Leaf too big

[arnis]

And please make the 7 seat option available in the USA unlike Mazda.

You are talking about availability of e-NV200 in US? Aka "the big Leaf".

[IssacZachary]

And please make the 7 seat option available in the USA unlike Mazda.

You are talking about availability of e-NV200 in US? Aka "the big Leaf".

YES!!

[Dooglas]

Although not popular, I think a station wagon Leaf would be very practical for many people.

Actually the Prius V form factor for the Prius has turned out to be quite popular. I don't know why a variation of the LEAF with an extended cargo area would not be equally so.

[IssacZachary]

Although not popular, I think a station wagon Leaf would be very practical for many people.

Actually the Prius V form factor for the Prius has turned out to be quite popular. I don't know why a variation of the LEAF with an extended cargo area would not be equally so.

I was referring to the general decline in popularity of station wagons. Station wagons used to be much more prevalent. My parents owned a station wagon when I was a child. But back then they were largely replaced by minivans, which in turn have largely been replaced by crossovers, even though there has been a lot of practicality lost in the name of popularity.

I thought this quote from Car and Driver was interesting:

Station Wagon: Station wagons have perhaps the worst reputation of any body style on the market, but we’re fighting to change that. They offer the best attributes of a car without the trade-offs of larger crossovers and SUVs. The Mazda 6 wagon actually had more passenger and cargo volume than the Mazda CX-7 crossover, was quicker, and got better fuel economy. It was so immensely unpopular that it was discontinued last year, and a forthcoming CX-7 promises a weaker engine in an effort to reduce fuel consumption.

Those that have considered buying a Prius V were likely already thinking outside the box. They probably wanted a fuel sipping hybrid, yet at the same time more room. And from a practical standpoint it only makes sense to keep the vehicle's profile low if you're trying to achieve fuel mileage. Although not a direct comparison, a Toyota hybrid Highlander only gets 28mpg whereas the Prius V gets 42mpg. A Prius V just makes more sense. Also perhaps the newer generation of people no longer associate the station wagon with "uncool" things like Harry and the Henderson's or Grandpa's fishing car. So some of the push away from the those soccer-mom-image minivan might very well be steering larger families towards station wagons, especially those that are thinking about fuel efficiency.

[Scaramanga]

And please make the 7 seat option available in the USA unlike Mazda.

You are talking about availability of e-NV200 in US? Aka "the big Leaf".

YES!!

Just read up on the e-NV200, I would buy/drive one of these in a hot minute with a 30 kWh battery configured like a cargo van ( chevy city express ).

[powersurge]

I wish I had known that they had the nv 200 before I bought the Leaf. That is a more useful vehicle, however a car produced in small numbers is a liability... Nissan should push the nv 200 as a family mini minivan...

[pyromancy5]

3. Rear view mirrors cars aren't closer, they simply don't show when beside you.
4. Car is a rolling blind spot with high doors, small side windows.

I have a different way of setting side mirrors. I first learned of it listening to Car Talk. Most people can see the side of their own car when the look in the mirror. This just gives you 2 extra side-mounted rear-view mirrors that overlap with your center rear view mirror. You need to set your mirrors to see further out to the side so they are a true side view mirror. Here is an explanation:



http://www.cartalk.com/sites/default/files/features/mirrors/CarTalkMirrors.pdf


It takes a little getting used to, but I've driven like this for 12 years now and I could never go back.

[jjeff]

I wish I had known that they had the nv 200 before I bought the Leaf. That is a more useful vehicle, however a car produced in small numbers is a liability... Nissan should push the nv 200 as a family mini minivan...

As someone who's been waiting for the eNV-200 for 4+ years, I'm glad I purchased a Leaf 3+ years ago and quit waiting. Sure Europe and other more advanced locations than North America have had the eNV-200 for many years, we have yet to have it offered to us
If it ever does make it to this side of the pond, I'll gladly trade my Leaf for one but I've basically given up on it, along with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the #1 selling eVehicle in Europe, not available in in N. America, where SUVs rule all other vehicle types