2026 Nissan LEAF named a 2026 Car and Driver Editors’ Choice winner

2026 Nissan LEAF
Image courtesy Nissasn
2026 Nissan LEAF
Image courtesy Nissasn

The all-new 2026 Nissan LEAF was named a Car and Driver Editors’ Choice winner. The annual list names the best cars, trucks, SUVs and vans from the 2026 model year, ranked across 47 unique vehicle segments.

“Redesigned for 2026, the new LEAF provides the range, performance, practicality and the value that will satisfy the demands of EV shoppers,” said Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief, Car and Driver.

Editors’ Choice winners are selected based on Car and Driver’s instrumented testing results; editors’ assessments of how vehicles deliver in terms of mission fulfillment, value and driving enjoyment; and the rating each vehicle earns compared to segment competitors. To be named an Editors’ Choice, a vehicle must earn a rating of at least 9 out of 10 stars from Car and Driver’s reviewers.

The all-new Nissan LEAF has received a growing list of industry awards, including being named a 2026 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winner; InsideEVs Breakthrough EV of the Year; Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems; World’s Best Compact Car by Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year Jury; and Car of the Year, Best EV and Best Budget Vehicle in the inaugural Buzz Awards.

The all-new electric 2026 Nissan LEAF builds on the model’s DNA of reliable, affordable and attractive EV ownership, delivering strong value for the mass market. It has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 303 miles per charge, and a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the S+ grade of $29,990.

Now in its third generation, LEAF’s design has been completely reimagined with clean, dynamic body lines, combining a sleek profile with an SUV-like stance. A built-in NACS port with Plug & Charge functionality provides seamless access to more than 27,500 Tesla Superchargers for convenient public charging, making LEAF ideal for commuting and road trips alike.

LEAF also offers an extensive list of advanced technologies, including an available segment-first dimming panoramic roof, standard class-exclusive Intelligent Around View Monitor, 64-color ambient interior lighting, flush door handles, 3D holographic tail lamps and available dual 14.3-inch displays with Google built-in, including Google Maps.

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Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the founder of Motoring Chronicle and an FIA accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following motorsport and the global automotive industry. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered Formula 1 races and automotive events at venues around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every race report, car review, and industry analysis he writes. His work spans the full breadth of motoring — from the latest EV launches and road car reviews to the cutting edge of motorsport competition.

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Freedom or safety for young drivers? UK can and must deliver both, says GEM 11/05/2026 SHARE: Images are for editorial use only. Experts gathering at Young Driver Focus in London on 13 May to press for action, not further delay Young drivers remain disproportionately at risk, with preventable deaths continuing on UK roads International evidence shows graduated driver licensing can cut crashes by up to 40% GEM Motoring Assist will return to the RAC Club, London, on 13 May as headline sponsor of Young Driver Focus 2026, renewing calls for decisive action to improve protection for newly-qualified drivers. Despite years of evidence and advocacy, the UK has yet to introduce a comprehensive system of graduated driver licensing (GDL) - a move GEM and other road safety groups say is costing young lives. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We are long past the point of asking whether we should act. The evidence is overwhelming, and the consequences of delay are measured in lives lost and families devastated.” GDL is a phased approach that allows new drivers to gain experience under lower-risk conditions before progressing to full driving privileges. Common measures include limits on late-night driving and restrictions on carrying same-age passengers during the months after passing the test. International research consistently shows crash reductions of between 20% and 40% where GDL systems are in place. In some regions of Canada, reductions in young driver deaths have exceeded 80%. In the UK, drivers aged 17 to 24 account for around 20% of road deaths, despite making up just 7% of licence holders. Inexperience, distraction and overconfidence remain key risk factors - precisely the issues GDL is designed to address. GEM stresses that a well-designed system supports rather than penalises young people, and a recent TRL review1 found no significant negative impact on access to education, employment or social activity. GEM supports a system that extends structured learning, reduces known high-risk conditions and allows young drivers to build skills progressively and safely. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We do many things well in the UK, particularly in driver training, but the current system offers too little structured support once someone passes the test. That’s where the real risk begins. “The choice is simple: continue with a system we know is failing too many young people, or take proven steps that will save lives. Doing nothing is not a neutral position - it is a decision with consequences… and Young Driver Focus offers a chance to translate the latest insight into real-world action.”

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