The third-generation 2026 Nissan Leaf appears to be like unrecognizable subsequent to the outdated Leaf, however regardless of showing a lot bigger than the automotive it replaces, it is truly smaller than earlier than.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 reasonably 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 will 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 performing some fast math based mostly on the battery measurement and vary of the Leaf S+ would put it round 210 miles, though it’s going to in all probability 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’ll’t actually name it low-cost. On the identical 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 thirty days than lots of people at the moment spend on fuel each month.
Different trim ranges
So far as different trim ranges go, you possibly can step as much as the Leaf SV+, which begins at $35,725, and if you would like the top-of-the-line model there’s the Leaf Platinum+, which begins at $40,485. In line with Nissan, the SV+ will supply 288 miles of vary, whereas the Platinum+ will do 259 miles, each possible due to larger wheels. Charging speeds will not precisely blow your thoughts, however on the identical time, 150 kW is nothing to chuckle at, and Nissan says you possibly can anticipate to cost from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes.
You will even have loads of charging choices on a Leaf street journey, with a J1772 port on one fender and a NACS port on the opposite. And whereas the upper trim ranges are positively a great bit dearer than the not-quite-base-model Leaf S+, they’re going to each include one vital characteristic for cold-weather efficiency that EV fans have wished Nissan would add to the Leaf for years: a warmth pump. And if you happen to actually need, you possibly can 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 might be inexpensive however filled with worth. That is how we have saved the LEAF’s value regular over three generations — all whereas giving house owners extra model, extra expertise, extra options and a vastly improved driving vary over the unique 2011 mannequin.
