2026 Nissan Leaf Prototype First Drive Review: Leaf Your Prejudices At Home

The Nissan Leaf has reached its third era, and the obvious factor to note is that it has switched to yet one more design language. Again when it was launched in 2010 because the world’s first mass-market electrical car, Nissan used a deeply apprehensive frog as the principle inspiration. I jest, however that was again when EVs have been meant to face out, so homeowners might present the world that they cared a lot about emissions that they’d gladly sacrifice fashion on the altar of automotive excellence.

The second-generation automobile went bland, as a result of the world had modified. By 2017, EVs have been not novelty objects, and the self-righteous switched to Tesla. It was an honest all-rounder that needed to fade into the background. What you see right here is the third-generation design, and it’s a crossover for apparent causes: Clients need crossovers, so it made sense for Nissan to revamp its quantity electrical car to swimsuit market wants. However the brand new Leaf’s magnificence is greater than skin-deep, so let’s dive into this driving impression so we will inform you what this automobile is all about.

We first drove the brand new Leaf in Japan earlier this yr on Nissan’s check observe in Yokohama, Japan. The automobile we drove was not the ultimate product, however moderately a late-stage prototype that was nonetheless carrying camouflage.

Why The New Nissan Leaf Is A Massive Deal

Nissan Constructed It Primarily based On Analysis

It ought to come as no shock that the Leaf is kind of good. Because the mass-market EV that has been round for the longest time, Nissan has extra entry to details about EVs than every other automaker. They’ve suggestions from 12 billion miles of Leaf driving internationally, 2 billion of which have been pushed proper right here within the US. This analysis was used to make the Leaf higher in each approach, so if in case you have a Leaf and also you adore it, you’re going to like this one much more.

In line with Nissan, it needed to offer an easy EV expertise, and that is just about what it has performed. The Leaf has two charging ports, and there is a excellent cause for that. On the motive force’s facet, it has the usual J1772 port for Degree 2 public and residential chargers. If you have already got a house charger, the Leaf will merely slip neatly into the present structure.

On the passenger facet, it comes with a regular ACS quick cost port which suggests it may entry the 20,000-strong Tesla Supercharger community with out an adapter. Nissan estimates that it may cost from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes. It is also the primary Nissan with Plug & Cost, which suggests you do not have to work together with a messy public charger interface and swipe your bank card. You merely plug the automobile in and stroll away. The MyNissan app will deal with the fee.

Lastly, we have now the vary. The present estimate is 303 miles. What we have now right here is the right mix of range and recharge speed, which can inevitably lead to a nice EV to dwell with.

Design: Glossy, However With Objective

Clearly, the principle speaking level right here is the Leaf figuratively altering lanes and remodeling right into a crossover. It is a good-looking, totally inoffensive design that matches neatly into the present Nissan vary. It is extra Murano than Ariya, and that is a very good factor.

However look a bit nearer, and also you’ll discover a couple of standout components on the straightforward and clear design. Be aware the flush door handles (a primary for Nissan), hidden rear door handles, the illuminated Nissan badge on the entrance, the curving roofline, and the delicate spoiler. It’s a extremely good-looking automobile out there in a number of pleasing colours, however these are simply among the least attention-grabbing issues about it.

What issues extra is the trick aerodynamics. In brief, the Leaf is the most aerodynamic Nissan ever made, regardless of its chunky proportions. It has a drag coefficient of simply 0.26, which makes it extra slippery than the McLaren Speedtail. Bear in mind, the quickest trendy McLaren was designed to be as slippery as doable to achieve its 250 mph prime pace. It got here out in 2019, which simply goes to indicate how a lot the sport has modified in simply six quick years.

Inside: Spacious, Excessive High quality

Additionally Minimalist

The Leaf follows the identical inside design sample of each different new automobile launched lately. It has a dual-screen setup, with one display screen serving because the instrument cluster, and the opposite caring for your infotainment wants. The dual-spoke steering wheel appears distinctive, and we love the blue-ish purple and black inside shade mixture.

