Compare the2026 Nissan LeafVS 2025 Toyota Mirai

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Leaf are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Mirai doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Leaf and the Mirai have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

The Leaf S’ standard electric motor produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (254 vs. 221) than the Mirai’s electric motor. The Leaf +’s standard electric motor produces 32 more horsepower (214 vs. 182) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 221) than the Mirai’s electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Leaf gets better mileage than the Mirai:

For better stopping power the Leaf’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mirai:

The Leaf Platinum+’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mirai’s 55 series tires.

The Leaf has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Mirai doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Leaf’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Mirai’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.5 feet).

The Nissan Leaf may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Toyota Mirai.

The Leaf is 1 foot, 10.4 inches shorter than the Mirai, making the Leaf easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Nissan Leaf amounts to more than styling. The Leaf has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is lower than the Mirai (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Leaf get better fuel mileage.

The Leaf has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mirai.

The Leaf’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Mirai doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Leaf Platinum+’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mirai doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Leaf to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for tire rotation, based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Mirai.

When two different drivers share the Leaf Platinum+, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Mirai doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Leaf Platinum+’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Mirai doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Leaf’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Mirai XLE’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the Leaf Platinum+ is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Mirai’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

On extremely cold winter days, the Leaf Platinum+’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Mirai doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Nissan Leaf outsold the Toyota Mirai by over 18 to one during 2024.