After a week of research, I bought a new 2022 Leaf instead of a Tesla Model 3. If you found this forum because you are pondering the same choice, here are my reasons. I hope this will be useful as you decide which is better for you, if only as list of things to consider. Apologies in advance if any of my facts are wrong, e.g., vertical trunk space, warranty details, etc. So far, I love my Leaf, no buyer's regrets, I literally hugged the car this morning when I went for Starbucks!
LEAF BENEFITS:
Reasonable sticker price despite the pandemic supply chain inflation.
Immediate availability at dealerships in many large cities.
$7500 tax rebate, unlike Tesla.
8-year/100k-mile battery warranty, same as Tesla's.
5-year/60k-mile EV system and powertrain warranty, better than Tesla's.
Less in-cabin road and wind noise than the Tesla 3 (search YouTube).
Nissan build quality versus Tesla, e.g., Tesla door handles.
Vertical trunk space better than Tesla's, possibly total volume too.
Charger plug at the front is more convenient than at the back.
Nissan dealerships are very common nationwide in the USA for any repairs or parts.
Regenerative braking might be more efficient than Tesla's, but this is uncertain.
Comes with floormats (saves $100, less annoying).
Comes with NEMA 14-50 electrical adapter (saves $35, less annoying).
LEAF NEGATIVES:
Batteries are not liquid-cooled like on the Tesla.
Obsolete CHAdeMO charger, not CCS or Tesla charger.
Dashboard is not as advanced or stylish as Tesla's.
Forward driving pedestrian warning noise is REALLY annoying; don't know about Tesla's.
Back seat leg room is OK for children, but cramped for adults; Tesla looks better.
Back seat headroom is not good for tall people; Tesla looks better.
Nissan Connect app works OK, but is not fast; cannot change charge scheduling.
No over-the-air software updates like on the Tesla, must go to dealer.
Back seats don't fold completely flat like on Tesla, only flat-ish.
No spare tire, like on Tesla (both have repair kits).
Storage space for small sundries around driver is OK, not great; Tesla looks better.
No option to limit max charge to 80% anymore, must adjust via charge scheduling.
CHAdeMO:
Rapid charging slightly damages batteries, especially in hot weather. If you will charge 99% of the time at home at night, then 240V charging with the J1772 port is better for battery life. If you need to drive cross-country, then the Tesla is better. The Leaf's CHAdeMO is obsolete and CHAdeMO charging stations will be very difficult to find in five years. If your electric utility offers a reduced rate for evenings, then 240V charging at home is cheaper than using commercial rapid charging stations.
BATTERY:
2014 and later Leaf batteries use a different chemistry (Nickel + Cobalt + Manganese) and internal design than the older batteries. Beware of older YouTube videos that warn about "the" Leaf battery.
Lack of liquid cooling is a big issue in hot climates. If you commute at highway speeds in hot climates, park in the sun all day at work, want to use rapid charging for cross-country trips, and habitually use maximum acceleration, then a Tesla will be better for battery life.
With the 8-year/100k-mile battery warranty on the Leaf, I personally am betting that the cost of a replacement battery in 8 years, if necessary, will be much lower than today. Battery technology is rapidly advancing and prices falling, but of course I have no idea what the future will bring.
For the Nissan battery warranty, remember than the Leaf records its operational details to local storage that a Nissan technician can retrieve. The battery warranty is voided if you 1) expose the Lear to ambient temperatures above 120F/49C for over 24 hours, 2) store the Leaf in temperatures below -13F/-25C for over seven days, 3) leave your vehicle for over 14 days where the battery reaches a zero or near zero state of charge, or 4) do not get a battery quality report every year by a Nissan-approved technician (I doubt that your own LeafSpy screenshots are good enough). This all comes straight from the Nissan warranty booklet.
BUILD QUALITY:
I can't back this up with hard data, but a major reason I chose the Leaf was build quality. Nissan has decades of experience building reliable cars worldwide (relative to other manufacturers, like Ford and GM) and a decade of experience with prior Leaf models. I have a 1998 Nissan Altima and it just keeps on running and running and running... Tesla is the new kid on the block. An internet search on "Tesla quality issues" returns results that are not terribly encouraging. Pre-2014 Leaf models certainly had battery problems, but what about the rest of the car? Nissan has a relatively good reputation for build quality. There is also the cost of replacement parts and service work; Tesla owners complain about these things online. Where will service work be done? There are 12 Tesla service centers in Texas, for example, and 78 Nissan dealerships. Many states have zero Tesla service centers right now.
PRICE NEGOTIATIONS:
If car price is not a major concern, then this whole discussion is probably irrelevant to you. You can simply trade up every few years to whatever catches your fancy despite the trade-in losses. For me, $10k is a lot of money when thinking about the total cost of ownership over 5+ years. (I'd rather have the $10k.)
When you negotiate the final price for a Leaf, talk about the "obsolete CHAdeMO charger" and "non-liquid cooled battery" with the sales manager to get a better price. Mention how the Nissan Ariya has abandoned CHAdeMO in favor of CCS and how the Ariya's dashboard looks so much nicer. Once the pandemic inflation has subsided and the Nissan Ariya is widely available, you should be able to negotiate pretty aggressively. Remember, no matter what you buy today, it won't be considered "nice" in a few years, there will always be something better to be jealous of -- better to be "Financially Independent Retire Early (FIRE)", so better to avoid getting suckered or seduced imho. The new Leaf is beautiful and its value/price ratio was better than the Tesla Model 3 for me. Best wishes on making your decision, I hope the above will be useful to you!
