The 2025 Nissan Leaf starts at $29,280 before rebates, the same price as the 2024 model. There are still two battery types for the Leaf. The base model has a range of 149 miles. One of only five EVs that costs less than $35,000 right now is the Leaf. From 2018 to 2025, the second-generation Nissan Leaf will be the least expensive new electric car in the United States. Starting with the 2024 model year, the Leaf S will still cost $29,280. The $3750 government EV tax credit is not included in this price, bringing the price down to $25,530. Of course, the Leaf’s engine is very old, but its low price makes it hard to pass up. The EPA says the Leaf S’s 40.0-kWh battery has a range of 149 miles, which is terrible in 2018 and makes no sense at all in 2024. The SV Plus’s 60.0-kWh battery gives it an extra 212 miles of range, even though it costs $37,330 more than the Leaf. This makes me wonder how much the Leaf is really worth. The Bid Battle Even so, there are only five EVs in the US that cost less than $35,000, and the Leaf’s main rivals don’t perform much better. Take the 2024 Fiat 500e, which has been sold in Europe since 2020 but is just now coming to the United States. The small car costs $34,095 to buy and can only go 141 miles on a single charge. The 2024 Mini Cooper Electric, which costs at least $31,895, has less range than the Leaf. It can only go 110 miles. With the bigger battery choice, Mini is making a better model that will have a range of about 200 miles. The next Cooper Electric car will be available in the US later than planned because the hatchback will be built in Zhangjiagang, China. This is because of changes to the taxes that are put on EV imports from China. Another EV that costs less than $35,000 is the Hyundai Kona Electric (2024). The Kona Electric is much bigger than the others. It’s about 20 inches longer than the Mini and 30 inches longer than the Fiat, though it’s only a few inches shorter than the Leaf. The base SE model, which is driven by a 48.6-kWh battery, has a range of 200 miles and looks like a modern SUV. The price goes up to $38,050 for the SEL, which has a 64.8-kWh battery that is expected to have a 261-mile range. The last choice is the Fisker Ocean. The Ocean’s Extreme trim used to cost more than $60,000, but the company’s money problems meant that prices had to be cut by a lot. The brand-new 2023 Ocean Extreme costs $35,500. The Ultra model, which used to cost $55,000, now costs a little less. The base Sport model costs $27,437, but there seem to be few on the market right now. The Fisker’s price seems fair when you think about its beautiful form, powerful dual-motor drivetrain, and EPA-rated 360-mile range. But if you want an Ocean, you have to put your faith in a company that is about to go bankrupt and cross your fingers that the SUV still doesn’t have the software problems that affected the first models last year. It needs to be clarified how owners will fix their Oceans if something goes wrong if Fisker fails to make it through this tough time. Coming Soon A good option for the Leaf is a used Chevrolet Bolt EV. This model was taken off the market after 2023, but in its last year, it only cost $27,495, making it a good deal. The Bolt was a great deal because it could go 259 miles. Companies say that the new entry-level EV with the Chevy name will be out by the end of the following year. Chevy plans to release another car for less than $35,000 after the new Equinox EV is fully rolled out. At $43,295, the 2LT trim is the least expensive Equinox EV you can buy right now. The base 1LT trim is supposed to cost $34,995, but it still needs to be out. The Equinox EV is also a good deal because you can get a full $7,500 tax credit on it. This increases its range to either 319 or 285 miles, based on the model. There’s no question that the Leaf needs to be replaced, and that will likely happen in the next few years. Just make sure you get the base Leaf S model. The Leaf is still one of the few new EVs that is priced fairly.
