There’s a celebrity on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
No, we’re not talking about “Fast and Furious” stars Chad Lindberg and Sung Kang (although they were there too on Saturday, doing meet-and-greets with fans). We’re talking about the 2026 Nissan Leaf, AKA the “Car of the Year,” according to the Buzz Awards.
The vehicle stood front-and-center at the Nissan section of the annual auto show, in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Attendees also had the chance for either a ride-along or a test drive in it too, outside.
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 a recent press release. Boasting up to 303 miles on a single charge, the vehicle can also charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 35 minutes, the release added.
Despite the accolades, the Leaf hasn’t been doing too hot in the States. 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.
In case you missed it: 2026 Nissan Leaf named ‘Car of the Year’ and more in Buzz Awards debut
“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.” 
In its first year after the Japanese automaker shifted production away from Smyrna, Tennessee, the all-new 2026 Nissan Leaf was named the Buzz Awards “Car of the Year.”
“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.
But how does it drive? USA TODAY got to take the bright, baby blue car for a spin outside the LA Auto Show. It drove pretty smoothly. The most striking feature was an e-Pedal Step button, which, when activated, caused the car to decelerate and brake automatically, as soon as the gas pedal was released, allowing for one-pedal driving.
Some love it, some hate it, the Nissan representative on hand said of the e-Pedal. This USA TODAY reporter thought it was a nifty option for surface streets, but it would definitely take some getting used to.
Contributing: Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean

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