2026 Nissan Leaf Exceeds EPA Range Estimates in Independent Testing

Daily Car

Daily Car

·

04/11/2025

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The 2026 Nissan Leaf traveled farther on a single charge in an independent test than its government rating shows. Because it is already the cheapest electric car sold in the United States, the extra miles add even more value for shoppers who want to spend as little as possible.

Key Takeaways

Exceeding Expectations

Edmunds ran the top trim 2026 Leaf Platinum+ on its standardized EV loop and recorded 310 miles before the battery shut down. That is 51 miles more than the official 259-mile EPA figure. The car used 3.6 miles for every kilowatt hour of electricity. The third generation Leaf now charges faster and looks updated - the strong result suggests every trim should deliver more range than the window sticker number.

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Understanding the Test Results

EPA numbers come from a lab cycle that mixes 55 % city driving and 45 % highway driving. The Edmunds test uses 60 % city, 40 % highway. City driving lets an EV regain more energy through braking - a heavier city bias helps range. Even with the slightly different mix, the Leaf still cleared its rating by a wide margin showing the car has solid real world range regardless of who is measuring.

Value Proposition for the Base Model

The Leaf S+ costs only about $31,000 - yet its battery is rated at 303 miles - that is roughly 100 miles more than the best rating the old Leaf achieved. If the S+ mirrors the Platinum+ result, owners will see well over 300 miles in normal use making the least expensive version of America's cheapest EV an even better deal.

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