USA Today gives the Nissan LEAF the thumbs up in an extensive review of the all-electric car in the Money Section of its current weekend edition (Sept. 17-Sept. 19, 2010).
Among other things, USA Today writer James R. Healy praises the LEAFās roominess, its quickness in traffic, and its āsophisticationā.
{module 301}
However, while Healyās review is generally very positive, he does find some problems with the LEAF. He criticizes the LEAFās steering as well as what he says is a ātippy feelā when it corners.
In addition, says Healy, the LEAF will be a second or third car for most people.
On this, I think heās spot on. Of course, Iām willing to proven wrong: How many of you buying a LEAF in the next year or two will have only the LEAF in your driveway or garage with no gasoline, hybrid or plug-in hybrid as a backup for (occasional) long trips?
I wish Nissan had included the question of whether the LEAF will be part of a single, or multiple-car household on its survey of people who express interest in the LEAF online, but, as far as I can recall, it did not. And frankly Iām wondering why not: Seems like this information could be extremely useful to Nissan.
Finally, Healey says the LEAF is ā and I quote him to the letter here ā āUgggggly.ā
{googleAds}
<div style="float:left; margin-right: 10px;">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-7703542917199961";
/* 200x200,
created 12/8/09 */
google_ad_slot = "7950368454";
google_ad_width
= 200;
google_ad_height = 200;
//-->
</script>
<script
type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script>
</div>
{/googleAds}
Healyās commentary confirms Iām not alone in wishing the LEAF had a different look. In fact, although Iām getting ahead of myself here ā in the forthcoming Part III of SolarChargedDriving.Comās CODA Sedan EV vs. Ford Focus Electric vs. Nissan LEAF series I will look at the LEAF ā the LEAFās ugliness might just be what leads me to buy another EV, most likely a Ford Focus Electric.
I know: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people love the LEAFās design. But Iām guessing for every person who loves it, thereās another one who hates it.
Many early EV adopters who arenāt quite sure they like LEAFās look, will buy it anyway because itās going to be the first truly affordable production EV on the market (in the U.S., it goes on sale in Dec. 2010 on the West Coast, Arizona and Tennessee).
But itāll be interesting to see how consumer polarization on the LEAFās design affects its long-term sales
What do you think ā will the LEAFās look help its long-term sales, hinder them, or not have much of an effect either way?
Related articles–>
- Is the Nissan LEAF ugly?
- Hey, LEAF and Volt fans, we’re on the same team!
- Re-doing the solar math on the Nissan LEAF
- CODA vs. Ford Focus Electric vs. LEAF
Like this story? Interested in the solar EV/PHEV synergy? Join our Sun Miles⢠Club and start meeting & interacting with other people around the world who want to drive, or already are driving, their cars on sun! Register to join us today!