The Nissan Leaf is lifeless, lengthy dwell the brand new Leaf

The most recent information with Nissan is that it is participating in a serious overhaul of a few of its hottest fashions. Beginning in 2026, automobiles just like the Sentra can be getting improved aesthetics and options. We’ll even be getting a PHEV (plug-in hybrid) model of the Rogue, in the end. It is all a part of an try and revive the automaker’s sagging US gross sales, which have brought on annual manufacturing figures to drop from over 5 million automobiles in 2018 to round 3.5 million.

The spearhead of those efforts, although, is an unlikely contender — the Leaf. The low-cost EV is getting a severe redesign, one which makes me a little bit unhappy, whereas additionally extra optimistic in regards to the product’s future. There is a distinct chance that Leafs will turn into as frequent on US roads as Rogues are at the moment.

What’s new with the 2026 Nissan Leaf?

Completely different function, completely different seems

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The surprising factor for some individuals, myself included, is that it is not a compact sedan. As an alternative it is now a crossover SUV, constructed on the identical CMF-EV platform underlying the Nissan Ariya, whereas being nearer in measurement to the Kicks. The crossover format is utilized by quite a lot of EV makers, since SUVS are in style with Individuals on the whole, and founding issues on a bigger platform makes it simpler to pack in massive batteries. Extra on that in a second.

Visually, the brand new Leaf is nearly unrecognizable. It is signature grill is gone, changed with easy strains extra paying homage to an EV from Kia, Rivian, or Volkswagen. There may be some sensible worth to this, since Nissan says the automobile’s drag coefficient is 0.25, lower than the common for SUVs.

Nissan is not exhibiting off the inside of the automobile but. Nevertheless, Car and Driver studies that there is no longer a middle console between the driving force and passenger, and that the sprint is dominated by a single massive display, as in a rising variety of EVs following the lead of Tesla.

Past that, not a lot has been made public, together with pricing, trims, or a launch date. Nissan is at the least promising “important vary enhancements,” however that is a straightforward factor to do contemplating the 149 miles (about 240 kilometers) supplied by the 2025 Leaf’s base trim.

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Goodbye, outdated Leaf

All for the most effective

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Earlier variations of the Leaf will all the time evoke some nostalgia for me. The unique design, unveiled in 2009, was the primary EV I ever noticed within the wild, gliding across the streets of Austin. The 2018 redesign, in the meantime, was the primary EV I ever owned personally. I beloved that automobile, because it was a revelation to drive in close to complete silence proper previous each fuel station. It is also one of many first automobiles my then-infant son rode in — he even claims to have some recollections of it.

All informed, although, Nissan might be making the appropriate transfer strategically. Sedans aren’t as in style as they was, since they don’t seem to be terribly good for cargo, and the Leaf’s seems have typically felt like they have been lagging behind. My 2018 mannequin, for instance, felt like nearly every other compact sedan on the time, in and out. It wasn’t actually exploiting many new concepts past its powertrain. Conversely, the 2026 model appears extraordinarily slick, on par with something out of Japan or Korea.

Extra considerably, there was no method the Leaf would stay aggressive with out enhancing vary. 149 miles or so is doable in a serious metropolis, however in my expertise it means plugging in each time you get residence, particularly if you do not have a Degree 2 charger put in. Generally, even each day storage charging might not be sufficient. At one level I used to be commuting from Pflugerville to an workplace in southwest Austin, and there was no method I may make it a full week with out topping up at a ChargePoint station a couple of times. Driving from Pflugerville to San Antonio and again was tougher nonetheless — my household and I must cease at an EVgo station in San Marcos for 40 minutes simply to finish the spherical journey.

There is a motive why 200 miles (322 kilometers) is taken into account the baseline for contemporary EVs, in different phrases. It is a magic quantity that is adequate to keep away from vary anxiousness or frequent charger stops. I doubt the bottom 2026 Leaf will obtain 300 miles (483 kilometers), however even one thing wanting that needs to be advantageous for the common particular person. Not everybody wants the vary of a Tesla or Rivian.

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Turning over a brand new Leaf (compulsory pun)

Will the redesign catch on?

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I believe there is a respectable probability the brand new Leaf won’t solely promote, however promote nicely. An inexpensive EV is the present Holy Grail of the automobile business, and “funds” pricing has all the time been the Leaf’s essential benefit. Even now, you will get a Leaf for round $29,000, whereas quite a lot of its competitors prices far upwards of $30,000.

It is simply that the Leaf’s worth proposition has all the time been offset by vary. Certainly, the 2010 Leaf acquired a pathetic 73 miles (160 kilometers) in an period when there weren’t many industrial charging stations to talk of. There was a superb probability your automobile would not be capable of full some longer round-trip commutes, not to mention drive to a close-by city, significantly beneath freezing situations. Today, there are electric unicycles with extra vary.

The primary impediment to successful for Nissan is its rising competitors. Whereas the Chevy Equinox EV begins at about $35,000, for instance, its FWD trims provide a formidable 319 miles (513 kilometers) within the tank. Kia’s Kona Electrical is in the identical worth bracket, and lots of extra sub-$40K automobiles are coming quickly, such because the Kia EV2. When 2027 rolls round, you’ll get a $37,000 Rivian within the type of the R3.

Nissan’s going to must be as aggressive on worth as potential to make the Leaf worthwhile. I am anticipating a worth hike for the 2026 mannequin — given tech upgrades, and the more and more fraught US tariff state of affairs — however I doubt it’s going to produce as a lot sticker shock as an Ariya.

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