New 2026 Nissan Leaf Range Increases by Over 100 KM

It’s kind of weird that Nissan doesn’t get more credit as an early mover in the world of electric vehicles (EV), because the Leaf has been around since 2010. Although age brings wisdom, being old can also be a disadvantage, and the current, second-generation Leaf has certainly started feeling old. Fortunately, Nissan today unveiled the third generation of its OG EV.

The biggest improvement is the range, which increases by more than 145 km. For 2026, the Nissan Leaf will be able to go as many as 488 km per charge of its 75 kWh battery pack, according to the automaker’s estimates. Not only is that a massive improvement over the second-gen Leaf, it also compares well to other mainstream EVs, like the Volkswagen ID.4 (468 km, per Natural Resources Canada) and the upcoming 2026 Toyota bZ, which tops out at 460 km, according to that automaker’s estimates.

Charging the Leaf will also be easier now that it is equipped with both a J1772 port for at-home and Level 2 charging as well as a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. With these and an old-school Combined Charging Standard (CCS) adapter, the EV will be able to charge at nearly any plug in Canada.

Nissan estimates that at a fast charging station, drivers will be able to take their battery from 10 to 80 per cent state of charge in as little as 35 minutes, under ideal circumstances. The Leaf will also be the automaker’s first vehicle with plug and charge technology, which stores its driver’s credit card in the vehicle, allowing them to simply plug their EV in at a charging station and walk away, allowing the onboard computers to take care of the payment.

The automaker also promises that the EV has been designed for Canadian winters. Nissan says that it worked to better insulate the battery pack from slush and ice, and that it will now be able to scavenge heat from the powertrain and even the charging port to keep the battery warm and efficient in cold weather.

Speaking of the powertrain, the 2026 Leaf won’t exactly be a rocket ship. Power comes from a single 214 hp electric motor. If you want an even more efficient powertrain, a 174 hp version of the Leaf with a 52 kWh battery pack will be added to the lineup at a later date — range has not yet been shared for this miserly version.

The Leaf’s tech package should at least be reasonably powerful. An infotainment setup with twin 14.3-inch screens powered by Google Built-in technology will be available on the SV+ and Platinum+ trims. The Leaf S and S+ will instead get dual 12.3-inch screens with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Outside, the 2026 Leaf’s design has been updated to make it look more like Nissan’s other new products, the Ariya and Murano, in particular. It will, however, be the brand’s first model with motorized door handles that can retract to be flush with the body. Likely a concession to aerodynamics, the door handles work with the rear spoiler and other elements to help the Leaf cut through the air with a coefficient of drag of just 0.26 (the outgoing Leaf’s coefficient of drag is 0.29).

That aerodynamic body will be available in the following colours: Seabreeze Blue Pearl with Black roof, Coulis Red Pearl with black roof, Everest White Pearl Tricoat with black roof, Boulder Gray Pearl with black roof, Deep Ocean Blue Pearl, Everest White, Gun Metallic and Black Diamond Pearl.

Unfortunately, Nissan has not yet announced Canadian pricing for the 2026 Leaf. That information will be available closer to when the EV hits Canadian showrooms, this fall.