The most important positive aspects have been made within the house division. In contrast to the earlier Leaf, the brand new mannequin would not have a middle console. All the main controls have been moved to a spot beneath the infotainment show. Fortunately, the local weather management, on/off change for the leisure, and the shift controls are separate from the infotainment system, as they need to be. The upside to all of this isn’t simply extra space, however the feeling of extra space because of a dimming panoramic roof, which is simply customary on the highest trim. It could change from clear to near-totally opaque on the press of a button. To completely perceive the upside of this new inside design path, let’s take a look at the figures.

As you possibly can see, you win some and also you lose some. The acquire in rear seat legroom greater than makes up for the smaller trunk. And the explanation there’s much less headroom is that fancy panoramic roof. There’s an upside, nevertheless. Darkish interiors can really feel smaller than they really are, however add some daylight to the combo, and all is properly with the world. As we talked about earlier, it isn’t simply the precise further house, but additionally the sensation of house.

Infotainment: Nissan Went To The Consultants

Within the decrease S and S+ trims, you get twin 12.3-inch shows with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the compulsory assortment of USB Sort C chargers within the entrance and rear. The higher trim ranges get bigger 14.3-inch screens with Google built-in. As an alternative of messing round making an attempt to create its personal software program, Nissan went to the perfect: Google built-in comes with all the pieces you want, together with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and entry to the Play Retailer, the place you possibly can obtain apps to maintain you busy whereas the automobile expenses. Our restricted time with the automobile meant we could not mess around with these options, nor check the around-view monitor or the Bose 10-speaker sound system.

Powertrain & Driving: Precisely What It Ought to Be

It is A Brisk Electrical Hatch With Respectable Vary

Nissan was very cautious about letting us unfastened in prototype Leafs. These weren’t manufacturing vehicles, and sure value a couple of bucks, so the pace limits on the observe have been fairly strict. Fortunately, we had already completed a few laps in an e-Power Rogue Sport prototype, so we knew the format, and the place to press on a bit with out representatives seeing.

The one model out there to drive was the 214-hp front-wheel drive, and it feels lots like a Golf GTI with out the turbo lag. The ability supply is clearly rapid, and intensely passable. It would not deal with like a GTI, but it surely’s not presupposed to. As an alternative, it is meant to merge onto the freeway with out trouble, and dart into gaps with out hesitation. In the event you deal with it like a sizzling hatch, the tender suspension setup would not reply properly, which is to be anticipated. It is patently clear that Nissan designed this automobile to be comfy, and we commend that. Not one of the foolish “sporty setup” to ship an interesting expertise nonsense. The Leaf is constructed to move you quietly and comfortably from the place you are coming from to the place you need to be, and it does that basically properly.

After driving like a lunatic for one lap, we tried to emulate some real-world situations to see how the Leaf will really cope. Which means a couple of fast bursts of acceleration, and it pulls rather well. Like we mentioned, very Golf GTI-like. After which we examined the regenerative braking to see how simple one-pedal driving can be. It turned second nature in lower than a lap, and we might brake completely for tight bends and longer bends inside minutes. High marks to Nissan for constructing a automobile that is really easy to only get in and drive. And bonus factors for not falling into the “it should be sporty” lure.

Verdict & Pricing: It is Up In The Air

The all-new Nissan Leaf will arrive within the USA within the fall, and pricing has not been confirmed but. The timing could not be extra excellent, as Tesla is not doing too properly proper now. Cybertrucks are piling up, and there is a huge hole out there for an honest EV within the $30,000 to $35,000 value bracket. The present Leaf begins at simply over $28,000, and we hope Nissan can are available at kind of the identical value. However there is a catch. The outgoing Leaf was in-built Tennessee, however the brand new mannequin shall be constructed completely in Japan.

Which means no tax credit, which places it at a drawback towards a number of EVs which can be eligible for the $7,500 value discount, nevertheless lengthy it could final. On the time of writing, President Trump was within the technique of passing a invoice that will finish the tax credit score for EVs, whereas charging homeowners a $250 greenback annual charge for highway repairs. That will degree the enjoying subject for Nissan, which it desperately wants.