Nissan Leaf Vs. Ford Focus Electric: Compare Cars
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
They both deliver smooth, all-electric power. They both plug into the wall to recharge their... Read More
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If you want an electric car, but you don't need to stand out to others as you might in a Nissan Leaf, the Ford Focus Electric is another all-electric model worth considering.
Both of these battery electric vehicles offer different answers to the same question: What should a compact electric hatchback look like?
The Nissan Leaf is a dedicated design, with its lithium-ion battery designed into the floorpan and the area under the rear seat. Its styling is distinctive--with no grille up front and lengthy clear headlight units stretching back along the fender line that are topped with aerodynamic fins--and, to some, polarizing.
The Ford Focus Electric, on the other hand, is adapted from the conventional Focus five-door hatchback, and aside from a different "grille" design up front, a couple of door badges, and a charge-port door on the left-front fender, you'd never know it wasn't a gasoline car.
So you can decide whether you want a car whose design says, "Hey, I'm electric!" or one that hides its plug-in running gear in an utterly conventional body shared with a gasoline compact.
The two cars are fairly close EPA ratings for range and efficiency. The Nissan Leaf (until the late intro of the 2013 model) been rated at 73 miles of range, and gets a rating of 99 MPGe (miles-per-gallon equivalent), based on the distance it will travel electrically on the amount of energy contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.
The Focus Electric does just slightly better on both counts, with a rated 76 miles of range and a 105 MPGe rating. It also retains the good roadholding and fun driving experience of the stock Focus, and its 107-kilowatt (143-horsepower) motor is more powerful than the Leaf's 80-kW (107-hp)--though the Focus Electric is heavier than the Leaf.
The Ford electric car also has a notable operating advantage over the Leaf: Its onboard charger operates at up to 6.6 kilowatts (allowing a full recharge in as little as four hours on a 240-Volt Level 2 charger), against the Leaf's 3.3 kW--although for 2013 the Leaf offers the option of a 6.6-kW one. On the other hand, the Leaf offers a DC quick-charging capability--not available on the Focus Electric--that will recharge its battery pack to 80-percent capacity in around half an hour.
The Ford Focus Electric is built in Wayne, Michigan, on the same assembly lines as gasoline Focus models. Today's Leafs are imported from Japan, but 2013 marks the debut of Nissan Leaf production in Smyrna, Tennessee, powered by U.S.-fabricated lithium-ion cells as well. Additionally for 2013, driving range rises to 75 miles. U.S.-assembled Leaf models are slated to begin reaching dealerships in March 2013.
The final distinction between the two is likely to be availability. The Focus Electric is expected to remain a very low-volume vehicle; Nissan has high-volume hopes for the Leaf, but it's proven to be a rather slow-seller so far, with less than 10,000 sold in the U.S. even in 2012.
The Leaf is cheaper, with the new base-level 2013 Nissan Leaf S model starting at $28,800, but the mid-level Leaf SV now carries a price starting at $31,820, and the high-end Leaf SL starts at $34,840. The Focus Electric is priced at $39,995, but both Ford and Nissan have been offering $199-a-month lease deals for these models.
In the end, buyers need to decide if they want a low-volume, pretty-much invisible electric car, or a more distinctive design sold in much higher numbers that charges more slowly.
Which of these two electric cars would you choose? Leave us your thoughts in the Comments below.
| 2013 Ford Focus Electric | 2013 Nissan Leaf |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Meta Rating | |
| The 2013 is the greenest car you can buy--if you can live with between 70 and 100 miles of driving range on a full battery charge. | |
| MSRP | |
| from $39,200 | from $28,800 |
| Invoice | |
| from $36,554 | from $26,986 |
| Fuel Economy - Combined City and Highway | |
| NA | NA |
| EPA MPG Equivalent - Combined | |
| 105 | - TBD - |
| Front Leg Room (in) | |
| 43.700 | 42.1 |
| Second Leg Room (in) | |
| 33.200 Read Full Specs |
33.3 Read Full Specs |
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Have an opinion?
It's a no brainer for me I'll take the mid-point cost and buy a 2013 Ford Mustang GT :-)
For a 75 mile/day 2-way commute 365 days/yr and a daily full 24kWh charge, the Leaf = $936.60/yr energy costs.
The Nissan Altima would cost $4,977.27/yr in energy costs (gas) at $4/gallon for same mileage. Consider oil changes, tune ups, emmissions insp., etc. and the Leaf gets even better.
It makes perfect economic sense if you can add, subtract, multiply and divide.
And not having to line the pockets of BIG OIL is just icing on the cake!
Lovin' Leaf!
I can't be a cheerleader for the Focus EV, either. No fast DC charging? The speedy level two charging doesn't make up for that. And when I sat in a Focus EV at a car show, I thought the visibility to the rear sucked.
Assuming a full-charge range of 100 miles the Leaf costs about $2.60 in electricity (full charge from fully discharged battery in DC metro area 24kwh and about 11 cents per kwh rounded off).
Nissan Altima with est. 22 mpg city cost about $18.00 for those same 100 miles with $4.00/gallon gas.
Assume 75 mile/day 2-way commute 365 days/yr and a daily full 24kWh charge = $936.60/yr energy costs for the Leaf, but the Nissan Altima would cost $4,977.27/yr in energy costs (gas) at $4/gallon for same mileage. Consider oil changes, tune ups, emmissions insp., etc. and the Leaf gets even better!
But for a business person, here’s another idea: lease the Leaf for about $410/month. If you drive those 75 miles per day, for 2250 miles a 30 day month, that’s $79.20 for the Leaf in electricity and $409.09 for the Altima assuming $4/gallon gas and 22 mpg. In other words, you almost pay for the lease with the savings in unneeded gasoline purchases!
BTW, never having to stop at a BP station: PRICELESS!
Focus EV, having no Level 3 fast DC charging capability, is limited to a strictly local vehicle it would seem.
Not only the the Focus appearance look like its gasoline counterpart, reports indicate it drives as good, if not better (due to better weight balance)!
For people coming from, say, a Prius, which drives about as well as a 1987 Chevy Cavalier, you might not care. But if you actually enjoy driving a car with decent (or better) handling, the Leaf is a non-starter (pun intended).
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!