The 2026 Nissan LEAF New Design Is So Much Better Outside and In

The Nissan LEAF has never been a particularly attractive car. The second-generation models currently on the streets certainly look better than the downright fugly first-generation LEAF, but its design was pretty bland and generic. For 2026, Nissan went back to the drawing board for its compact EV and has come up with a design that is appealing, modern, and downright sporty.

The new 2026 LEAF features a smooth and curvaceous design that’s both aerodynamic and distinctive. It looks particularly spiffy in this soothing Seabreeze Blue with a black roof and black lower body cladding. Up front, seamless fascia is accented by a thin LED light bar stretching across a sleek grille, giving it a modern, high-tech expression that feels more like a concept car than a commuter EV. The slim, sharply angled headlights and arrow-like daytime running lights add an energetic touch.

Around back, the LEAF’s double-oval taillights remind us more than a little bit of the Nissan Z, flanked by tiny versions of the Ford Mustang’s three-bar design. A reflective panel greats a holographic depth effect that’s really slick too. A gloss black panel shows off the Nissan badging for a modern and sophisticated vibe.

While teardrop shapes have become the norm for efficient cars, Nissan’s designers have embraced the aerodynamic form, improving the LEAF’s drag coefficient from an already impressive 0.29 to 0.26 this model year. The strong, sweeping roofline that slopes into its rear window looks great, and the two-tone multispoke wheels are sporty and modern. One big improvement over the outgoing LEAF is cargo space. The current-gen model tops out at 30 cubic feet with the back seats folded, while the 2026 model offers an impressive 55.5 cubic feet with those seats down.

Two electric motors will be available for 2026: a 130 kW unit and a 160 kW unit. The S grade’s motor produces 174 horsepower and 254 lb-ft. of torque, while the S+, SV+, and Platinum+ get the bigger motor that produces 214 horsepower and 261 lb-ft. of torque. Nissan says the 2026 LEAF will offer a driving range of up to 303 miles, along with a new 3-in-1 unit that integrates its motor, inverter, and reducer. A new lithium-ion battery pack will offer either 52 kWh or 75 kWh of usable capacity. In addition to the existing J1772 port, Tesla’s NACS charging port will be standard on North American vehicles, and the car will support DC fast-charging speeds of up to 150 kW.

Inside, the 2026 LEAF boasts a clean and minimalist design, featuring a smooth, linear dashboard topped by a pair of 12.3-inch or 14.3-inch displays fused into a single unit. Features will include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with optional Google built-in with Google Maps navigation.

The LEAF will also be available with a 360º camera system with “invisible hood” and front-wide views, 64-color ambient lighting, and a panoramic roof with electrochromic dimming. And for the first time, LEAF can be equipped with the 10-speaker Bose Personal Plus audio with driver and passenger headrest speakers – much like the excellent system in the Nissan Kicks.

We’re still waiting for pricing and a release date for the new 2026 LEAF, but we hope that Nissan keeps it affordable, as it has been one of the most accessible EVs on the market for years. I’m assuming that the larger battery pack and more powerful motors will drive the price up, but hopefully within reason.