When it reaches dealerships this fall, the 2026 Leaf S Plus will start at $29,990 — or $31,485 when you factor in the $1,495 destination charge. Still, Nissan describes as “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.” And the company isn’t relying on any gimmickry like federal incentives (because there won’t be any, thanks to President Trump) or fuel savings. Instead, the price is a reflection of Nissan’s commitment to “making EV mobility accessible to all.”
Nissan also said that the SV Plus trim, with a bigger battery and 18-inch alloy wheels, will start at $35,725 including the destination charge.
That’s especially low when you consider the average start price for a new EV according to Kelley’s Blue Book is $55,689, which is down 4.2 percent from a year ago. For comparison, gas-powered cars averaged about $48,800, which is up 1.5 percent year over year. Tesla, still the top player in the EV space, saw its average transaction price dip to about $52,900, down more than 9 percent from last year.
