The 2026 Nissan Leaf is the most affordable electric car sold in the US with 300 miles of range or more.
This list of the most affordable electric cars focuses solely on the cheapest EV with 300 miles of range or more: the 2026 Nissan Leaf. The Leaf offers 303 miles of range at a price of $31,485.
There are a bunch of affordable electric cars available today. That wasn’t the case a few years ago, but the focus on making affordable electric cars has taken center stage recently.
Top 10 Most Affordable Electric Cars for 2026
10 Most Affordable Electric Cars With More Than 400 Miles of Range
10 Most Affordable Electric Cars With 250 Miles of Range or More
10 Most Affordable Electric Cars With 300 Miles of Range or More
Here Is the Most Affordable Electric Car With 300 Miles of Range or More
All pricing includes the manufacturer’s suggested retail price plus destination charges. The 2026 Nissan Leaf is a standout for affordability and long range. We’ve listed pricing, range, battery capacity, wheel size (larger wheels can significantly reduce range), and charging connector types.
Without further ado, let’s begin…
The 2026 Nissan Leaf. (Image credit: Nissan)
1. 2026 Nissan Leaf
Pricing with destination fees included: $31,485
Range: 303 miles
Battery Capacity: 75 kWh
Wheel Size: 18 inches
Charging Ports: AC: SAE J1772 DC: NACS
The all-new 2026 Nissan Leaf EV is one of the most affordable electric cars on sale today. It would’ve been even more affordable had Nissan not canceled the smaller battery version. With 303 miles of range and ample interior room, the 2026 Leaf is a standout at a price of just over $31,000. The original Nissan Leaf was one of the most affordable electric cars, and this new version continues that tradition.
2026 Nissan Leaf (Image Credit: Nissan)
Battery and Range
The 2026 Nissan Leaf comes with one battery option: 75 kWh of usable capacity.
A key upgrade for the new Leaf is its liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. This change helps the battery last longer and improves performance and charging in both hot and cold weather.
The Nissan Leaf has an EPA range of 303 miles. This is a big improvement for the Leaf, which has always had a limited range. Even the 2025 Nissan Ariya offers less at up to 289 miles.
Powertrain
The 2026 Nissan Leaf is the first Nissan to use a compact 3-in-1 EV powertrain that combines the motor, inverter, and reducer. It still has front-wheel drive, and its peak power is similar to the previous model: up to 160 kW with the 75-kWh battery.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf’s DC fast charging port: NACS located on the front-right (passenger’s side). (Image Credit: Nissan)
Charging: SAE J1772 and NACS
The charging systems in the 2026 Nissan Leaf have sparked debate. While North America is moving from CCS1 to the NACS (SAE J3400) charging connector, Nissan chose not to make a complete switch to NACS.
It was expected that the new Leaf would include a NACS charging inlet, but this will only be used for DC fast charging. For AC charging, Nissan will stick with the SAE J1772 connector.
It is unclear why Nissan continues to use the SAE J1772 inlet, given that NACS supports both AC and DC charging. Tesla and several other manufacturers already use NACS for both types.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf’s AC charging port: SAE J1772 located on the front-left (driver’s side). (Image Credit: Nissan)
The two charging inlets are also placed in different spots. The SAE J1772 is on the front-left, or driver’s side, and the NACS is on the front-right, or passenger’s side.
For AC charging, the SAE J1772 port is on the front left (driver’s side).
For DC fast charging, the NACS port is on the front-right (passenger’s side).
There’s more to consider about charging. The onboard AC charger is 7.2 kW, which is lower than the roughly 11 kW found in many other EVs. On the plus side, the new Leaf comes standard with a portable dual-voltage charging cable. According to the manufacturer, the Nissan Leaf can charge from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) in 35 minutes at up to 150 kW.
Energy Consumption
The new Nissan Leaf is more aerodynamic. The manufacturer’s energy economy figures show that the new Leaf with a 75-kWh battery uses noticeably less energy, including charging losses, than the previous 60-kWh version. Depending on the trim, the difference could be 5-10%.
If you’re wondering what the second-cheapest electric car with more than 300 miles of range is, the answer is the 2026 Subaru Uncharted. It offers 308 miles of range, compared to the Leaf’s 303 miles, but the Subaru Uncharted costs a full $4,960 more than the Leaf and only offers 5 more miles of range.
2. 2026 Subaru Uncharted
2026 Subaru Uncharted Premium FWD
Pricing with destination fees included: $36,445
Range: 308 miles
Battery Capacity: 74.7 kWh
Wheel Size: 18 inches
Charging Ports: AC: NACS DC: NACS