2026 Nissan Leaf SV+ Review: Winter Test

Extreme winter weather is challenging for EVs, but the Leaf braves almost all conditions without major issues.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Feb 19, 2026 | 5 min read

Benjamin Hunting

Pros: Driver-assistance tech performs well overall despite winter-weather challenges.

Cons: In extreme cold, the Leaf may not be able to function normally.

The Takeaway: The Leaf could be a good EV for winter, as long as you don't live somewhere with particularly harsh conditions.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf is currently the most affordable electric car in the United States market, but how do its charms as a frugal commuter translate when the temperatures drop and there's snow and ice on the road?

Despite its more substantial styling and crossover-SUV appearance, this redesigned subcompact lacks the all-wheel drive (AWD) typically found on those models. It also has less ground clearance than last year's Leaf, two factors that may give some drivers pause when winter weather comes calling. That's on top of the range-reducing effects that cold can have on electric-vehicle batteries.

Modern EVs have tricks at their disposal to handle a deep freeze — like heat pumps — and when it comes to traction, good winter tires are often more helpful than a second set of drive wheels. Overall, the Leaf proved capable enough to get through a week that showcased the worst of what the season has to offer — with a few caveats to keep in mind.

• Nissan ProPilot Assist Safety Tech Works Well Overall in Bad Weather
  
• The Nissan Leaf's Range Suffers in the Cold, Like Every EV
  
• Driving the Leaf on Cold, Snowy Roads Requires Extra Care
  
• The Leaf Is a Viable Four-Seasons Vehicle

Benjamin Hunting

Nissan ProPilot Assist Works Well Overall in Bad Weather

QuickTake: Nissan's advanced driver-assistance safety tech only had a few missteps in messy winter weather.

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) often struggle with winter's mix of snow, slush, and salt, which not only covers the road surface but also crucial sensors and cameras.

Nissan's ProPilot Assist was only affected by the above in very specific situations. When driving on a highway where road salt had obscured lane markings like powdered sugar on a donut, the vehicle's lane-centering feature disengaged, indicating it could not identify the lane. The system also paused when snow or sludge obscured markings or the lane itself.

Only once did the camera-based ProPilot system disable itself entirely, and that was during a snap of subzero morning weather, when condensation froze between the camera lenses and the windshield where they are mounted.

Benjamin Hunting

The Nissan Leaf's Range Suffers in the Cold, Like Every EV

QuickTake: EV driving range inevitably decreases as the temperature drops, but the Leaf's loss wasn't any worse than average.

The 2026 Nissan Leaf features a 75-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and a single electric motor delivering 214 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. In ideal conditions, Nissan estimates 288 miles of driving on a full charge with my test example's SV+ trim. Base Leaf S+ models are rated for 303 miles, and the loaded Leaf Platinum+ is good for 259 miles.

I tested the Leaf's efficiency on the same 75-mile drive loop twice. On the first run, at 16 degrees Fahrenheit outside and using its most efficient Eco setting, the EV achieved an energy consumption of 34.3 kWh per 100 miles, or roughly 218 miles on a topped-up battery. Several days later, I repeated the test at -9 degrees Fahrenheit, and, as expected, energy usage increased to 41.5 kWh per 100 miles, for a total range of 180 miles.

Those figures are in line with the 30% to 40% loss in range I typically experience when driving EVs in low temperatures. Unique to the Leaf was its lag in displaying battery status, which happens in cold weather. The battery gauge stayed stuck at 100% for more than 40 miles on one drive before dropping rapidly.

Benjamin Hunting

Driving the Leaf on Cold, Snowy Roads Requires Extra Care

QuickTake: For the most part, the Leaf's driving felt the same as usual despite winter weather, but in extreme cold it had trouble functioning normally.

Aside from a reduction in range, the cold didn't affect how the Nissan Leaf drove — with one exception. On our chilliest morning together, the car entered power-limitation mode, indicated by an orange turtle on the dashboard. This seriously impeded acceleration and also made it difficult to climb hills for nearly 35 miles.

The owner's manual said to move the car to a warmer area when this light comes on, or connect to a charger to heat it, but I had the vehicle plugged in all night before this occurred. Regarding handling snowy roads, I had no complaints about the Leaf's performance in 2 to 3 inches of snow.

The car handled unplowed paths with traction control both on and off, although the latter required active steering to keep the vehicle pointed in the right direction when the front wheels spun. Even at highway speeds during an unexpected snow dump, the Nissan felt safe and well-planted.

Just don't lose momentum on a snow-covered hill. Stopping at an angle revealed the traction limitations of the Leaf's front-wheel-drive setup, even with winter tires installed. I had to back up and take another run more than once.

Benjamin Hunting

The Leaf Is a Viable Four-Seasons Vehicle

QuickTake: Unless your region has unusually extreme cold weather, the Leaf is likely a reasonable choice for all four seasons of driving.

There's nothing about the 2026 Nissan Leaf that disqualifies it for winter duty. That said, if the conditions you regularly face are particularly harsh — leaning toward heavy snow accumulation or temperatures colder than a polar bear's toenails — you might want to reconsider EV-range issues that could have an outsized impact on your driving routine, or topography that may call for an AWD assist.

Nissan provided the vehicle for this 2026 Leaf review.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.