Finally, after the age of 15 Over the years, we have a new 2026 Nissan leaf. It is no longer a compact hatchback due to its “trucking” in the global automotive market. Now, this is a compact SUV, or, more precisely, a crossover utility vehicle built on the basis of passenger cars.
Nissan said the new leaf will offer up to 303 miles of range, from a 75-kilowatt-hour battery pack, powering a 160-kilowatt (214 horsepower) electric motor, producing 261 pound-feet (354 Newton-Newton) of torque. The motor drives the front wheels, but despite the tall appearance, the all-wheel drive is not on the table.
The 2026 leaf can be charged up to 150 kW via the North American charging standard port of the right front fender, which can be charged in ideal conditions with 10% to 80% of the charge in 35 minutes. Drivers will benefit from a standard plug and charging protocol that allows them to automatically handle verification and billing in a powerful charging network, then plug in the car and walk away. It is worth noting that the AC charging port with the J-1772 socket is located on the left front fender. Double charge ports are still common outside of high-end models, such as the Porsche Taycan.
Photo: Nissan
Smaller and stylish
Style-wise, Leaf resembles the smaller Nissan Ariya, the brand’s EV crossover is larger. The new leaf, however, is more stylish – Nissan quotes a drag coefficient of 0.26, lower than the previous Leaf’s 0.29 and Ariya’s 0.297 – and uses a flush front door handle such as the company’s first powered, flush front door handle (stern shoveled out of the roof struts behind the rear door). The high tail provides a large cargo area for up to 55.5 cubic feet (1.6 cubic meters) behind the rear seats.
Depending on the trim level, the 2026 leaves come with 18-inch or 19-inch wheels, although smaller wheels may produce higher range levels. Heat pumps are standard for cabin heating; Nissan notes that the leaf now captures waste heat from power supply electronics during charging and driving the motor and uses it to heat the battery to the optimal operating temperature.
Inside, most models use a dual 14.3-inch display that is mounted side by side on a flat dashboard, the tray (both Hyundai EVS). Google Maps and Google Assistant are built into the dash, and like many new electric cars, the map will recommend charging on routes beyond the car’s range. Android Auto and Apple Carplay phone mirroring is still available, wireless and wired, including available options including an electric darkened panoramic glass moon roof and battery heater to heat the battery in the winter while the car is still plugged in.
Sometime after the 2026 Leaf starts to be sold at various trim levels, Nissan is also planning to offer a basic Leaf version with a smaller 52 kWh battery and a 130 kW (174 horsepower) motor. However, this configuration has no predicted range.
Photo: Nissan
Photo: Nissan
A long history
It’s important to recall that in December 2010, when the First Leaf of the United States was delivered to a paying customer, there were only three cars on the U.S. market with plugs: the Tesla Roadster, a cruel $100,000 two-seat roadster; the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, with few salespeople to explain to shoppers. and leaves. Tesla Model S will not work hard for more than 18 months.
Perhaps the wrong lesson was learned from the unexpected sales success of the 2004 Toyota Prius hybrid, whose designers gave the Leaf the design just like no other car. It’s all curved, with a sloping nose, sweeping headlights, and almost round hatchback rear. “Freaky” is a general consensus.
