New, Entry-Level EV Is Finally Coming to America
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Tesla, the battery-electric vehicle brand co-founded by Elon Musk, has seen its sales plummet globally, down 13 percent in the first quarter of 2025 versus the same period in 2024. Many buyers are turning to other automakers to fulfill their electric vehicle (EV) desires.
In the first quarter of 2025, General Motors saw a 94 percent surge in the sale of electric vehicles with 31,887 units sold. That made the company the second-largest seller of EVs in the U.S. behind Tesla.
Ford's Mustang Mach-E sales were up 21 percent year-over-year in Q1 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 sales were up 26 percent during the same period.
Nissan is hoping to capitalize on Tesla's downturn with the arrival of its freshly redesigned Leaf, a model that moves from a sedan to a crossover in its newest form. One-third of GM's EV sales were of the Chevrolet Equinox EV, the new Nissan Leaf's chief competitor.
Face of 2026 Nissan Leaf.
Face of 2026 Nissan Leaf.
Nissan
"With 15 years of EV experience and 12 billion EV miles driven, we've had the opportunity to collect an immense amount of customer feedback. While many companies are on their first or second generation of EVs, the all-new 2026 Nissan LEAF is the first of any third-generation EVs to hit the mass market, giving us the experience and customer knowledge to develop the most innovative and easy-to-use EV yet," Trisha Jung, senior director of electric vehicle strategy and transformation at Nissan, told Newsweek.
The new Leaf is one size smaller than the Equinox EV, which is nearly identically proportioned to Tesla's Model Y SUV. Leaf's dimensions line up with the Kia Niro and Toyota's new-to-America CH-R EV, which will come to market in 2026.
EVs tend to have interiors that are far larger than gasoline models of the same exterior dimensions (a company SUV will have the interior space of a midsize SUV, for example). Leaf's passenger compartment figures were not publicly available at the time this article was published.
In addition to its new body style, Leaf has gotten power and range improvements for the 2026 model year. It will be capable of going up to 303 miles on a single charge. That's nearly as good as the Equinox EV but over 80 miles less than the longest-range Model Y. The CH-R EV is projected to not be able to go as far as the Nissan.
Buyers can get the Leaf in their choice of power outputs. Both options have more torque than the outgoing model, meaning it will offer quicker off-the-line times and easier passing for drivers.
Charging the Leaf will be possible via a CCS (Combined Charging System) or NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging connection. The model comes with ports for both.
"Consumer demand for electric vehicles—especially fun-to-drive and stylish crossovers like Leaf—continues to grow. And as we continue to refresh our product portfolio, we anticipate that customers will recognize and respond positively to the many ways we're meeting demands in the EV market – including compatibility with Tesla's Supercharger network, improved range, and charging convenience," Jung said.
Nissan needs a win, and the Leaf is key to that. The automaker has struggled with billions of dollars in debt, had four CEOs in five years and continues to alter its model cadence and production timelines to fit evolving customer desires and regulatory guidelines.
"The 2026 Nissan Leaf lands at a moment when consumer appetite is shifting toward practical, affordable EVs—and away from the baggage of brand drama. While Tesla still commands a significant market share, there is growing fatigue among mainstream buyers with the brand's image and Elon Musk's polarizing persona," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, told Newsweek.
"Nissan is well-positioned to capitalize on this with the reimagined Leaf: a product rooted in nearly two decades of EV credibility, now redesigned as a sleek, compact crossover with a feature set that reflects its maturity and a price point likely to undercut rivals like the Model Y and Equinox EV," he said.
Ultimately, whether or not the Leaf is a win could come down to its manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). "The Nissan Leaf has always offered a strong value proposition in the EV market, and we're confident this next-generation will continue to provide customers with a strong balance of premium styling and technology at an affordable price point," Jung said. "We're targeting an entry MSRP for this model, which would make it one of the most affordable EV SUVs available."
Waatti added: "In an increasingly price-sensitive market, the Leaf strikes a sweet spot: compact yet capable, efficient yet approachable, and focused squarely on the everyday needs of EV buyers—not on chasing trends or overengineering. The timing couldn't be better for a value-driven, no-nonsense EV like this, and it might just be what Nissan needs to reassert its relevance in the EV space it helped pioneer but has since been overshadowed in."
The 2026 Nissan Leaf reaches dealerships this autumn.
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