It was 15 years ago that Nissan led the charge to all-electric in the US…and that first LEAF was what ya’ might call “an acquired taste” what with its unusual styling and 73 mile range.
That was then. This is now.
I never really considered having a LEAF as a daily driver…until I got behind the wheel of the brand new ’26 LEAF. Color me interested.
For starters, the ’26 LEAF looks pretty much like you’d imagine today’s fashion-forward crossover should look. It’s an aerodynamic 4-door with a big hatch in the rear. Get the Platinum+ version and you’ll have an interior that looks like it belongs in an Infiniti.
But even more than style are the LEAF’s price and range.
$29,990 and a 303 mile range. That’s a pretty attractive and well-wrapped package when the average price of a new vehicle is now well North of 50K.
And the icing on the cake is Nissan’s almost complete connectivity. Built-in Google allows you to download apps by voice, and with Apple and Android connections, you can check your battery’s state of charge by phone…open or close your garage door from Europe etc etc. Vehicles resemble phones on wheels more and more every model year, don’t they?
Today’s LEAF comes in three different trim levels. The base S+ is their $29,990 price leader…with 303 miles of range. You’ll get a cloth interior, 18” steel wheels with covers, a 12.3” screen, 4-speaker sound, and 2 USB ports.
$4,240 more gets you a much more attractive interior, 18” alloys, heated front seats, a bigger 14.2” screen, 6-speaker sound and 4 USB ports.
We tested the top-of-the line $38,990 Platinum+ version, and enjoyed 19” alloys, an auto-dimming fixed panoramic sunroof, heated steering, rear seats, and drivers’ rear mirror,10-speaker Bose sound and a power rear lift gate.
Want more? All LEAFS make charging easy…with an “at-home” charging port on one side and a Tesla-type NACS port on the other. I was surprised to get a little more than 5 miles of range per hour of charge just plugging into my 120v garage outlet. 12 hours gave me over 60 miles of range. More than many folks need each day.
And if price, connectivity and range are not enough, the ’26 LEAF is a delight to drive, too. It’s nimble size…just a couple inches longer than Nissan’s KICKS…combined with that explosive all-electric acceleration, make you feel like you’re driving a legitimate sport sedan instead of an economy crossover.
Like I said at the top…I haven’t been considering going all-electric. But then I met Nissan’s ’26 LEAF. Hmmm………..