02-27-23

Nissan Leaf vs. Hyundai Kona

There are two clear standouts in the race to be the best fully electric vehicle option. The Nissan Leaf is a classic that continues to be iterated upon and is the lowest-priced EV on the market. The Hyundai Kona is a solid semi-luxury choice with an incredible range and great internal features. So which is better? Here we will explore both vehicles and put them head to head in everything from motors and range to safety features.

Engines, Range, And Charging

The range and available engine options are the first and most significant differences between the Leaf and Kona. In terms of distance on a single charge, the Kona has a 64 kWh battery and gets 258 miles of range. On the other hand, the Leaf plus (the larger of two batteries available) is only 62 kWh with an EPA range of 226 miles. The smallest and cheapest battery on the Leaf tops out at 148 miles of range.

The difference in range and how it affects you will ultimately come down to how you intend to use the vehicle. While most Americans will charge their car at home, the difference is negligible. However, you will need to plan more carefully for road trips with the Leaf's shorter range yet comparable charge times.

Price, Maintenance Costs, And Overall Expenses

Due to their nature as electric vehicles, both the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona have reduced maintenance costs over their lifetimes. Entirely electric vehicles require fewer visits to a mechanic and do not need oil changes due to the reduced number of moving parts. Additionally, they have near instantaneous torque and offer superb handling while not wearing down as quickly as other traditional gas-powered counterparts.

So what about the base price? There the Nissan Leaf takes the crown. Even the highest-end model of the Leaf, the Plus, is roughly $5,000 cheaper than the baseline Hyundai Kona. Further, a preowned baseline model of the Nissan Leaf is amongst the lowest price fully electric car on the market and often beats out the competition by over $5,000 on other used vehicles.

Verdict

There is an argument for both the Leaf and the Kona. The pair are different vehicles that each will appeal to buyers depending on needs and what is the most important. Both cars are roughly equal in cargo capacity, headroom, and passenger space. As for safety and driver assistance, Nissan's ProPilot® system is the best on the market and offers more standard safety features than are available on the Hyundai Kona. For the price, the Nissan Leaf makes each dollar go farther; however, it does suffer in terms of a shorter range and smaller motor.

To conclude, the Nissan Leaf is the obvious choice if you use your EV to get to and from work or around the city. When the shorter range is not an issue and charging will mostly be done at home, it provides a similar driving experience for the Hyundai Kona while being priced at a far more reasonable level. Additionally, the Leaf has the best-preowned prices on the market, meaning that this comparison carries over several model year generations.

Test Drive A New Or Preowned Nissan Leaf At Charlie Clark Nissan Harlingen

Our team of sales and maintenance experts are happy to answer any questions and address comments or concerns you may have about any Nissan vehicles. Check out our up-to-date inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles online. Come on in and take a look, or call and reserve a test drive today by dialing (956) 303-8719.

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02-27-23

Nissan Leaf vs. Chevy Bolt

While the past decade has seen several Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers storming the market, most have been touting quite the hefty price tag or are slim on safety to make up for the more expensive components. However, there are now several options in the 2020 model years and beyond that offer superior electric capabilities at a reasonable price. The most popular of these budget-friendly EVs are the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Bolt.

Comparable Features Between The Nissan Leaf And Chevy Bolt

Before exploring the differences between the pair, we will examine what makes the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt live at the same level of consideration.

  • Both are inexpensive, with new models coming in at $26,000 for the Bolt and $28,000 for the Leaf base models. Of note is that 2022 Leafs are still eligible for tax credit rebates, whereas only 2023 Bolts can still receive the credit.
  • Each vehicle sports a sleek and compact hatchback design.
  • Both cars seat up to five comfortably and can have the back row flipped down for additional cargo space, although we will explore a discrepancy between them below.

Differences In Motor And Battery

When considering purchasing an EV, one of the crucial factors is battery range and infrastructure for charging. Regarding range, the Chevy Bolt is superior to the Leaf in most regards. The Bolt has a single battery option and can reach EPA estimated ranges of 259 miles. In contrast, the Leaf has battery options depending upon trim, with the smaller pair sporting only 149 miles on a single charge and the more robust option topping out at 212 miles of range.

The range is not the only consideration when it comes to the battery. Which charges faster? The charging capabilities of the Bolt and Leaf are similar, yet, the Bolt can charge slightly faster if you have 240v capabilities at home. However, depending on your area's EV infrastructure, the Leaf comes with a CHAdeMO fast charging capability which can far outperform the limited charging options of the Bolt.

