- 2026 Nissan Leaf adds several upgrades designed for colder climates.
- Crossover styling aside, the new-gen Leaf remains front-wheel drive.
- Nissan says an AWD version is possible but may not make sense.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf will be arriving at U.S. dealers shortly with an all-new crossover-inspired design. However, it will be missing one key feature that many crossovers offer: all-wheel drive.
This isn’t terribly surprising, but it is a little curious, as Nissan made a number of improvements focused on delivering a better ownership experience in colder climates.
Among the changes is an improved thermal management system, which captures waste heat from the motor and on-board charger to warm the battery. This increases energy efficiency as well as provides “more predictable charging performance.”
More: 2026 Nissan Leaf Debuts With Crossover Styling And 300+ Miles Of Range
The cold-weather upgrades extend beyond that, as the SV+ and Platinum+ have a heat pump. Those trims also offer a dedicated battery heater, which costs $300 and further improves winter charging performance.
Where’s the AWD?
Given the crossover-inspired styling and focus on cold-weather performance, we asked Nissan officials about the possibility of an all-wheel drive variant in the future. They said all-wheel drive wasn’t initially considered, as the Leaf is positioned as an affordable electric vehicle.
That strategy isn’t unusual in this segment. Key rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV also rely solely on front-wheel drive, so Nissan isn’t exactly out of step with the competition.
Even so, the door to AWD isn’t fully closed. Nissan officials suggested all-wheel drive could be a possibility in the future. This shouldn’t be too shocking, as the Leaf is based on the same CMF-EV platform as the Ariya, which already offers AWD.
That being said, an AWD Leaf might not make as much sense as it seems. Officials pointed out that most EV sales are concentrated in the Sun Belt, where traction on snow and ice isn’t a top concern
The Ariya Isn’t Dead
On top of that, officials noted the “Ariya isn’t done, it’s on pause.” This seems to suggest reports of its demise have been overblown, as the model could potentially return after a hiatus.
However, as a Nissan spokesperson previously explained to us, “No decision has been made yet. We continue to monitor the market environment and will respond accordingly to ensure we are meeting consumer demand with the right line-up of electrified products.”
