The third-generation Nissan LEAF has been named World’s Best Compact Car by the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) jury, with the award applying to the 2026 model year, Nissan said.
The decision was made by a panel of 75 automotive journalists from 52 countries. The WWCOTY jury evaluates vehicles based on criteria including safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving and environmental impact. The organisation was founded in 2009 by New Zealand motoring journalist Sandy Myhre and is the only global automotive awards body composed exclusively of women journalists.
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The 2026 LEAF offers an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 303 miles on a single charge. Nissan has equipped the model with native North American Charging Standard (NACS) compatibility, allowing access to more than 25,000 Tesla Supercharger stations. Plug & Charge functionality enables automatic authentication at compatible chargers without the need for cards or mobile apps.
Charging performance is supported by an intelligent battery thermal management system that integrates with Google Maps via the vehicle’s route planner. Nissan said the system can precondition the battery when approaching a fast-charging station, helping to optimise charging speed and efficiency.
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The model also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, enabling the battery to supply power to external devices. Inside, the LEAF incorporates Google built-in technology, including Google Maps for navigation with charging stop planning, Google Assistant for voice control, and access to apps via the Google Play Store.
Production of the LEAF takes place at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom under the company’s EV36Zero programme, which combines electric vehicle manufacturing with renewable energy and battery production.