The new Nissan LEAF wins 2026 Car of the Year, and is now available with a 52kWh battery

07 July 2026

The third-generation Nissan LEAF has had quite a week. Built at Nissan's Sunderland plant, it's just taken the top prize at the Auto Express New Car Awards, winning overall Car of the Year, Small Company Car of the Year and Affordable Electric Car of the Year. Nissan has simultaneously confirmed pricing and availability for the new 52kWh entry-level version, which is available to order now.

For anyone who's been watching this car build momentum since we first covered it ahead of production last summer, it feels like a significant moment.

Nissan Leaf - Auto Express Car of the Year 2026

Three awards, one clear verdict

Auto Express praised the new LEAF's combination of long range, competitive pricing and premium ride quality as the deciding factors. Rivals can't match its blend of long range and keen pricing, with a powertrain that delivers performance and efficiency alongside tight handling, impressive interior space and a dynamic design.

The Small Company Car of the Year win is particularly relevant for fleet customers, and the Affordable Electric Car of the Year category reflects something the pricing confirms: this is a genuinely competitive offer, not a budget compromise dressed up as one.

It's not just Auto Express either. The new LEAF has also picked up: the Sun's Car of the Year, Women's Worldwide Car of the Year Supreme Winner, an AutoTrader Editor's Choice Award, and a World Car of the Year Top 3 placing. For a car only recently arriving at dealerships, that's a striking early reception.

Triple accolades from Auto Express

Car of the Year
Small Company Car of the Year
Affordable Electric Car of the Year

Other wins for the Leaf

The Sun's Car of the Year
AutoTrader Editor's Choice Award
Women's Worldwide Car of the Year Supreme Winner
World Car of the Year Top 3 placing

The two battery options and what they cost

The LEAF is now available with either a 52kWh or 75kWh battery, and both qualify for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant, which only a small number of electric cars currently qualify for, requiring an eligible price below £35,000.

The 52kWh version offers up to 280 miles of WLTP range and starts from £28,849 including the grant, available in Engage and Advance grades. The 52kWh is described by Nissan as one of the most efficient EVs in the UK, with one of the highest miles-per-kWh ratios currently available, worth noting for anyone whose priority is day-to-day running costs rather than maximum range.
The 75kWh version delivers up to 386 miles of WLTP range and starts from £32,249, available across all four trim levels including the fully loaded Evolve at £36,249.

Here's the full picture:
Battery	Specification	Price (inc. grant)
52kWh	Engage	£28,849
52kWh	Advance	£30,849
75kWh	Engage	£32,249
75kWh	Engage+	£33,149
75kWh	Advance	£34,249
75kWh	Evolve	£36,249

Why the grant eligibility matters

The UK government's Electric Car Grant of £3,750 is only available on cars priced below £35,000 before the grant is applied. At a time when many long-range electric cars sit well above that threshold, the LEAF's pricing means the grant applies in full across most of the range — bringing a genuinely capable, long-range EV within reach of buyers who'd otherwise be looking at much shorter-range options at a similar price point.

What you get

Even the entry-level 52kWh Engage is well equipped: 18-inch alloys, dual 12.3-inch display screens, an 11kW onboard charger, a 360-degree Intelligent Around View Monitor, and Intelligent Cruise Control with Stop and Go.

Step up to the Advance and you add a heat pump (important for real-world winter range), heated front seats and steering wheel, a dimming panoramic sunroof, Google Built-in on a larger 14.3-inch display, and wireless phone charging.

The 75kWh grades add V2G and V2L capability — letting the car feed energy back to the grid or power external devices directly — which is where the fleet and business case becomes particularly compelling.

Why it matters for fleets

The Small Company Car of the Year win reflects something fleet managers will recognise quickly. A claimed range of up to 386 miles, competitive whole-life costs, V2G and V2L on higher grades, Google built-in navigation, and pricing that qualifies for the full government grant, it's a straightforward proposition to put in front of a finance director.

V2G allows the LEAF to export energy back to the grid during peak pricing periods, reducing energy costs for businesses with the right setup. V2L lets the car power equipment directly from the battery, useful for field engineers and trades operators who'd otherwise need a generator on site.

Built in Britain

Right-hand-drive LEAF production has now begun at Nissan's Sunderland plant, with cars due to arrive at dealerships later this summer. It's the third generation of LEAF built at the same facility, and for fleet operators with supply chain provenance or sustainability reporting requirements, UK manufacturing is an increasingly relevant factor.

The LEAF has now sold close to 700,000 units worldwide since its debut in 2010 as the world's first mass-market electric vehicle, with owners collectively driving more than 18 billion electric miles. The third generation has been fully redesigned and re-engineered — it's not an update, it's a clean-sheet car that happens to carry one of the most recognisable names in EV history.

Available to lease now

The new LEAF is available to lease on both personal and business contract hire. If you'd like to explore options across the range, get in touch with our team and we'll help you find the right spec and deal for your needs.

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