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Last Updated on: 21st August 2025, 09:17 pm
As I’ve written many times before, I was one of the first electric car buyers in Florida (except for Tesla Roadster buyers). I bought a 2012 Nissan LEAF on December 1st, 2011 (after putting down a $99 deposit about a year earlier). That was the first day Nissan sold LEAFs in Florida. I paid about $40,000, since I bought the model with some of the fancier features, like GPS. The fancier features didn’t end up being very good, but I loved the car. I had instant torque and was fast from zero to 30 miles an hour (not exceptional after that). The handling was precise and it was easy to park. Of course, the 70-mile range and the lack of charging stations in Florida in 2011 were huge issues, but I had three other cars and if I planned to go more than 50 miles or so, I would just take a different car for the day.
I owned the car for 7 years. At the end of that time, there were more chargers, so I would sometimes charge it in the middle of running errands, but I never took the car outside the Tampa Bay area. It would have been drive an hour, charge an hour, drive an hour charge an hour. Way too much hassle for me. And that is if I found a working fast charger. If I had to use a slow charger, I would be stuck for many hours charging. Since then, I’ve owned a 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD and a 2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD (which I still own). I treat those the same as a gas car. I just drive where I want and take a few minutes to relax at the Supercharger. The lack of maintenance and repairs has been one of my favorite features of electric cars. This article from 6 years ago documents the ~$36,000 in maintenance and repair costs of my gas cars over 15 years. Compared to the ~$2,000 I’ve spent in the last 5 years (I do drive a lot less now, so not a fair comparison), it is a huge reduction and most of the $2,000 is a set of tires.
2026 Nissan LEAF
The reason I wrote this article is to highlight the progress the industry has made in the last 15 years, not to promote this car in particular. I do think Nissan did a great job of addressing the many faults of the previous LEAF, and Kyle Field will be publishing an article soon on his driving impressions of the new LEAF!
Here are the enhancements comparing the 2026 LEAF to the 2011 LEAF (which was very similar to the 2012 LEAF I owned):
- Battery Capacity: Increased from 24 kWh in the 2011 model to 52 kWh (base S trim) or 75 kWh (S+, SV+, PLATINUM+ trims) in the 2026 model, allowing for significantly longer range and better energy storage.
- Driving Range: Extended from approximately 73–100 miles EPA in 2011 to up to 303 miles (S+ trim), 288 miles (SV+), or 259 miles (PLATINUM+) in 2026, with the base S trim expected around 200–220 miles (estimates may vary based on conditions).
- Motor Power: Boosted from 80 kW (107 hp) in 2011 to 130 kW (174 hp) for the base S trim or 160 kW (214 hp) for higher trims in 2026.
- Torque: Improved from 280 Nm (207 lb-ft) in 2011 to 254 lb-ft (S trim) or 261 lb-ft (higher trims) in 2026.
- Charging Speed: DC fast charging upgraded from around 50 kW (with longer charge times) in 2011 to up to 150 kW in 2026, enabling a 10–80% charge in just 35 minutes at compatible chargers.
- Charging Compatibility: Switched from CHAdeMO connector in 2011 to dual ports in 2026, including J1772 for AC/Level 2 and NACS (Tesla-compatible) for DC fast charging, with Plug&Charge capability (subscription required) and battery preconditioning for optimized sessions.
- Battery Management: Introduced active thermal management with a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery in 2026, addressing heat-related issues during charging and driving that were absent in the 2011 model’s air-cooled system.
- Powertrain Integration: Adopted a new 3-in-1 EV powertrain (motor, inverter, reducer) in 2026, reducing packaging by 10% and improving responsiveness compared to the 2011 setup.
- Aerodynamics and Efficiency: Reduced drag coefficient from 0.29 in 2011 to 0.26 in 2026, enhancing overall energy efficiency.
- Vehicle Design: Evolved from a compact hatchback in 2011 to a small SUV-like crossover in 2026 with attractive styling, unique lighting, a sloped roofline, and increased width by 0.8 inches for better stability and presence.
- Cargo and Interior Space: Expanded cargo capacity from limited space in 2011 to 20 cubic feet behind rear seats (expanding to 55.5 cubic feet when folded) in 2026, with a more space-efficient, minimalist interior design that also includes additional storage, cupholders, and a Divide-n-Hide system.
- Infotainment System: Upgraded from basic audio and optional navigation in 2011 to dual 12.3-inch (S/S+) or 14.3-inch (SV+/PLATINUM+) screens in 2026, with a Google-based interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports, wireless charging (higher trims), and up to a 10-speaker Bose audio system.
- Safety Features: Added comprehensive Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite standard in 2026, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot intervention, lane departure prevention, rear cross-traffic alert, and more; new additions like 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor, Invisible Hood View, Front Wide View, and Secondary Collision Mitigation Braking, far beyond the basic airbags and stability control in 2011.
- Driver-Assistance Technology: Introduced ProPilot Assist (adaptive cruise control with lane centering) as standard in 2026, along with features like Traffic Sign Recognition and Driver Attention Alert, which were not available in the 2011 model.
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) Capability: New in 2026, allowing up to 1,500 watts of power output for external devices (standard on all trims with adapter; interior plug on PLATINUM+), not present in 2011.
- Connectivity and App Integration: Enhanced with an updated NissanConnect app in 2026, including charger awareness in Google Maps (higher trims) and real-time DC charging info display, improving on the limited connectivity of the 2011 model.
- Warranty: Maintained an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty in 2026, consistent with later first-gen models but ensuring coverage for the advanced battery tech.
The ones that stand out to me are about 4 times the range, active thermal management (my LEAF needed a new battery after a few years in the Florida heat, as did most owners’), faster charging using the NACS standard instead of reliance on hard-to-find CHAdeMO stations, Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability (although, I think the LEAF has had that for years), up to twice the power, advanced driver assistance, and MUCH better interior and exterior styling.
Some Photos From Nissan
Prices of the Cheapest Gas Cars Sold in the US vs the Nissan LEAF Price, 2011 to 2026
Note: Prices are base manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) excluding destination fees, taxes, and other charges. Adjusted prices are in 2025 dollars, using US CPI-U annual averages (estimated for 2025 and 2026 based on forecasts). For 2026, models are not fully released yet, so values are projected. EPA combined MPG for the cheapest car is for the base model. Nissan LEAF range is for the base model EPA-estimated range.
What stands out is that the inflation-adjusted price of the cheapest car you can buy in the US has gone up 36% and isn’t a lot better (except maybe a little safer). As we have discussed, the LEAF not only is vastly improved, it’s 38% cheaper on an inflation-adjusted basis!
Disclosure: I am a shareholder in Tesla [TSLA], BYD [BYDDY] and XPeng [XPEV]. But I offer no investment advice of any sort here.
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