The new Nissan Leaf is still one of the cheapest EVs in America

Nissan stunned america each erstwhile it released the specs for its refreshed Leaf: caller crossover body; dual charging ports; and implicit 300 miles of range. Today, the Japanese released the starting price for the Leaf, and lo and behold, it’s inactive a hellhole of a bargain.

When it reaches dealerships this fall, the 2026 Leaf S Plus volition commencement astatine $29,990 — oregon $31,485 erstwhile you origin successful the $1,495 destination charge. Still, Nissan describes arsenic “the lowest starting MSRP for immoderate caller EV presently connected merchantability successful the US.” And the institution isn’t relying connected immoderate gimmickry similar national incentives (because determination won’t beryllium any, acknowledgment to President Trump) oregon substance savings. Instead, the terms is simply a reflection of Nissan’s committedness to “making EV mobility accessible to all.”

Nissan besides said that the SV Plus trim, with a bigger artillery and 18-inch alloy wheels, volition commencement astatine $35,725 including the destination charge.

That’s particularly debased erstwhile you see the mean commencement terms for a caller EV according to Kelley’s Blue Book is $55,689, which is down 4.2 percent from a twelvemonth ago. For comparison, gas-powered cars averaged astir $48,800, which is up 1.5 percent twelvemonth implicit year. Tesla, inactive the apical subordinate successful the EV space, saw its mean transaction terms dip to astir $52,900, down much than 9 percent from past year.

With the elimination of national incentives, automakers are redoubling their efforts to nutrient genuinely affordable EVs. As contention from China heats up, Hyundai and Kia are some promising much low-cost models. Tesla says it volition merchandise a cheaper Model Y aboriginal this year. Volkswagen has a €20,000 electric hatchback that it has yet to perpetrate to bringing to the US. And even Ford conscionable released its expansive program to upend its full manufacturing process to nutrient cheaper EVs, starting with a $30,000 motortruck successful 2027.