Nissan Backtracks On Launching $25k Leaf EV – For Now

In September last year, it was revealed that Nissan was preparing a new cut-price version of the 2026 Leaf for the US, known simply as the Leaf S. This model was expected to start at just $25,360, significantly undercutting the competition and bringing an affordable EV within reach of many more buyers.

Sadly, this model is nowhere to be seen and may have just been dropped entirely. Last week, Nissan confirmed that the entry-level Leaf S will not launch this year as originally planned. While it said the car hasn’t been canceled, at least not at this stage, there’s no guarantee it’ll ever see the light of day.

Read: Nissan Beats Tesla To $25K EV Musk Said Would Never Happen

“Nissan continually evaluates market trends, customer preferences, and the evolving EV landscape to ensure we are focusing our resources where they create the most value,” Nissan US director of product communications Dominic Vizor told InsideEVs. “As part of that process, we have decided not to introduce the smaller‑battery variant of the 2026 Nissan LEAF in the U.S. this model year.”

Vizor added that Nissan remains “committed to delivering the right products at the right time,” adding that it “will continue to assess future battery configurations based on customer demand and segment needs.”

The Nissan Leaf S was supposed to launch with a 52 kWh battery pack, significantly smaller than the 75 kWh pack of other models. No range figure was announced, but it would likely have fallen to the low 200s, which would be enough for some but would no doubt fall short of those planning longer journeys. Existing Leaf models have a driving range of 288-303 miles (463-487 km).

Although Nissan didn’t pinpoint a specific reason for the Leaf S’s delay, beyond mentioning broad market trends and the “evolving EV landscape,” likely impacting the model’s financial viability are the import tariffs it would be subject to due to its Japanese origins.