From InsideEVs.

Back in 2010, when the Leaf debuted, electric cars were still seen as lame, tree-hugging experiments, and the Leaf didn’t do much to dispel the notion. It was slow, offered only around 100 miles of range and suffered from massive battery degradation because Nissan didn’t fit it with a battery cooling system. A fine enough city car, perhaps, but nothing to really move the needle. In the 15 years since, the EV industry has taken great strides forward.

But Nissan hasn’t. At least, not until now.

After a long wait, the third-generation 2026 Nissan Leaf is here. It now offers over 300 miles of range, a seriously improved cabin experience and a new SUV-adjacent design. Most importantly, it still starts at just $29,990.

Affordable EVs have never been more important. With the tax credit going away, Americans who could pick up a Chevrolet Equinox EV for $28,000 last year will now have to pay $35,000 for the same car. For some people, that’ll be the difference between affording a new EV and having to settle for gas.

But right as the tax credit disappears, Nissan is launching an EV with over 300 miles of range for just $31,485 with destination fees. For a company that has consistently launched middling products to little fanfare, this may finally be the right car at the right time.

Of course, like everyone else, Nissan is also trying to push its cars more upmarket. So while the S+ model is the value king, Nissan only provided the Platinum+ trim to test.

The motor makes 214 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, plenty for a 4,200-lb vehicle with instant torque. And because the Leaf has a 0.26 coefficient of drag and a tidier curb weight than most, it squeezes up to 303 miles out of a 75-kilowatt-hour battery.

Note, however, that the 19-inch wheels and extra weight of the Platinum come with a big range hit. Top-trim Leafs offer just 259 miles of range. And despite the crossover branding, you can’t get one with all-wheel drive.

Still, with native Tesla Supercharger support and 150-kilowatt charging speeds you can get from 10-80% in 35 minutes. Not brilliant, but in the meaty part of the bell curve for EVs at this price point, and far ahead of cars like the last-gen Bolt and the current-generation Equinox EV.

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