The cheapest electric car on the market stays cheap for 2026
Nissan is pushing the LEAF into its third generation, and with it, giving the EV a revamp. However, even with updates inside and out, the cheapest electric car on the market keeps its affordability for 2026. The 2026 Nissan LEAF starts at $31,485, which is cheaper than when it debuted over 14 years ago.
The Nissan LEAF, the cheapest electric car on the market, starts at $31,485 for 2026
The LEAF is back for its third-gen go at the electric vehicle market. And the cheapest electric car on the market managed to keep things wallet-friendly for 2026. The latest pricing details put the new base-model LEAF S+ trim at $31,485, about $2,205 more than the previous year.
Still, even with a price tag that establishes it as the cheapest electric car around, the LEAF was hopeless to outsell competition from Tesla last year. According to best-selling-cars.com, Nissan sold 11,226 units of the flagship EV last year, up 57% from the previous year.
But the 11,226 units weren’t even enough to put the LEAF in the top 10 EVs of last year. The Tesla Model Y, for example, starts at $46,630 for the 2026 MY and managed to account for over 400,000 units sold.
A significant redesign doesn’t hike the price
The LEAF got the full updated treatment from Nissan for 2026, including a 75-kWh battery and peppy 214-horsepower electric motor up front.
Nissan also updated the LEAF’s interior and exterior styling, doing away with the 2025 model’s comparably lackluster look. In its place, the new LEAF adopts a much more grown-up and contemporary look. Although we expect the exterior styling might be challenging for some would-be buyers.
And the S+ won’t be the end of things. Nissan says an entry-level S model will have an even lower price point, likely closer to the 2025 Nissan LEAF S’ $29,280 starting ask.
