2012 Nissan LEAF
From the moment we pressed the power button on the 2012 Nissan LEAF it essentially won the comparo. With a total range of 150 km, Matt and Miranda were waving the white flag before we silently rolled out for the drive.
Officially the strangest looking of the bunch, the LEAF gets attention on the road if for no other reason that it looks like a little bug silently cruising along. Beneath its strange exterior sits an 80 kW AC synchronous electric motor and 24 kWh lithium-ion battery that together gives the car an optimal 160 km range per charge. The LEAF can also seat five and has a decent-size trunk.
On those specs alone the LEAF sets itself apart as the winner of our EV comparo, but there's more.
Driving the Nissan LEAF is quite pleasant. The power is decent and there's no harsh regenerative braking as is the case with the Ford Focus Electric. The suspension is also pleasing and offers a relaxing ride for all on board. If nothing else, the LEAF is comfortable thanks to its interior space. It feels cavernous once you're seated inside, with plenty of headroom, legroom and overall room. Visibility is great, as well.
As far as any sort of range anxiety goes in the Nissan LEAF, if you buy one of these $38,395 (base) EVs you're not planning on doing any cross-country road trips -- or even cross-province for that matter. You are a city-dweller who drives an average of 60 km a day to and from work. You will plan your routes with charge stations along the way, and you will have a 240V filling station at home to speed up your charging time (approximately 7 hours in comparison to the 16-18 it takes with a regular 120V outlet). So, you'll likely never experience the anxiety most think comes with owning an EV.
And that's why it sits at the top of our EV comparo drive.
The Nissan LEAF is everything an electric vehicle should be: easy to drive, stylish, functional, environmentally friendly (zero emissions), fuel efficient (what fuel?), and practical. It's fun to drive as far as a city car goes, and it's got enough posture so as not to blend in with the norm. Really, what more could you ask for?
From the moment we pressed the power button on the 2012 Nissan LEAF it essentially won the comparo. With a total range of 150 km, Matt and Miranda were waving the white flag before we silently rolled out for the drive.
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| Photo: Michel Deslauriers |
Officially the strangest looking of the bunch, the LEAF gets attention on the road if for no other reason that it looks like a little bug silently cruising along. Beneath its strange exterior sits an 80 kW AC synchronous electric motor and 24 kWh lithium-ion battery that together gives the car an optimal 160 km range per charge. The LEAF can also seat five and has a decent-size trunk.
On those specs alone the LEAF sets itself apart as the winner of our EV comparo, but there's more.
Driving the Nissan LEAF is quite pleasant. The power is decent and there's no harsh regenerative braking as is the case with the Ford Focus Electric. The suspension is also pleasing and offers a relaxing ride for all on board. If nothing else, the LEAF is comfortable thanks to its interior space. It feels cavernous once you're seated inside, with plenty of headroom, legroom and overall room. Visibility is great, as well.
As far as any sort of range anxiety goes in the Nissan LEAF, if you buy one of these $38,395 (base) EVs you're not planning on doing any cross-country road trips -- or even cross-province for that matter. You are a city-dweller who drives an average of 60 km a day to and from work. You will plan your routes with charge stations along the way, and you will have a 240V filling station at home to speed up your charging time (approximately 7 hours in comparison to the 16-18 it takes with a regular 120V outlet). So, you'll likely never experience the anxiety most think comes with owning an EV.
And that's why it sits at the top of our EV comparo drive.
The Nissan LEAF is everything an electric vehicle should be: easy to drive, stylish, functional, environmentally friendly (zero emissions), fuel efficient (what fuel?), and practical. It's fun to drive as far as a city car goes, and it's got enough posture so as not to blend in with the norm. Really, what more could you ask for?
 |
| Photo: Michel Deslauriers |