Both the Leaf and the RZ 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, front wheel drive, 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 front parking sensors.
Compare the2026 Nissan LeafVS 2026 Lexus RZ


Safety
Warranty
There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Leaf’s warranty.
Fuel Economy and Range
The Leaf can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ on a full charge:
|
|
|
|
Miles |
| Leaf |
|||
|
|
FWD |
S+ Electric Motor |
303 miles |
|
|
|
SV+ Electric Motor |
288 miles |
| RZ |
|||
|
|
FWD |
w/18" Wheels Electric Motor |
301 miles |
|
|
|
w/20" Wheels Electric Motor |
284 miles |
|
|
AWD |
450e w/18" Wheels Electric Motors |
264 miles |
|
|
|
450e w/20" Wheels Electric Motors |
257 miles |
Brakes and Stopping
For better stopping power the Leaf’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RZ:
|
|
Leaf |
RZ |
| Front Rotors |
13.8 inches |
12.9 inches |
Tires and Wheels
The Leaf’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RZ’s standard 60 series front tires. The Leaf Platinum+’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the RZ’s optional 50 series front 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 RZ doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.
Suspension and Handling
For better maneuverability, the Leaf’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the RZ’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.8 feet).
Chassis
The Nissan Leaf may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Lexus RZ.
The Leaf is 1 foot, 3.8 inches shorter than the RZ, 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 RZ (.28 to .29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Leaf get better fuel mileage.
Passenger Space
The Leaf has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.
Servicing Ease
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. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the RZ.
