Budget EV shoppers hoping Nissan would slide the Leaf under that $30,000 sweet spot for 2026 are going to be disappointed. According to reporting from InsideEVs, Nissan has indefinitely delayed the planned Leaf S, the smaller-battery version that was expected to be the true entry-level model. Instead, the lineup launches with the Leaf S Plus, which means the “cheapest Leaf” story is staying a little less cheap for the time being.

As it stands, the Leaf S Plus starts at $31,485, and while that’s still a relatively approachable price for a brand-new EV, it’s not the psychological bargain Nissan could have had with a sub-$30K model on the order sheet. Nissan confirmed the move in a statement, saying it decided not to introduce the smaller-battery variant of the 2026 Leaf in the U.S. and Canada this model year as it reassesses market trends and buyer demand in a shifting EV landscape.

The bigger question is what happens next. Nissan stopped short of promising the Leaf S for 2027, leaving the door open but offering no firm commitment. That matters because the affordable-EV space is about to get even more competitive, and timing is everything when shoppers are cross-shopping price tags first and range second.

For now, the Leaf S Plus remains one of the lowest-cost new EVs you can buy, and it will likely keep trading punches with the $28,995 2027 Chevrolet Bolt as the value leaders in the segment. If Nissan eventually brings back the cheaper Leaf configuration, it could become a bigger deal than it sounds on paper, because hitting that lower price point is often what gets first-time EV buyers to finally make the leap.