Some would say Nissan’s new $39,990 starting price for the LEAF is closer to what the all-electric hatchback should have been from day one.
Good as the LEAF is – and it ranks alongside the Holden Volt as the best mass-produced electric car – the previous $46,990 price meant you had to have deep pockets to be an ‘early-adoptor’. For the record, at $39,990, the Nissan LEAF now undercuts the Volt by $20,000.
With a concurrent special finance offer, a Nissan LEAF can be yours for around $85 per week.
While globally Nissan has sold some 50,000 LEAF hatchbacks, sales of electric vehicles are still being held-back by the lack of supporting infrastructure (ie re-charging points). In addition for large volume sales to be achieved, electric vehicles cannot realistically command such a large price premium over similarly-sized conventional vehicles.
All that said, the Nissan LEAF is an exceptional vehicle and urban-resident hatchback buyers could drive this zero-emissions vehicle everyday with no inconvenience compared to a petrol or diesel-powered car of a similar size.
