The third-generation 2026 Nissan Leaf seems unrecognizable subsequent to the outdated Leaf, however regardless of showing a lot bigger than the automotive it replaces, it is really smaller than earlier than. Wild. Nissan additionally guarantees greater than 300 miles of vary, which is fairly spectacular, however what’s much more spectacular is what it plans to cost for the brand new Leaf. The 303-mile Leaf S+ begins at a fairly darn inexpensive $31,485, together with vacation spot. The craziest half, although, is that the Leaf S+ is not even the bottom mannequin — a inexpensive Leaf is coming after the preliminary launch.
Now, this less-expensive Leaf S wasn’t precisely a secret. We already knew it could have a smaller 52-kWh battery, in comparison with the 75-kWh one in different Leaf fashions. It is going to even have a smaller, less-powerful motor that cranks out 174 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque versus the opposite Leaf’s 214 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. Nissan nonetheless hasn’t introduced the bottom Leaf’s vary, however doing a little fast math based mostly on the battery dimension and vary of the Leaf S+ would put it round 210 miles, though it will most likely be higher than that for the reason that smaller battery weighs much less. And it will value lower than the $31,485 Nissan plans to cost for the Leaf S+? Oh heck yeah.
In fact, even when we’re speaking a couple of new automotive that prices lower than the unique Leaf did again in 2011, $30,000 remains to be a heck of some huge cash, and you may’t actually name it low-cost. On the similar time, it is superior to see pricing actually begin to come down on longer-range EVs, and I would not be stunned if lease costs find yourself being much less per 30 days than lots of people at the moment spend on gasoline each month.
Different trim ranges
So far as different trim ranges go, you’ll be able to step as much as the Leaf SV+, which begins at $35,725, and if you’d like the top-of-the-line model there’s the Leaf Platinum+, which begins at $40,485. In keeping with Nissan, the SV+ will provide 288 miles of vary, whereas the Platinum+ will do 259 miles, each probably due to greater wheels. Charging speeds will not precisely blow your thoughts, however on the similar time, 150 kW is nothing to chortle at, and Nissan says you’ll be able to count on to cost from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes.
You may even have loads of charging choices on a Leaf highway journey, with a J1772 port on one fender and a NACS port on the opposite. And whereas the upper trim ranges are undoubtedly a superb bit costlier than the not-quite-base-model Leaf S+, they’re going to each include one necessary function for cold-weather efficiency that EV lovers have wished Nissan would add to the Leaf for years: a warmth pump. And if you happen to actually need, you’ll be able to add an optionally available battery heater, as properly.
In an announcement, Vinay Shahani, Nissan’s senior vice chairman of U.S. Advertising and marketing and Gross sales stated:
The LEAF actually kicked off the mainstream EV market when it launched 15 years in the past, and Nissan’s nonetheless dedicated to creating electrical driving accessible to all. We have caught to our mission of engineering EVs which are inexpensive however full of worth. That is how we have stored the LEAF’s worth regular over three generations — all whereas giving house owners extra fashion, extra know-how, extra options and a vastly improved driving vary over the unique 2011 mannequin.