Peter Lyon
November 15, 2025
The all-new, fully electric 2026 Nissan LEAF has earned three major wins in the first–ever Buzz Awards, presented by CarBuzz, HotCars and TopSpeed. The LEAF was named “Car of the Year” and claimed titles for “Best EV” and “Best Budget Vehicle” for 2026.
The Buzz Awards bring together the expertise of more than 20 professional reviewers across three leading automotive publications from the Valnet Auto group. This year, the editorial teams evaluated hundreds of new vehicles to identify winners that exemplify excellence in value, innovation, and impact.
Why the LEAF Stood Out
According to Nissan, the all-new Leaf earned “Car of the Year,” as it represents a bold step forward in the automotive world – combining electric innovation, value, performance and safety. Its accessible starting price point, impressive range and advanced technologies make it a standout choice for everyday drivers.
As “Best EV,” the LEAF delivers a balance of affordability, reliability, and intuitive technology features, appealing to both first time EV buyers and seasoned enthusiasts and is designed to make electric driving practical.
Winning “Best Budget Vehicle” underscores the LEAF’s commitment to delivering maximum value. With a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the S+ grade starting at $29,9901, the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the U.S.2, it offers an exceptional value proposition at a time when new vehicle prices continue to rise.
“You don’t have to look much further than its three Buzz Award wins – including the pick as our overall Car of the Year – to understand how our voting editors feel about the new Nissan LEAF. They love it,” said the Buzz Award judges. “The third-generation LEAF makes good on a promise that other companies have failed to deliver: an affordable, desirable, and well-equipped EV that just works.”
“Impressive packaging and evocative styling make the LEAF easy to love, while excellent drivability, range, and charging characteristics should make it great to live with. We’re really excited to have the Nissan LEAF score this trifecta of wins for our first-ever Buzz Awards program.”
CARLIST THOUGHTS
While Nissan PR says that its Japan-spec Leaf has a range of 702 kms (480 miles), the EPA puts the Leaf’s range at a more modest 303 miles on a single charge. According to Nissan, charging is fast and convenient, with the ability to go from 10% to 80% in just 35 minutes using NACS-compatible DC fast chargers.
