Most factory EVs drive like normal cars, this is not a big feat, in fact I think they ever did it here with soft steering. One thing that will confuse people is the parking brake which is NOT like a normal car unless you drive a $100K Audi. And what kind of leaning curve is really needed to drive an EV? The Mini e is a conversion not a good example either. The Leaf is more like a family car and has few "driver" attributes, the EV factor is irrelevant. If they really wanted to make it more like a ICE they would have put in a manual lever for the parking brake but at least they departed from that. Making changes from an ICE is a good thing and frankly I prefer it was less like an ICE vehicle and had more options for the benefits of EV drivers like adjustable regen and tighter steering (not EV centric) which feels much better and connected. If anything I would say it's "Americanized".johnr wrote:That was perhaps the biggest point I came away with after my test drive. There is really no learning curve - the Leaf drives very much like any other car. If it wasn't for the smooth acceleration with no shifting and the quiet operation - and the fact the A/C can be on while stopped without an engine running- I would not be able to tell it was electric - and that's something Nissan can be proud of. They succeeded in making an electric car that feels and drives like any other car and that was their intention, to make it easy for anyone to be comfortable with.
BTW- The LEAF is an entirely new car. It is NOT based on the Versa and they do not share any parts. Nissan used Versa's as early mules to test drivetrain components only. Because these cars were publicized early on, people have incorrectly assumed the LEAF is a modified Versa.wgs1912 wrote:the versa is the platform nissan "started" with for the leaf even though the structure is probally the only thing close to being left. but the steering feel may be close. we all know with anything computerized programing is everything and from my experince nissan does a very good job. nissan has been using electric steering since 2007. very few problems from system. but also as a mass produced car they will try to make the feel what the majoity is going to want.which at slower speeds like you said may feel a little light.
I guess the way CAD works now-a-days you could say Leaf is a modified Versa design. They take the Versa design as the base, make some changes (like increasing the wheelbase by a foot !) and you get a new cage around which Leaf is built.TRONZ wrote:BTW- The LEAF is an entirely new car. It is NOT based on the Versa and they do not share any parts. Nissan used Versa's as early mules to test drivetrain components only. Because these cars were publicized early on, people have incorrectly assumed the LEAF is a modified Versa.
I too would like it to take more advantage of unique EV characteristics, but Nissan is not primarily catering to us early adopter EV enthusiasts - they're trying to make a car that the general public who knows nothing about EVs would not be intimidated with, and at that I think they succeeded very well. As a side note, a Nissan rep at the event commented on how they even designed the inverter to look similar to an engine. Every car drives differently, and if you've ever driven a Ford Focus, you would not say the LEAF is "Americanized" (I have, and I can tell you the Ford has very stiff steering).EVDRIVER wrote:Making changes from an ICE is a good thing and frankly I prefer it was less like an ICE vehicle and had more options for the benefits of EV drivers like adjustable regen and tighter steering (not EV centric) which feels much better and connected. If anything I would say it's "Americanized".
johnr wrote:I too would like it to take more advantage of unique EV characteristics, but Nissan is not primarily catering to us early adopter EV enthusiasts - they're trying to make a car that the general public who knows nothing about EVs would not be intimidated with, and at that I think they succeeded very well. As a side note, a Nissan rep at the event commented on how they even designed the inverter to look similar to an engine. Every car drives differently, and if you've ever driven a Ford Focus, you would not say the LEAF is "Americanized" (I have, and I can tell you the Ford has very stiff steering).EVDRIVER wrote:Making changes from an ICE is a good thing and frankly I prefer it was less like an ICE vehicle and had more options for the benefits of EV drivers like adjustable regen and tighter steering (not EV centric) which feels much better and connected. If anything I would say it's "Americanized".
What's this? Turn the key? I missed that part - please enlighten me.EVDRIVER wrote:The difference is telling someone when you turn the key there is no noise, and how to put it in drive, learning curve over.