Edmunds subjected the 2026 Leaf Platinum+ to its electric vehicle range test<\/a>, and the little crossover passed with flying colors.\u00a0The Leaf crushed its official EPA-estimated figure of 259 miles by 20%, managing to cover 310 miles before conking out. What’s more,\u00a0Edmunds clocked the Leaf’s efficiency at 3.6 miles per kilowatt-hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, there’s a reason the Leaf did better than the EPA said it would, and that’s because\u00a0Edmunds tests range a bit differently. Its evaluations involve 60% city driving and 40% highway driving, whereas the EPA’s formula is 55:45.\u00a0Edmunds\u00a0says its procedure better reflects how people actually drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, it’s a great showing that bodes well the lower-cost Leaf variants we’re most excited about.\u00a0Nissan’s top-of-the-line Leaf, the Platinum+ costs just over $40,000 before any options. It’s also the lowest-range variant on sale right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 67 <\/p>\n \n Source: Patrick George <\/p>\n But the new Leaf’s real coup de gr\u00e2ce\u00a0for the EV market is how cheap and compelling the base model is. The S+ costs a little over $31,000\u2014a price point practically unheard of in America’s EV market\u2014and carries a strong EPA estimate of 303 miles<\/a>. That’s almost 100 miles more than the outgoing model’s best rating.\u00a0<\/p>\n Edmunds’ test suggests that the S+ could blow past its rating, too. That would make America’s cheapest EV an even better bargain than it already is.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com<\/a><\/p>\n \n \t\tWe want your opinion!\n\t<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?<\/p>\n![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/16x9-tr.png\")
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