For years, the Nissan Leaf had a strange place in the EV market. It was important, practical, and historically meaningful, but it was rarely the electric car people got excited about. It was the sensible early EV, not the aspirational one.
That may be changing.
In a recent Auto Focus video, Marques Brownlee took a close look at the new Nissan Leaf and came away surprisingly impressed. His review frames the redesigned Leaf as a major “glow up,” not just because it looks better, but because it now feels like a real contender for EV shoppers who want range, comfort, technology, and value without stretching into luxury-EV pricing.
The Big Picture: The Leaf Has Grown Up
The new Leaf is no longer the odd-looking economy EV that many shoppers remember. It has moved toward a smoother, more crossover-like shape with a clear focus on aerodynamic efficiency. Marques spends part of the video joking about how many modern EVs are starting to look like smooth “blobs,” but his point is fair: until battery energy density improves dramatically, automakers are still chasing lower drag to squeeze out more range.
For the Leaf, that design direction makes sense. This is not trying to be a dramatic performance EV. It is trying to be efficient, affordable, practical, and easy to live with.
That matters because most EV shoppers are not just buying horsepower. They are buying confidence. They want to know whether the car has enough range, whether the interior feels modern, whether charging is workable, and whether they will regret not spending more on a Tesla, Hyundai, Chevy, Kia, or Ford.
The new Leaf’s pitch is simple: give shoppers a familiar nameplate, useful range, a much better cabin, and a price that still starts near the lower end of the new-EV market.
Key Specs Shoppers Should Know
The latest Leaf is front-wheel drive and, in the version Marques discusses, uses a 75 kWh battery with around 214 horsepower. He cites a 0–60 mph time of about 7.2 seconds, which is not sports-car quick, but is plenty for normal commuting, merging, and city driving.
Nissan’s official trim pricing starts at $29,990 for the Leaf S+, $34,230 for the SV+, and $38,990 for the Platinum+, before destination, taxes, fees, options, and dealer pricing. The S+ is also the trim Nissan says can reach up to 303 miles of EPA-estimated range. Higher trims may trade some range for larger wheels and more equipment.
That is an important shopper point: the most expensive trim is not always the best EV buy. With EVs, wheel size, weight, and features can affect range. A shopper focused on maximum value and maximum range should compare the S+ carefully against the more heavily equipped trims.
What the Leaf Gets Right
The biggest win is value. A new EV starting around $30,000 with a large battery and usable range is exactly what the market needs. Many EVs still drift into the $45,000–$60,000 range once shoppers add the features they actually want. The Leaf appears to be positioned for buyers who want to get into a modern EV without treating the purchase like a luxury-car decision.
The second win is the interior. Marques seemed genuinely surprised by how upscale the top-trim Leaf felt. He pointed out the head-up display, Bose audio, speakers in the headrests, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, heated seats, heated steering wheel, power liftgate, and even an electrochromic glass roof on the highly optioned version.
That is not what people usually associate with the Leaf name. The old Leaf was often viewed as basic transportation. This one has enough premium-feeling equipment to make a shopper pause before spending more on a flashier badge.
The third win is practicality. The Leaf still offers real cargo space, folding rear seats, storage for charging cables, and a hatchback/crossover shape that makes sense for everyday use. It is not trying to be an oversized three-row SUV, and that may actually be part of the appeal. For a commuter, small family, or second household vehicle, the size could be a sweet spot.
The fourth win is ride comfort. Marques compares the driving feel somewhat to a Chevy Bolt: front-wheel drive, not overly heavy, quick enough, and comfortable. He also notes that the suspension leans soft, which is a good thing for broken pavement and daily driving.
Where the Leaf Falls Short
The biggest complaint in the video is the lack of true one-pedal driving. Nissan’s e-Step system adds stronger regenerative braking, but according to Marques, it does not bring the car all the way to a complete stop. Instead, it slows the car down to around 5 mph and then requires the driver to use the brake pedal.
