Compare the2026 Genesis Electrified GV70VS 2025 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. KVLYM-6SKJ8 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/09/17

The Electrified GV70’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Leaf doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Electrified GV70 and Leaf have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Electrified GV70 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Leaf’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Electrified GV70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Leaf doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Electrified GV70 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Electrified GV70’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Leaf’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Electrified GV70 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Electrified GV70 and Leaf have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Electrified GV70 has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Electrified GV70 and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Genesis Electrified GV70 weighs 1181 to 1802 pounds more than the Nissan Leaf. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Genesis Electrified GV70 is safer than the Leaf:

	Electrified GV70	Leaf
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	57	211
Neck Compression	-67 lbs.	67 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.14 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	959 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	130	158
Neck Compression	-89 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Genesis Electrified GV70 (built after April 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Leaf is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Electrified GV70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The Leaf’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the Electrified GV70 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Leaf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Leaf ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Electrified GV70’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Leaf’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Genesis higher than Nissan.

Engine

The Electrified GV70’s electric motors produces 336 more horsepower (483 vs. 147) and 280 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 236) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor. The Electrified GV70’s electric motors produces 269 more horsepower (483 vs. 214) and 266 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 250) than the Leaf PLUS’ standard electric motor.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Genesis Electrified GV70 is faster than the Nissan Leaf:

	Electrified GV70	Leaf 0.0	Leaf PLUS
Zero to 30 MPH	1.8 sec	3.1 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	8 sec	7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	2.2 sec	4.5 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	16.3 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	111 MPH	87 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Electrified GV70 can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

		Miles
Electrified GV70
	Electric Motors	263 miles
Leaf
	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
	Electric Motor	149 miles

Transmission

The Electrified GV70’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Leaf doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Electrified GV70’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	Electrified GV70	Leaf
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	11.5 inches

The Electrified GV70 stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	Electrified GV70	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	183 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Electrified GV70 has larger standard tires than the Leaf (235/55R19 vs. 205/55R16). The Electrified GV70 AWD Advanced/Prestige’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (265/45R20 vs. 215/50R17).

The Electrified GV70 AWD Advanced/Prestige’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf SV PLUS’ 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Electrified GV70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The Electrified GV70 AWD Advanced/Prestige’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Genesis Electrified GV70 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Electrified GV70 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Electrified GV70 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Electrified GV70’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Leaf (113.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Electrified GV70 is 4.3 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The Electrified GV70’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Leaf’s (57.3% to 42.7%). This gives the Electrified GV70 more stable handling and braking.

The Electrified GV70 Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Electrified GV70 Prestige uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Leaf doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Electrified GV70 has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (102.8 vs. 92.4).

The Electrified GV70 has 4.4 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Electrified GV70’s rear seats recline. The Leaf’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Electrified GV70’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Leaf doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Electrified GV70. The Leaf doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Electrified GV70’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Electrified GV70’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Electrified GV70 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Leaf has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Electrified GV70 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Leaf uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Electrified GV70 Advanced/Prestige, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Electrified GV70 Advanced/Prestige’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 Leaf doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Electrified GV70 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Leaf doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Electrified GV70’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Electrified GV70 and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Electrified GV70 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Electrified GV70’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Electrified GV70’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Electrified GV70’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Key standard on the Leaf doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Electrified GV70’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Leaf’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Electrified GV70’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Electrified GV70’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Electrified GV70 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Leaf doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Electrified GV70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Electrified GV70’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

When the Electrified GV70 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 Leaf’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Electrified GV70’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Leaf offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Genesis Electrified GV70 and Nissan Leaf offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Electrified GV70 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Leaf’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Electrified GV70 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Leaf SV PLUS. The Electrified GV70 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Electrified GV70 Advanced/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Electrified GV70 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Electrified GV70 Advanced/Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

The Electrified GV70’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Electrified GV70 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Genesis Electrified GV70 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Nissan charges extra for Homelink® on the Leaf.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis Electrified GV70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Electrified GV70 has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Leaf doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Electrified GV70 Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The GV70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2 more times in the last 3 years. The Leaf has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Electrified GV70 as their 2022 Sport Utility of the Year. The Leaf has never been chosen.

The Genesis GV70 outsold the Nissan Leaf by almost three to one during 2024.

See Available Inventory