For years, every press release from Nissan concerning its first and still only electric vehicle, the Leaf, started by mentioning the fact it was the all-time best-selling EV in the world.
Now that it can't make that claim anymore without risking a lawsuit - as well as making a fool of itself - the Japanese carmaker has switched to the much less sensational "one of the best-selling electric vehicles for the past ten years". Well, we may poke fun at the battery-powered hatchback but selling over 500,000 units is still an impressive feat.
Given the current trend, though, that's quickly going to change, and the bad news for Nissan is that the Leaf seems to have lost the train. It lost its leading position, and pretty soon it's likely going to lose more than that as more and more EVs flock to the market with better performance, competitive pricing, higher range, and more attractive design.
What does Nissan do to counter all that? Well, we'll tell you what it doesn't do: make the 2021 Leaf any better or more affordable than the 2020 model. Like the previous model year, the 2021 Leaf starts at $31,620 (as opposed to $31,600). For that price, you get a Leaf S with a 40 kWh battery pack, a 110 kW (150 hp) motor, and a maximum estimated range of 149 miles (240 km).
Photo: Nissan
Moving up the ladder you get to the Leaf PLUS, which comes in three different trim levels: S ($38,220), SV ($40,470), and SL ($43,920). The PLUS gets an upgraded 62 kWh battery and a 160 kW (217 hp) motor. Depending on the trim level, the maximum range can be either 215 miles (346 km) or 226 miles (363 km). In other words, it can be underwhelming or a little less underwhelming.
On the other hand, consider this: the Standard Range Plus Tesla Model 3 has an EPA range of 263 miles (423 km) and a starting price of $39,900. Not only that, but Tesla does not qualify for the Federal tax credit anymore, while the Leaf may still do, which would drop the starting price to just over $24,000. For somebody who wants to buy an EV as a second or third car and doesn't need to drive more than 100 miles or so a day, the $15,000 discount could tilt the scales toward the Leaf in a big way. It can allow an affordable entry into the EV world without having to buy used and for that, it deserves some recognition.
Plus, apart from offering Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ standard on all trim levels, the LEAF offers another cool feature. It's called the "e-Pedal" and it enables the driver to control the vehicle's speed (from zero to maximum) using just one pedal. It's no big deal, but the little things can grow on you.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
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