Nissan had one of the first successful EVs – the Leaf. The Nissan Leaf was released in 2011. It was quite successful, compared to other EV attempts by other brands, partly because it was just $25,000, which for a new EV is quite good, and it had enough range to cover 90% of US drivers’ needs. The Leaf has had only one major redesign – for the 2018 model year. With the redesign the Leaf gained a larger battery, better look, nicer interior, and 50 miles of range, all with a base price about $1,000 lower than the older models.
In July 2020, Nissan released the Ariya, a new electric crossover with 300 miles of range, quite a step up from the 2020 Leaf, which has around 220 miles range. The Ariya should be even more popular than the Nissan Leaf because of more range, a nicer look inside and out, a more practical, larger design, and a price of not even $10,000 more than the base Leaf. The Nissan Leaf didn’t sell very well with men because of it’s “girly” look, and Nissan hopes the Ariya will fix that, as it is sporty, practical, and futuristic-looking, unlike the Leaf, which looks like an ICE car from behind its time. The Ariya is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y.
Our Electric Future 