Few EVs are cheaper than the 2026 Nissan Leaf, starting at just $29,990, which is why we awarded it as Best EV and our Car of the Year for 2026. Only one EV undercuts the Leaf on price, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which starts at $27,600 before destination. However, its reign as America's cheapest EV won't last long.
Nissan currently sells three versions of the Leaf: S+, SV+, and Platinum+. We've known for a while that a cheaper S model was set to arrive, slotting below the already affordable S+ trim level, and now it's officially been revealed in Japan. Though Japanese pricing can not be directly translated to US dollars, this reveal gives us our first real look at the least expensive third-generation Leaf.
Smaller Battery, Smaller Range
Japan receives different trim levels than we get in the US, so the names do not match up exactly. Nissan mentions the new Leaf is called the B5, referencing the smaller 55 kWh (usable capacity) battery. The existing Leaf is called the B7 in Japan because it has a 78 kWh battery. In the US, Nissan says these batteries are 52 kWh and 75 kWh, with that discrepancy likely being the difference in usable capacity. We will only get one version of the Leaf with the 52 kWh battery, but Japan actually gets three: B5 S, B5 X, and B5 G.
Though Japan lists their outputs differently, American buyers can expect the smaller battery model to produce 174 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, while the bigger battery ups the output to 214 hp and 261 lb-ft. The small battery S model should do 210 miles on a charge, while the S+ gets up to 303 miles. Range actually drops to 288 miles on the SV+ and 259 miles on the Platinum+, since those models add more features and larger wheels. It's worth noting the new Bolt will do 262 miles on a charge, besting the base Leaf.
Cheaper Than The Bolt?
Now for the big question: will the Leaf S be cheaper than the Bolt EV? Nissan lists the Leaf B5 S, the cheapest of the three, for 4,389,000 yen. That translates to roughly $28,160, which would not be cheap enough to undercut Chevy. Before giving Chevy the victory, we'd caution against doing straight currency conversions like this, since different markets often have radically different pricing, and Japan includes a consumption tax.
From the few images Nissan released, the S will look nearly identical to the S+, except the wheels appear to be all black, missing the silver accents found on the S+ trim. The interior features Charcoal cloth, but still has modern technology in the form of dual 12.3-inch displays. We hope to see an official reveal from Nissan's North American arm in the coming weeks.