For some shoppers, this will not matter. Drivers coming from gas cars may barely notice. But for EV shoppers who love true one-pedal driving in vehicles from Tesla, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, or others, this could be annoying. One-pedal driving is one of the things that makes an EV feel distinct and relaxing in traffic. Nissan should have made that behavior more complete.
The second drawback is the control layout. Marques likes some real buttons, including controls for volume, hazards, cameras, drive mode, and gear selection. But he criticizes the climate controls for being haptic rather than physical clicky buttons. That is a real-world usability issue. Touch-sensitive climate controls can look modern, but they are often worse when driving.
The third concern is rear-seat space. The back seat is usable, but Marques notes that it feels a little snug behind his driving position, especially in foot room. Shoppers with kids in car seats, frequent adult passengers, or taller family members should sit in the back before buying.
The fourth issue is trim discipline. The Leaf looks strongest near its entry price. Once optioned into the low-$40,000 range, it starts competing with larger or more powerful EVs. At that point, shoppers should compare carefully instead of assuming the Leaf is automatically the budget choice.
How to Compare the Leaf Against Other EVs
The Leaf should be compared less as a “cheap EV” and more as a practical value EV. That means shoppers should look at five areas.
First, compare real usable range, not just the headline number. If the S+ trim gets the best range, but the Platinum+ has the features you want, make sure you know the range difference before buying.
Second, compare charging convenience. Charging speed, port access, home charging setup, and public charging compatibility matter as much as range. A 300-mile EV that charges conveniently can feel very different from a 300-mile EV that is frustrating on road trips.
Third, compare interior controls. This sounds minor until you live with the car. Sit in the Leaf and test the HVAC controls, camera button, gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, and steering wheel controls. EVs are rolling software-and-interface products now. Bad controls become daily irritations.
Fourth, compare one-pedal driving behavior. During the test drive, try the strongest regen setting and confirm whether the car stops the way you expect. If you already drive an EV with true one-pedal driving, the Leaf’s e-Step behavior may feel like a step backward.
Fifth, compare the actual transaction price. A Leaf S+ near $30,000 is a very different value proposition than a loaded Platinum+ above $40,000 after destination and options. At the lower end, the Leaf looks like a smart buy. At the higher end, it needs to win on features, comfort, and personal preference.
Who Should Consider the New Leaf?
The new Nissan Leaf makes the most sense for shoppers who want an affordable, comfortable, efficient EV with modern tech and enough range for normal daily life. It is especially compelling for first-time EV buyers who do not want to overpay, do not need all-wheel drive, and care more about practicality than performance.
It also makes sense for buyers who remember the old Leaf and wrote it off years ago. This is not that car anymore. The design is sharper, the interior is much better, the range is more competitive, and the feature list can be surprisingly upscale.
Who Should Be Cautious?
Shoppers who want all-wheel drive, aggressive acceleration, true one-pedal driving, lots of rear-seat room, or a more performance-oriented personality should test competitors before committing.
The Leaf is improved, but it is not trying to be everything. It is not a Tesla Model Y replacement, not a performance crossover, and not a road-trip-first EV for every buyer. It is a rational, efficient, comfortable EV that finally has enough style and substance to be taken seriously again.
Final Take
The new Nissan Leaf may be one of the more important affordable EVs on the market because it focuses on what regular shoppers actually need: price, range, comfort, useful features, and daily drivability.
Marques Brownlee’s takeaway is essentially that the Leaf has graduated from its old reputation. That feels like the right framing. The Leaf is no longer just the EV people bought because it was available. It is now an EV shoppers should deliberately cross-shop.
The smart move is to test drive it against similarly priced EVs, pay attention to the trim and range differences, and decide whether its comfort-first personality fits your life. For many buyers, especially those looking for a first EV under luxury pricing, the new Leaf may be a much stronger option than expected.