New Nissan Leaf Review: Better Than a Tesla?

Is the Nissan Leaf now the best small EV you can buy in 2026? Get 20% off CarVertical using code Carwow: https://www.carvertical.com/carwow This is the all-new Nissan Leaf - and it’s undergone a serious glow-up! It’s fair to say previous editions of the Nissan Leaf had a very middle-of-the-road feel. They weren’t bad cars, but they offered very little when it came to standing out from the crowd. As for the new car, though, it seriously looks the part! The problem is, with new looks comes a new price. So does it offer enough to sway you away from similar cars in its category like the Kia EV3 and Jaecoo 5? Let’s take a closer look… The front-end of the Leaf borrows from the Nissan Ariya, meaning it has a futuristic yet clean look, including a full-length light bar and a sporty yet stylish low bumper. The Nissan only has one standard colour (red), but we think it looks seriously smart in this electric blue, coupled with the black window surrounds and roof. The rear of the car comes with a sloping roofline, an upright rear with a large Nissan badge across the back. Every angle of the car is a massive upgrade from the previous edition. The interior of the Leaf also looks seriously smart, although the proportions and positioning of some elements leave a bit to be desired. The cupholders are a good size but too low down, the infotainment screen is large but stretches a bit too far away from the driver, and the phone charging pad is in the centre console, eating into storage space. That being said, it’s still a relatively smart-looking interior. In this edition, there’s fabric material across the doors and soft-touch materials across the dash, and there’s a large digital dial screen that offers loads of functionality. The seats also come in a faux leather material as well - although you only get cloth seats in the entry-level. The entry-level Leaf comes with a 52kWh battery and a single motor, which is good for 177hp. It also has a claimed range of 271 miles. Further up in the range, there’s a 75kWh battery which also powers a single motor, with the power output rising to 218hp. It comes with a massive claimed range of 386 miles, although we found ourselves well short of that in the video. The entry-level Leaf starts at £32,599, but with the current Carwow saving (as of October 2026), you could get one for £26,548! As for the range-topping edition? Well, that rolls up with a starting price of £39,999! So is it worth it? Let us know what you think in the comments! Mat’s Nissan Leaf Choice: https://bit.ly/Mats-Choice-1010 Kia EV3 review: https://bit.ly/Kia-EV3-Review-0910 Jaecoo 5 review: https://bit.ly/Jaecoo-5-0910 Explore new and used car deals with Carwow: https://bit.ly/Change-Your-Car-101026 Carwow's Nissan Leaf review: https://bit.ly/Nissan-Leaf-Review-2710 Get expert car advice from Mat & the team every time you search. Add Carwow as your top source on Google: https://bit.ly/Carwow-Preferred-Source