Nissan stunned us all when it released the specs for its refreshed Leaf: new crossover body; dual charging ports; and over 300 miles of range. Today, the Japanese released the starting price for the Leaf, and lo and behold, it’s still a hell of a bargain.
When it reaches dealerships this fall, the 2026 Leaf S Plus will start at $29,990 — or $31,485 when you factor in the $1,495 destination charge. Still, Nissan describes as “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.” And the company isn’t relying on any gimmickry like federal incentives (because there won’t be any, thanks to President Trump) or fuel savings. Instead, the price is a reflection of Nissan’s commitment to “making EV mobility accessible to all.”
Nissan also said that the SV Plus trim, with a bigger battery and 18-inch alloy wheels, will start at $35,725 including the destination charge.
That’s especially low when you consider the average start price for a new EV according to Kelley’s Blue Book is $55,689, which is down 4.2 percent from a year ago. For comparison, gas-powered cars averaged about $48,800, which is up 1.5 percent year over year. Tesla, still the top player in the EV space, saw its average transaction price dip to about $52,900, down more than 9 percent from last year.
With the elimination of federal incentives, automakers are redoubling their efforts to produce truly affordable EVs. As competition from China heats up, Hyundai and Kia are both promising more low-cost models. Tesla says it will release a cheaper Model Y later this year. Volkswagen has a €20,000 electric hatchback that it has yet to commit to bringing to the US. And even Ford just released its grand plan to upend its whole manufacturing process to produce cheaper EVs, starting with a $30,000 truck in 2027.