The Nissan Leaf can be thanked for jump starting the current EV revolution. That first generation proved to be a massive success due to it’s low cost, excellent range (for it’s time) and practicality all rolled into one cheap to own package. Instead of going full bore into ‘futuristic errythang’; the first generation Leaf was just futuristic enough to be different but not enough to be alienating.
A recipe that could have been refined in the subsequent 14 years to lay the ground for a slew of affordable EVs. What is so great about affordable vehicles you say?
Affordable vehicles are made for the masses, the masses require non sacrificial engineering for it to be a sales success. Why? Because said masses would be cross shopping titans of industry like the Civic, Camry, RAV4 or CRV. Engineering any vehicle to go against those foundational vehicles takes a completely different focus. Instead of focusing on infotainment screen size and touch controls, one would be forced to focus on livability, ease of use and reliability.
Or to put it another way, the average RAV4 buyer is not going to drive around aimlessly trying to find a working charging station. They’re definitely not going to sit there for 3 hours trying to get the damn thing to work. If you want that RAV4 buyer’s money, you damn well better make an EV work just as well as that RAV4 in ALL scenarios.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Instead of chasing those RAV4 buyers, the industry chased the Model S and now Model 3 buyer. So the industry now finds itself in an EV sales plateau. Early adopters have came, went and bought. Now the industry has to start appealing to the masses…like Nissan did back in 2010 with the Leaf.
So after 14 years of development, does this make the 2024 Nissan Leaf best EV on the road today?