I took my buddy to buy a new car today, and he chose the Nissan Leaf SV, with the Tech package, it was sticker priced at $36,430 with the options, we got it for $30,550, it is quite a car for that price and I was very impressed over the earlier gen Leaf. Had fun driving it around all afternoon, testing the Pro Pilot, and adaptive cruise control. Its a nice little car... We liked it better then the Bolt which surprised me because the Bolt is more expensive.
We liked the Leaf looks, and technology over the Bolt. Looks of course are completely subjective, every person has their preferences, but my buddy is Asian, and asians typically do not like American cars (deserved or not). He did not like the looks of the I3 either... The 2018 Leaf drives very nice, and is more sporty then the last version, but the included tech is the clincher, we paid $30,550 + tax and license, and the car included Pro Pilot which actually it quite a value. My buddy was planning to pay cash, but Nissan offered 0% financing which is the same as discounting the price another 4K, if he puts the $ he was going to spend, and the $7500 tax rebate in a 3% CD and annually just withdraw enough to make the payments. So what was better with the Leaf.... Value Value Value. Bolt is about 30% more expensive and has less technology, no Pro Pilot. No 0% financing, but Bolt has longer range, which was not important for my buddy.
Personally, the Leaf is a no go - the center console flares out and hits my leg just below the knee. The backseat of the new Leaf is a bit higher than the old one, which helps the leg position - but it reduces the headroom, and I hit my head on the liner. The Bolt EV has about 58% more range, so 30% higher price might be what some people want.
True, for some people the Bolt more fits their life... Its a good car too, but my buddy did not like it, and no driving system is sad, when you consider the Nissan is so much cheaper, this is a mistake by Chevrolet not to throw the same Mobileye system in the Bolt that the Nissan has. I agree with you on leg and head space in the Nissan Leaf, but my buddy is not tall. on the price, 30% is just the beginning, then Leaf also offered 0% financing with makes the advantage = to another 10% at least, and Pro Pilot. for a commuter car... Leaf wins hands down on Value. Bolt is probably a better car long term, but all that extra $ is painful (and will never be recovered), Bolt more compares with an entry level Model 3, and if you look at the same 30% price difference, and longer range the current Model 3 for $50K is not a bad deal.
I think you have said what I have been stating for awhile. For price/value, the Leaf is a great BEV. Physically, it has to fit people's frames and I know from many that taller folks may have an issue with the Leaf sizing. The centre console sides are not the greatest and the front windshield is smaller with a lower rearview mirror providing taller people with a not-so-good environment to see out of. Hence, for any car purchase (yes even a Model 3), it's better to sit in it at a minimum to see if it can fit your (and if applicable family, others) needs. In contrast for us, the Bolt was a non-starter as my wife is short and she could not reach the pedals unless the seat was all the way forwards and by doing that, the steering wheel was in her stomach. Not safe so we walked away from that. If you don't need many long trips and can physically "fit" in the Leaf, it's in my opinion one of the best value propositions versus price on the BEV market today.
Absolutely... Sitting in the car, and driving is critical to make an informed decision. I have to say i had very low expectations when we went to the Nissan dealership, but was very pleasantly surprised by the Leaf. Its an impressive package for the money.
I had gone out to test drive, or at least sit in, a Bolt, and couldn't find one at any Chevy dealer I contacted. I was told that the only Bolts they had were in mid-delivery to customers who'd previously ordered them -- yet, somehow they couldn't understand why I wouldn't want to order a car I hadn't even sat in, let alone driven. I did find one of the 2 Leafs in the province at dealerships to test drive, which I did --- and it was a nice, comfortable fit and set up (with respect to the location of everything). I didn't even try out the ProPilot assist or other tech yet. Later, I found an "Electric Vehicle Discovery Center" set up to promote EV ownership, where they had just about every EV available in Ontario, and I was able to test drive the Bolt. Not only did I find it aesthetically unattractive (which I knew going in), the car was just less comfortable to sit in and drive. I did have trouble finding the right seat distance for my proportions, and I found everything felt a little chunky and plastic-y, like a Fischer Price toy. It felt like I was driving an economy car. It felt like I was driving an economy car. The battery capacity and range is great, but the comfort and appearance, to me, were not. Although I have not sat in a Tesla 3, I know from seeing the cabin that I don't like the minimalist concept they've given it, so it's off the list too. I'm pretty sure it's 2019 Leaf for me.
You might want to sit in a Hyundai gas powered Kona too, since the EV version may also be an option for 2019.
