Nissan schleps the LEAF along for at least one more year, 2025 models start at $28,000

Long live the LEAF! For one more year at least, as Nissan has begun sales of the 2025 model year LEAF. If you’re familiar with the veteran BEV, you find familiarity in this year’s models as virtually nothing new exists. Still, the LEAF’s starting price of $28,000 makes it one of the most affordable models available today… as long as you find somewhere that has CHAdeMO charging.

While we’d argue—or continue to argue—that it’s time for Nissan to put this iteration of the LEAF out to pasture, its tenure as an affordable staple in the EV market cannot be denied. The compact BEV has been in production for 14 years and began its run as one of the best options out there when there wasn’t much to choose from.

After several awards and impressive sales early on, the LEAF has faded into the background of a booming EV segment as other automakers (really everyone outside of Japan) have not only caught up but far surpassed one of the original mass-produced all-electric models that helped get adoption where it is today.

Even when Nissan introduced a second-generation refresh of the LEAF in 2017, the BEV held steady in the market despite the emergence of new models that were larger and drove farther—mostly because they cost a lot more.

Since that refresh, we’ve only seen minor, mostly cosmetic facelifts to the Nissan LEAF, and that is no different for the 2025 models going on sale now. Sure, it’s one of the few BEVs that starts at a price below $30k, but with virtually nothing new in 2025, we can’t help but wonder why Nissan is still advertising this BEV as a new car.

Nissan LEAF is the most affordable new BEV you can get

Per Nissan, the 2025 model year LEAF is now on sale, starting at around $28,000, excluding taxes and destination fees.

Like its predecessors, the 2025 models have a cute 40 kWh battery pack that delivers up to 149 miles of EPA range. There’s also the LEAF SV PLUS, which features a larger 60 kWh pack capable of a 212-mile range. Here’s how pricing breaks down:

Since this is virtually the same car as the 2024 models (and the year before… and the year before…), we thought the 2025 models would qualify for up to $3,750 in federal tax credits, further adding to its savings to consumers. However, that is not the case… at least not yet. Per Nissan:

At this time, the 2025 Nissan LEAF is not eligible for the Federal EV tax credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 30D based on final regulations released by the Internal Revenue Service on May 3, 2024.

Even without federal tax credits, the 2025 Nissan LEAF arrives as the most affordable new BEV on the market now that the Chevy Bolt has been shelved for a relaunch.

Is the 2025 LEAF really worth it, though?

That answer is subjective, but this long-outdated BEV still uses the lame-duck CHAdeMO charging standard—a plug so obsolete that it’s tough to find out in the wild anymore. Even if you want a small, affordable BEV for work commutes and the LEAF is a good fit, why not just get the 2024 model and a chance at some tax credits?

We’re not here to crap on the LEAF. There’s no denying its history and impact on the industry, but how many more years will Nissan shill the same BEV to the public as if it’s still a contender? It feels like an EV version of Weekend at Bernie’s, and the jig is up.

Nissan has already launched the Ariya, which starts at around $41,000 for over double the range of the S; and it has a CCS port! Better still, Nissan has already confirmed it is developing a next-generation LEAF to replace the 2025 models and those before.

We are not trying to dissuade you from buying a LEAF—it’s a wonderful car for many use cases. But the 2025 model is a tough sell when you can save money by opting for an older model with the same specs.

Godspeed LEAF. We wish you well but are very much looking forward to seeing your successor.