Compare the2027 Toyota C-HR VS 2026 Nissan Leaf

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota C-HR achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Nissan Leaf, which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the C-HR’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Leaf doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the C-HR and Leaf have rear cross-traffic warning, but the C-HR XSE has Parking Support Brake (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 C-HR and the Leaf 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

There are over 17 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the C-HR’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 6th.

The C-HR’s electric motors produces 164 more horsepower (338 vs. 174) than the Leaf S’ standard electric motor. The C-HR’s electric motors produces 124 more horsepower (338 vs. 214) than the Leaf +’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota C-HR is faster than the Leaf +:

	C-HR	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104.2 MPH	94.1 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the C-HR gets better mileage than the Leaf:

			MPGe
C-HR
		SE Electric Motors	127 city/107 hwy
		XSE Electric Motors	122 city/102 hwy
Leaf
		SV+ Electric Motor	122 city/105 hwy
		Platinum+ Electric Motor	110 city/96 hwy

The C-HR can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
C-HR
		SE Electric Motors	287 miles
		XSE Electric Motors	273 miles
Leaf
		Platinum+ Electric Motor	259 miles

The C-HR stops shorter than the Leaf:

	C-HR	Leaf
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the C-HR has larger tires than the Leaf (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-HR XSE has standard 20-inch wheels. The Leaf’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-HR’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Leaf (108.3 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the C-HR is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The C-HR’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Leaf’s (55.5% to 44.5%). This gives the C-HR more stable handling and braking.

The C-HR XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Leaf Platinum+ (26.7 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the C-HR has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Leaf (8 vs. 5.3 inches), allowing the C-HR to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The C-HR has 1.3 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Leaf.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the C-HR’s rear seats recline. The Leaf’s rear seats don’t recline.

The C-HR has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Leaf with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 20 cubic feet). The C-HR has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Leaf with its rear seat folded (59.5 vs. 55.5 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the C-HR and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the C-HR 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 C-HR’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.

If the windows are left open on the C-HR the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Leaf can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The C-HR’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 standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The C-HR offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Leaf doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The C-HR’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf Platinum+.

Both the Toyota C-HR and Nissan Leaf offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The C-HR features standard 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 C-HR has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Leaf Platinum+.

The C-HR’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.

Both the C-HR and the Leaf offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the C-HR has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota C-HR has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the Leaf SV+/Platinum+ offers wireless charging, and only charges one device.