The all-new 2026 Nissan Leaf was named the Buzz Awards “Car of the Year” in its first year after the Japanese automaker shifted production away from Smyrna, Tennessee. 
“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,” the Buzz Award judges said in a news release. 
The Buzz Awards, a collaboration between automotive publications CarBuzz, HotCars and TopSpeed, announced its inaugural class of accolades, in which the Leaf also earned “Best EV” and “Best Budget Model Vehicle” titles.
Upon its debut at the Smyrna plant in 2013, Leaf sales skyrocketed, exceeding a then-record of more than 2,000 monthly deliveries during November 2013. But that demand didn’t last.
In November 2025, citing a slow American market for the vehicle, the company opted to shift production of the Leaf’s next generation to Tochigi, Japan. 
Automotive industry awards: Ram and Nissan both earn two 2026 NACTOY finalist spots
“The Leaf does extremely well in the European market, it does extremely well in the [Asian] market,” said Brian Crockett, vice president of Nissan’s Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant. “It does OK in the U.S. market, but it doesn’t justify building it in three locations.” 
Nissan prioritizes “building where we sell” and meeting demand “is a huge driving factor,” Crockett said. 
Now, the Leaf is apparently turning American heads again.
“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,” the Buzz Award judges said. 
Starting at a $29,990 manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the Leaf carries the lowest price tag among new EVs currently on sale in the United States, according to the release. 
Boasting up to 303 miles on a single charge, the vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 35 minutes, according to the release. 

source