I’ve always had a soft spot for base models, and lately, I’ve been trying to channel my mild obsession with zero-option cars into work. That’s how I discovered that Fiat sells a Grande Panda without a center screen, while Volkswagen offers an ID. Buzz with unpainted bumpers, and Audi has a 94-horsepower car with a five-speed manual gearbox. I’m now adding the 2026 Leaf to the list because Nissan’s new crossover skips the fancier taillights if you stick to the cheaper configurations.
As usual, press images show the EV in its most appealing form, fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. The high-end version even evokes some Z vibes when viewed from the rear, not just because of the taillights, but also thanks to the black panel on the tailgate. However, the online configurator reveals that this look is exclusive to the Platinum+ trim, while the S+ and SV+ trims have a more basic rear end.
Photo by: Nissan
The lower trims miss out on the extra taillights mounted on the tailgate. It’s an unexpected move in today’s cost-cutting climate, especially considering Nissan spent more to design two different taillight assemblies. The tailgates aren’t identical either, since the premium version extends the taillights onto the hatch, requiring a different panel altogether.
The upgraded taillights, which Nissan describes as having a “3D, holographic design,” include an Easter egg: the 2+3 motif, a nod to “ni” and “san” in Japanese. But the cheaper trims don’t get that. The absence of the black panel, reminiscent of current and past Z models, also makes the tailgate handle stand out, particularly on white cars. A full-blown configurator isn’t available yet, as the vehicle has just debuted, but we’re curious whether the Z-style rear design will be offered as an option for the S+ and SV+.
Elsewhere, if you splurge on the Platinum+, Nissan adds niceties such as the company’s first dimming panoramic roof and a Bose sound system. The range-topping trim also rides on 19-inch wheels, while the mid-level SV+ gets 18-inch alloys and the base S+ makes do with 18-inch steelies with aero covers.
The new Leaf will start hitting dealers across the United States this fall.