Interior And Safety

While both vehicles have similar proportions and styles, the interiors differ. Concerning cargo, the Nissan Leaf offers substantially more space in the trunk. The Chevy Bolt has a small 16.6 Cu. Ft. of cargo space compared to the Nissan Leaf, which has a solid 23.6 Cu. Ft. Although, this extra cargo room does make the Leaf have slightly less space in the back seat, cutting about two inches of leg room.

In terms of safety, there is little to no competition when it comes to Nissan's ProPilot® driver assistance functionality. While both vehicles offer hands-free and one-pedal driving, the standard safety and driver assistance features on the Nissan Leaf exceed those of the Bolt. These improvements in safety on the Leaf include:

  • Nissan Leaf S:
    • Rearview camera
    • Front collision alarm
    • Automatic emergency braking system
    • Front pedestrian detection
    • Rear automatic braking
    • Blind-spot warning and intervention
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Lane keep assist
  • Nissan Leaf SV Plus Additions:
    • 360-view camera system
    • Driver alertness monitoring

Which Is Better, the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt?

While the choice of EV ultimately comes down to the use case, there is an argument for both. The limited range of the Nissan Leaf ensures that it is a city car, where EVs shine, and the Chevy Bolt wins slightly on versatility. However, the Nissan Leaf's larger cargo space and more robust safety features set it apart.

Come Test Drive A New Or Preowned Nissan Leaf At Charlie Clark Nissan

Call us today and chat with one of our representatives at (956) 426-0680. Or visit online and check out our up-to-date stock.

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02-27-23

Nissan Leaf vs. Tesla 3

The Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model 3 are among the most popular fully electric vehicles on the market today. However, how do they stack up side by side? Here we will examine the space in each, their drivability, price, and batteries.

Interior Size And Features

The Nissan Leaf takes a slight early lead regarding interior size and cargo space. The Tesla Model 3 has 112 Cu. Ft. of internal volume, whereas the Leaf offers slightly more at 116 Cu. Ft. While that difference is minimal in terms of numbers, the Leaf uses its space better, and the real-life cargo and trunk volume of the Leaf beats out the Tesla by offering 23 Cu. Ft. of cargo space over the Model 3's meager 15 Cu. Ft. However, slight this difference is, the Leaf also wins out by affording more overall headroom and improved legroom for passengers.

While the interiors of the Leaf and Model 3 appeal to different aesthetic tastes, one design is not superior to the other. The Leaf and Model 3 have similar driver assistance, with lane monitoring, forward collision technology, and parking assistance. While Tesla does offer fully autonomous driving, it is up to the owner whether they are willing to cede control over to the car's AI.

Finally, the Left does offer other quality-of-life features standard over the optional and expensive choices on Tesla. All Nissan vehicles, the Leaf included, come prepared with Apple Car Play® and Android Auto® ready to go out the gate. Where you can connect your phone directly in the Leaf, the Tesla requires drivers to utilize their proprietary interface, which can be far more clunky and unintuitive to anyone who has not owned a Tesla.

Winner: Nissan Leaf

 

Drivability And Battery

By their nature as electric vehicles, the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3 both can boast near instantaneous torque, emission-free driving, and no need for oil changes, which drive down the maintenance costs of both vehicles. The Tesla blows out the Leaf in terms of horsepower and battery life. The Tesla is trying to be a moderate-level sports car, whereas the Leaf has suited itself more as an everyday driver. Additionally, both run on different types of batteries as the Leaf can reach a maximum of 226 miles on a single charge, and the long-range battery of the Tesla tops out at 322 miles. However, as we will explore in the next section, that level of the range comes at a high cost.

Winner: Tesla Model 3

 

Price Comparison

The most significant factor when deciding on a car is how much each one will cost. As of the time of writing, the new Nissan Leaf Pluses price is roughly $17,000 less than the premier version of the Tesla Model 3. While both vehicles offer some federal tax credit, the Nissan Leaf offers a far better deal per dollar spent. Further, the Nissan Leaf wins out on practicality. While Tesla is a growing brand, there are still far more Nissan dealerships and mechanics that can easily access any necessary parts for maintenance. This availability drives the cost of owning a Nissan Leaf even lower, making it the far more economical model when choosing between the two. Overall Winner: The Nissan Leaf

Check Out The Nissan Leaf At Charlie Clark Nissan

Charlie Clark Nissan of Harlingen is your one-stop source for all new and used electric Nissan vehicles. Come or schedule a test drive today and talk with one of our expert representatives. Call our sales department at (956) 303-9558 or view our up-to-date stock at https://www.charlieclarknissanharlingen.com/

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