New styling, performance in a better Nissan Leaf

The first two-generations of the Leaf were about as exciting to drive as watching a slug inch its way across a sidewalk. Scratch that - at least a slug leaves a sparkly trail behind it. The Leaf, once you got behind the wheel, was a perfectly capable EV. It was also a bit of a snooze fest.

Nissan invited me to Japan earlier this year to talk to its new executive leadership about its next chapter, see its upcoming lineup, chat about solid-state batteries, and drive a few of those upcoming vehicles. One of those was a highly camouflaged - both inside and out - 2026 Leaf. The Leaf in question was a late-stage prototype, so not quite ready for public roads. It's not ready for you, but what I learned while behind the wheel shows that Nissan is ready to make the Leaf something worthy of memories.