Electric cars are getting cheaper as they hit the mainstream, but they are still more expensive than gasoline cars. The average price for a battery-powered model climbed past $60,000 in February.
There are ways for anyone to go green on a budget. The Nissan Leaf is now the cheapest long-range electric vehicle on the market.
We tested it out to see how much it cost. The Leaf is a great buy and some ways it falls short.
Nissan slashed the price of the Leaf by up to $6,500 in the year 2022, bringing the base model's price down to $27,400. If you apply the tax credit for plug-in purchases and local incentives, you could walk away with a Leaf for under 20 grand.
Electric cars can be had for $30,000 today, but most cost $40,000 and up.
If you settle on the cheapest Leaf, you should not travel too far at once. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the base Leaf S has 149 miles of range per charge. In an era when newcomers generally promise 250 miles and up, it is disappointing.
The Leaf S Plus has a much better driving range of 226 miles.
All Leafs come with a variety of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.
ProPilot Assist, an advanced cruise-control feature that steers, accelerates, and brakes on the highway, is available on pricier trims, and I found it worked pretty well.
We need to get a bit in the weeds for a while, but it will be worth it.
DC fast chargers are able to replenish an electric car's battery in 20 minutes to an hour. If you aren't plugged in at home overnight or at work throughout the day, you will most likely frequent these kinds of stations.
The newer CCS plug is easier to find at public stations than the older CHAdeMO plug, which is why the Leaf can only use DC fast chargers. The J1772 port is only good for slower charging.
The Leaf may be a little dated for a time when most people prefer SUVs. The Leaf can be just as practical as SUVs.
The cabin of the Leaf is nice and spacious, and there is plenty of room for rear passengers. The Nissan Leaf has more cargo space behind the back seats than any other electric car. The rear seats of the Leaf don't fold completely flat.
The Leaf SL Plus is great for highway merges and for executing quick moves in traffic. Most electric vehicles have good acceleration, but expect to feel it more in Leaf models with the larger battery pack.
The Leaf isn't as fast as a high-end electric car, but buyers coming from gas cars may appreciate its perkiness.
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