Electric Cars under $40,000, Nissan Leaf
ONE OF THE first mainstream EVs got a major update for 2019. The new Nissan Leaf Plus can go up to 226 miles on a charge—almost on a par with similarly priced models from Hyundai and Kia. Aside from a bigger battery and a longer range, the Plus is mostly identical to the standard-range Leaf, which carries on for 2019 with a 140- mile range. Although that might be plenty for most daily commutes, we noticed that the range dropped considerably in cold weather or with accessories like heating or air conditioning turned on. Electric Cars under $40,000, Nissan Leaf
Still, newer EVs offer more miles for the same money, and the standard-range Leaf seems like it’s so 2011. The Leaf benefits from quick, quiet acceleration that’s common to EVs, but it lacks the thrill of a Bolt or Kona EV, let alone an I-Pace or a Tesla. A soft-seeming ride has trouble absorbing sharp bumps and can send nasty thumps into the cabin. In addition, the mushy handling doesn’t inspire driver confidence, which makes the Leaf rather boring to drive.
We found the cabin ambience rather austere, especially when compared with the Kona EV, but the Leaf’s fit and finish is at least better than the Bolt’s so-so interior furnishings. It’s pretty quiet inside, too. The Leaf’s elevated stance makes it easy to get into the car, and the rear seat is roomy enough for two adults. One noticeable omission is a telescoping steering column, which can make the Leaf’s driving position less comfortable for some drivers.
Nissan’s optional ProPilot Assist combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering. It’s not designed as a self-driving feature but can be a convenience in stopand-go traffic. FCW and AEB are standard. Expect 8 hours to charge the standard-range Leaf. The Leaf Plus should take about 12 hours to charge from near-empty.
BEST VERSION TO GET The Leaf Plus comes with a larger 62-kWh battery and has a range of 226 miles. The standard-range Leaf has far fewer miles on tap than similarly priced models from Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Kia.
Sources:
https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/electric-cars/leaf.html
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