The 2026 Nissan LEAF is rated 103 to 121 MPGe combined (miles per gallon of gasoline energy). The best is the 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) at 121 MPGe with a range of 303 miles.
Among the electric and fuel-cell models in the Small Station Wagons class for 2026, the LEAF ranks 1st of 2 for combined mileage (121 MPGe) and 1st of 2 for yearly fuel cost ($650 for its cheapest version, cheapest first). The middle model of the class gets 101 MPGe and costs $800 a year.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | MPGe | Fuel a year, cheapest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Nissan LEAFThis car | 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) | 121 | $650 |
| 2 | 2026 Cadillac CELESTIQ | 2026 CELESTIQ | 81 | $950 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels), Electric: 131 MPGe city, 111 highway, 121 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 LEAF version is $650 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The nearest rival in the Small Station Wagons class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The LEAF costs $310 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the LEAF costs $1,550 less to fuel than the CELESTIQ (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the LEAF (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the LEAF | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cadillac CELESTIQ | 2026 CELESTIQ | 81 MPGe | $950 | 40 lower | $300 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Range mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)Electric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | Front-wheel | 131 | 111 | 121 MPGe | $650 | - | 303 | cheapest |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels)Electric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | Front-wheel | 122 | 105 | 114 MPGe | $700 | - | 288 | +$50 |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels)Electric | Electric | Automatic (A1) | Front-wheel | 110 | 96 | 103 MPGe | $750 | - | 259 | +$100 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 LEAF; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) puts out 0 grams per mile, the same for all 3 tested versions (electric: nothing leaves the tailpipe).
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels): fuel economy score 10 (9 to 10 across versions), greenhouse gas score 10.
Cost per 100 miles uses electricity at $0.15 per kWh (as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA). Plug-in hybrid range counts gasoline too.
| Version | Range mi | Charge at 240 V | MPGe | kWh per 100 mi | Cost per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)Electric | 303 | 12 h | 121 | 27.8 | $4.17 |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels)Electric | 288 | 12 h | 114 | 30 | $4.50 |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels)Electric | 259 | 12 h | 103 | 32.7 | $4.91 |
Best combined figure of the LEAF electric version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best electric (MPGe) | Versions tested | Against 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 111 MPGe | 2 | 10 MPGe lower than 2026 |
| 2024 | 111 MPGe | 2 | 10 MPGe lower than 2026 |
| 2025 | 111 MPGe | 2 | 10 MPGe lower than 2026 |
| 2026This page | 121 MPGe | 3 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 2 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 111 to 121 MPGe (up 10).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels), Electric | 121 MPGe | 109 MPGe (listed in 2025 as LEAF SV) | +12 MPGe |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels), Electric | 114 MPGe | 109 MPGe (listed in 2025 as LEAF SV) | +5 MPGe |
| 2026 LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels), Electric | 103 MPGe | 109 MPGe (listed in 2025 as LEAF SV) | -6 MPGe |
1 2025 version has no match in 2026.
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Nissan LEAF (as LEAF (53 KWH BATTERY), LEAF PLUS (75 KWH BATTERY)). The U.S. safety agency's ratings list returned no star ratings for the 2026 Nissan LEAF on 2026-11-14. Not every model is crash tested, so this means "not rated by NHTSA", not a good or a bad result.
Includes agency records filed under: LEAF (53 KWH BATTERY), LEAF PLUS (75 KWH BATTERY).
4 complaints for the 2026 Nissan LEAF are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | |
| Power Train | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
1 of the 4 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: LEAF (53 KWH BATTERY), LEAF PLUS (75 KWH BATTERY).
2 recalls are on file for the 2026 Nissan LEAF at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: LEAF (53 KWH BATTERY), LEAF PLUS (75 KWH BATTERY).
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The LEAF itself is at 121 MPGe.
More Nissan models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) with 121 MPGe combined (131 city, 111 highway).
The 2026 Nissan LEAF costs between $650 and $750 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) at $650; the dearest is the 2026 LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels) at $750. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF is 1st of 2 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Nissan LEAF at 121 MPGe. In the list, the next one behind is the 2026 Cadillac CELESTIQ at 81 MPGe.
The 2025 model had 2 tested versions and the 2026 model has 3. The best figure went from 111 to 121 MPGe (up 10).
2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels): 303 miles; 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels): 288 miles; 2026 LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels): 259 miles, by the agency's tests.
The 2026 LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels) takes 12 hours for a full charge at 240 volts and uses 27.8 kWh per 100 miles, about $4.17 per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh.
No star ratings were returned for the 2026 Nissan LEAF on 2026-11-14. Not every model is crash tested.
4 complaints for the 2026 Nissan LEAF are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (3 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 2 recalls for the 2026 Nissan LEAF (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Nissan LEAF: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14 (no stars returned); complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Nissan LEAF: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Nissan LEAF: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Nissan LEAF: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Nissan LEAF: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.