Nissan LEAF EV Gets A Big Thumbs-Up From NACTOY

The 2026 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) has received significant recognition by making the Top 3 finalists for the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) award, a prestigious accolade judged by 50 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada. This achievement is notable because the competition does not separate electric vehicles from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, highlighting the LEAF’s strong performance in innovation, design, safety, driver satisfaction, and overall value. Nissan emphasized the LEAF’s competitive pricing, with a starting MSRP of $29,990 for the S+ model—the lowest among new EVs currently available in the U.S.—along with its EPA-estimated range of 303 miles and fast DC charging capability (10% to 80% in 35 minutes). Despite earlier setbacks, including the cancellation of a planned lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery factory in Japan and broader challenges in the U.S. EV market following the expiration of federal tax