Nissan Leaf Is Our Electric Vehicle Under $35,000 Best Buy of 2026

Up to 303 miles of range and 214 horsepower
Newly stylish inside and out
Now uses the most common charger type
Pleasant driving manners and a quiet cabin
Price yours | See listings near you

Musicians call it “woodshedding.” It’s when a formerly mediocre performer works on their skills in private and then takes the stage transformed, shocking everyone who knew them before with their new virtuosity.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf has been woodshedding.

You know the Leaf. From model years 2011 through 2025 it was a practical but frumpy electric hatchback best suited as an urban runabout.

For 2026, it’s utterly unrecognizable. Now a subcompact SUV with stylish good looks and more than 300 miles of available range, it’s our pick for the Best Electric Vehicle (EV) Under $35,000. No longer a car that just makes sense, it’s now a desirable car with appealing style and pleasant road manners.

Better Looking and More Useful

Nissan turned the Leaf from a hatchback into a subcompact SUV. That has practical and aesthetic benefits.

The new model actually fits into a smaller footprint (it’s three inches shorter) than the last one, but cargo space jumped from 30 cubic feet with the rear seats folded up to 55.5.

With more SUVs than ever on the roads, it’s also easier to see around traffic now that it seats your hips a little higher. Note, however, that it’s still a small car — taller drivers might feel cramped if they have to accommodate rear seat passengers.

Beyond the practical, the makeover is visually dramatic. Nissan’s curvy SUV styling stands out in a year when most car designers are going in for boxy designs. We think it looks best at this size. The new Leaf is a genuinely attractive car, especially in a range of colors that look like candy-coated shells.

Longer Range, More Power than Competition

The Leaf has limited competition in the sub-$35,000 EV space. It beats that competition handily in the practicalities of daily EV driving.

A maximum range of 303 miles bests the reborn Chevrolet Bolt (GM estimates it will get 262 miles, though the EPA hasn’t weighed in yet), the Hyundai Kona Electric (261 miles), and the Fiat 500e (just 149 miles).

We find that, in daily driving, range matters. But charging speed matters more. Most drivers don’t need to recharge every day. Refilling at home at night means they rarely come close to emptying the battery.

But on a road trip, fast charging is what you need. The 2026 Leaf can charge from 10% full to 80% full in 35 minutes — not the fastest on the market, but respectable. It uses the Tesla-style NACS charger — the most common sort of plug.

All trim levels come with a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup, good for 214 hp. This powertrain is good for brisk acceleration by the standards of this price range and more than the Chevy, Hyundai, or Fiat can claim.

Our test drivers find the driving experience smooth and tranquil, with an unusually quiet cabin for an inexpensive car.

Crisp, Modern Cabin with a Little Style

The 2026 Nissan Leaf has a pair of screens mounted together in a single housing, which makes them look like one wide screen surface. It’s an upscale look for an inexpensive car. Most trim levels get a 14.3-inch central touchscreen that is large for this price range.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard at every trim level.

The available Bose Personal Plus audio system is one of the better systems available without shelling out for a more premium name. It’s just ten speakers, but a pair of them are located in the front headrests. That’s a clever way for audio engineers to get the most out of a system without spending a fortune on extra speakers.

Best of all, the cabin is put together with some panache. Available colorways include light gray with deep cobalt accents and charcoal with steel blue. That pop of color lends the space a sense of style most inexpensive cars lack. TailorFit faux leather does a convincing impression of the real thing and will likely wear well over the years.

Drivers have relied on the Leaf name for a practical EV that costs little to drive since 2011. The 2026 version still offers those virtues. But it adds new style inside and out, more power, and more range, while keeping the price tag under $35,000. That makes it our top pick in its price range.

New 2026 Nissan LEAF Prices

	Retail Price	Fair Purchase Price (92620)
S PLUS	$31,485	TBD
SV PLUS	$35,725	TBD
PLATINUM PLUS	$40,485	TBD

Photo Tour

More 2026 Nissan Leaf

Read our full review
Build and price your ow n
Browse listings near you