The truth is that the US-spec and the Canadian-spec Leafs are not identical
- The 2026 Nissan Leaf starts under $30k in the US, but Canadian buyers are asked to pay more.
- The difference has to do with cold climate features which are included as standard in Canada.
- The Leaf is still one of Canada’s cheapest EVs, undercutting similarly-sized rival offerings.
Nissan recently announced US pricing for the new Leaf, which remains one of the cheapest EVs in the market as it starts slightly under US$ 30,000. However, it’s more expensive in Canada, with executives, dealers, and analysts trying to explain why.
The automaker has not announced pricing for the entry-level Leaf S, so we can only compare the rest of the lineup. Using the current conversion rates, the S+ trim is around US$ 2,600 more expensive in Canada, the SV+ has a premium of US$ 500, while the flagship Platinum+ costs US$ 800 less compared to the US.
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*The above prices don’t include destination and handling fees.
When we compare the 2026 MY to the original Leaf from the 2011 MY, without accounting for inflation, the starting price in the US market is actually lower today (US$ 29,990 versus 32,780), something that was mentioned as a notable achievement by Nissan. However, in Canada the model has gotten more expensive than its grandfather (CA$ 44,998 versus 38,395). So what explains the difference between the two markets?
Nissan Canada spokesman Didier Marsaud told Automotive News: “Vehicle pricing is determined by a number of factors, including vehicle specifications, market competitiveness, and more, hence why Canadian and U.S. pricing may not be exactly the same.”
Indeed, the Leaf S+ has a different list of equipment in the two markets. The entry-level model in Canada comes standard with heated front seats, heated mirrors, a heat pump, a battery heater, and integrated LED turn signals, which are not included in the equivalent US-spec counterpart. These features make it more suitable for cold climates, thus more attractive to Canadian buyers.
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In a similar context, Robert Karwel, analyst at J.D. Power Canada, said: “The case with 2026 Leaf pricing most likely has to do with packaging decisions and marketplace dynamics. Note that the U.S. takes a lower spec trim of the vehicle. This is not an uncommon position to take in Canada, where models are more likely to be equipped not as strict ‘price leaders’ but more typically in a fashion where most Canadians end up buying them.”
Karwell, added that the Leaf remains one of the cheapest EVs “at transaction price” in Canada. The model is priced below the similarly-sized offerings including the Chevy Equinox EV (CA$ 48,433), the Kia Niro EV (CA$ 48,620), and the Hyundai Kona Electric (CA$ 49,279).
Steve Chipman, the CEO of Birchwood Automotive Group that owns 24 dealers in Canada, said that local buyers may be affected by the Leaf’s pricing in the US due to the television ads that air in both countries. However, he hopes that customers will understand that “this is Canada and this is the pricing”.
