the first mass-produced EVs to gain traction when it was introduced in 2011, developing a loyal following over the next decade. But Nissan fell behind the competition, particularly in range and charging technology. To catch up to its rivals, the automaker completely redesigned the Leaf for the 2026 model year with a fresh look and upgraded technology.
The 2027 Leaf S will arrive in dealerships this fall.