2020 Nissan Leaf

Driving a Leaf is a serene experience. There are no V8 rumbles or turbo flutters here; the only sound you'll hear is a bit of tire noise, and You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban, a standard feature on all Nissan Leaf models. The Leaf is clearly set up to deliver a comfortable ride, especially with the active ride control set in its most cushy setting. That doesn't mean that its a complete boat; it will remain composed at high speed and always feels planted, but try to drive it like a sports car, and it will quickly remind you that it's not. The electrically assisted power steering is as light as a feather, which is a boon for city driving, but it just adds to the fact that the Leaf is no Porsche Boxster. If you want a more engaging driving experience, then we'd suggest looking at the athletic Tesla 3.

The Nissan Leaf has been a staple of the EV market for a decade, and is a tried and trusted entry-point to the world of gas-free motoring. In the past few years, there has been a small explosion of new entries to the EV market by major brands such as Volkswagen and BMW, but their offerings have been focussed on the premium image, so you won't find any cheap and cheerful cars. The Nissan Leaf then is a no-nonsense practical five-door hatchback that does away with luxury features such as wood-grain inserts, massive sound systems, and sub-five-second sprint times. Instead, you get moderate performance and range, a comfortable ride, and enough features to make everyday driving feel like less of a chore. Nissan has made some notable changes, such as upgrading the infotainment system and adding driver assistance features such as auto-forward emergency braking with pedestrian control, which goes a long way to boost the appeal of this little electric hatchback, but prices get close to the much more impressive Tesla Model 3 when you get to higher trim levels.

The Chevrolet Bolt, just like the Leaf, is a five-door hatchback that will seat five adults. The 2020 Bolt is available in LT and Premier trims, and both get the same 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, which blow the lower-powered variants of the Leaf out of the yard and onto the sidewalk. The Bolt will return an impressive 127/108/118 mpg city/highway/combined and will reach 259 miles on a full charge, besting the Leaf by quite some distance. We think the Botl is the better-looking car, and it's interior feels more 2020 than the Leaf. On the road, the Bolt is a comfortable thing to drive, and although it is at its best on city roads, it can manage highway driving just fine. Its low center of gravity means minimal body roll in corners. Unfortunately, the Bolt misses out on a good amount of the standard features offered on the Leaf, such as blind-spot monitoring and pedestrian detection. Go for a mid-range Leaf instead of the more expensive entry-level Bolt with fewer features and a higher asking price.

Tesla has been grabbing headlines for a good few years now, and their EV cars have been dominating sales figures. One of their latest offerings, the low-cost Model 3 has taken the market by storm and offers great performance, comfort, driving dynamics, and style at a reasonable price. Powering the Model 3 is a single three-phase induction electric motor that produces between 258 and a serious 450 hp depending on spec-level. So not only will the Model 3 leave the Leaf in the dust, but it will also get more distance out of a single charge; standard cars will reach up to 250 miles, while long-range versions will reach well over 300 miles on a single charge. The interior of the Tesla Model 3 is a beautifully minimalist space that truly feels ahead of our time. Cabin space is good, but the Leaf offers more cargo space. Out on the road, the Tesla Model 3 is by far the better car to drive; it's comfortable enough around town, but can also engage the driver with entertaining dynamics. Starting at close to $40,000, we'd rather get a Model 3 than a top-end Leaf.