Skip to main content

How Does the 2018 Nissan Leaf Measure Up?

img 1989319978 1504797910880 jpg

CARS.COM — The redesigned 2018 Nissan Leaf’s 150 miles of range is a big improvement over the previous model’s 107-mile range, but that’s still short of competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3. The new Leaf lags behind the other two on range, but it has a big advantage in price.

Related: 2018 Nissan Leaf Review: Quick Spin

Here’s how the three competitors stack up in price and range, with and without the maximum $7,500 federal tax credit.

img1498830411 1505316368319 jpg

The Leaf will work best when it is used primarily as a city car or for commuting where 150 miles of range is sufficient. The new version also is available with Nissan’s latest safety technology, ProPilot Assist, a commuter-friendly, semiautonomous driving system we tested in our quick spin of the new Leaf.

But for those who plan to use one of these three electrics as a primary vehicle or for longer trips, the higher price does offer good value compared to the Leaf. The Model 3 offers 47 percent more range than the Leaf, but costs only 22 percent more. Similarly, the Bolt EV offers 59 percent more range than the Leaf with a 28 percent increase in price. All prices in our graphic include destination.

Nissan says a longer-range Leaf will show up as a 2019 model. We used the standard Model 3 for this comparison since it more closely compares with the Leaf and Bolt EV. Tesla will offer a long-range Model 3 with an estimated 310 miles range for roughly $45,000 before any tax credits.

L.A. Bureau Chief
Brian Wong

Former L.A. Bureau Chief Brian Wong is a California native with a soft spot for convertibles and free parking.

Featured stories

hyundai venue 2025 exterior oem 02 jpg
disappearance new vehicles under  20K jpg
lincoln navigator 2025 01 exterior front angle grey scaled jpg