Nissan's All-New 2026 LEAF EV Comes At Critical Time For Automaker

Nissan has unveiled the all-new 2026 LEAF EV, marking a major update to one of America’s original mainstream electric vehicles.

The redesign aims to make the LEAF more appealing while maintaining its reputation for affordability. I Photo: Nissan

But the launch comes at a precarious time for the automaker, Pras Subramanian reported for Yahoo Finance.

The new LEAF moves away from the hatchback styling of the previous generation—often compared to a compact Versa—and embraces a more desirable compact crossover SUV design, taking cues from Nissan’s Ariya EV.

The redesign aims to make the LEAF more appealing while maintaining its reputation for affordability.

“We have not released final pricing on the vehicle, but fair to assume early on that [it will be in] the very low $30,000s,” said Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and chief planning officer for Nissan Americas.

Higher trims could reach $40,000. While this marks an increase from the current LEAF’s starting price of $28,140, Pandikuthira emphasized that Nissan aims to keep monthly payments similar to current levels when the vehicle goes on sale later this year.