Small, affordable, efficient: A lot to like about the 2026 Nissan Leaf

SAN DIEGO—The Nissan Leaf has always been more than just a vehicle; it's a symbol of the electric revolution. While Tesla's Elon Musk captured headlines with his ambitious plans for mass-market electric cars, Nissan's former CEO, Carlos Ghosn, aimed for ambitious sales of half a million Leafs annually back in the early 2010s. Although that target remained unfulfilled, the Leaf reached a significant milestone in 2020, celebrating the sale of its 500,000th electric vehicle, which journeyed from its Sunderland, England factory to a customer in Norway. The first two generations of the Leaf, while groundbreaking, faced limitations. They were essentially modified versions of traditional combustion engine platforms, with electric powertrains awkwardly integrated. A major drawback was their reliance on air cooling for battery packs, which hindered performance. However, the upcoming third generation marks a transformative change. The 2026 Leaf is constructed on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, jointly developed with Nissan's partners Renault and Mitsubishi, similar to the one used in the Nissan Ariya. This new foundation significantly enhances space efficiency. Remarkably, while the new Leaf is 3 inches (75 mm) shorter externally, it boasts nearly 9 inches (221 mm) more rear legroom, providing a more comfortable experience for adult passengers. In terms of design, the new Leaf is slightly wider by 0.8 inches (20 mm) and has a lower drag coefficient (Cd 0.26), contributing to its enhanced aerodynamics. Its front end shares a resemblance with the Ariya, and the body style melds characteristics of both a crossover and a fastback sedan, depending on your perspective.