Compare 2012 Chevrolet Volt vs 2012 Nissan Leaf vs 2012 Tesla Model S

2012 Chevrolet Volt
X
2012 Nissan Leaf
X
2012 Tesla Model S
X
Select style
5-Door HB
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Volt 5-Door HB 35 40 $37,579 $39,145
Select style
4-Door HB SL
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
LEAF 4-Door HB SL N/A N/A $35,668 $37,250
LEAF 4-Door HB SV N/A N/A $33,707 $35,200
Select style
4-Door Sedan
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Model S 4-Door Sedan N/A N/A N/A $57,400
Model S 4-Door Sedan Performance N/A N/A N/A $92,400
Model S 4-Door Sedan Signature N/A N/A N/A $95,400
Model S 4-Door Sedan Signature Performance N/A N/A N/A $105,400
Pricing
Invoice Price
$37,579
$35,668
N/A
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$39,145
$37,250
$57,400
Monthly Payment Estimate
$652 / month
$621 / month
$957 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
7.4
7.8
8.4
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is the plug-in electric car you drive as far as you want--if you can find one to buy. The 2012 Nissan Leaf is, quite simply, the first battery electric vehicle built in volume by any major carmaker; if you can get comfortable with its range of 70 to 100 miles, it's the greenest car you can buy. The 2012 Tesla Model S sedan turns out to be a much better car than most expected; it just might meld sport-sedan driving, interior space, and comfort with zero-emission running in one revolutionary package.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
35 mpg 0 mpg 0 mpg
Highway
40 mpg 0 mpg 0 mpg
Vehicle
Number of Passenger Doors
4 - 4
EPA Classification
Compact Cars Midsize NA
Interior Dimensions
Front Hip Room (in)
53.7 51.5 55.0
Second Leg Room (in)
34.1 31.1 35.4
Front Head Room (in)
37.8 41.2 38.8
Passenger Capacity
4 5 5
Second Hip Room (in)
51.2 50.0 54.7
Front Shoulder Room (in)
56.5 54.4 57.7
Second Head Room (in)
36.0 37.3 35.3
Second Shoulder Room (in)
53.9 52.5 55.0
Front Leg Room (in)
42.1 42.1 42.7
Passenger Volume (ft³)
90.0 98.3 94.0
Exterior Dimensions
Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.4 69.7 77.3
Track Width, Front (in)
61.2 60.6 65.4
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- TBD - 6.3 6.0
Length, Overall (in)
177.1 175.0 196.0
Height, Overall (in)
56.6 61.0 56.5
Track Width, Rear (in)
62.1 60.4 66.9
Wheelbase (in)
105.7 106.3 116.5
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
10.6 - - TBD -
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
- 24.0 -
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
- 14.5 -
Brakes
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.8 x - TBD - 11.1 x 1.1 14.0 x 1.3
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
Four-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.5 x - TBD - 11.5 x 0.6 14.4 x 1.1
Brake Type
Regenerative Pwr Pwr
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
9.3 NA NA
Steering
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.8 - TBD - - TBD -
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - 36.1 N/A
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
15.4 - TBD - - TBD -
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
36.0 34.1 37.0
Steering Type
Electric Pwr Electric Pwr Electric Rack-&-Pinion
Tires
Rear Tire Size
P215/55R17 P205/55R16 245/45R19
Rear Tire Order Code
5GN NA NA
Front Tire Size
P215/55R17 P205/55R16 245/45R19
Spare Tire Size
NA NA NA
Front Tire Order Code
5GN NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3781 3401 4647
Wheels
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
NA NA NA
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x 7.0 16 x - TBD - 19 x - TBD -
Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA NA NA
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x 7.0 16 x - TBD - 19 x - TBD -
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD - NA NA
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - - TBD - NA
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
- TBD - NA NA
Engine
Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection NA NA
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
- TBD - 207 @ - TBD - 325
Engine Order Code
LUU EM61 NA
Displacement
1.4L/85 NA NA
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
- TBD - 107 @ - TBD - 362 @ 6000
Engine Type
Electric/Gas I4 Electric Electric
Mileage
Battery Range (mi)
35 73 160 (Est)
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
37 NA NA
EPA MPG Equivalent - City
95 106 - TBD -
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
40 NA NA
EPA MPG Equivalent - Combined
94 99 - TBD -
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
35 NA NA
EPA MPG Equivalent - Hwy
93 92 - TBD -
Transmission
Drivetrain
Front wheel drive Front Wheel Drive Rear Wheel Drive
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
NA 7.93 - TBD -
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA NA
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic Automatic NA
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA NA
First Gear Ratio (:1)
NA - TBD - 9.73
Clutch Size (in)
NA NA NA
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA NA
Trans Type
1 1 1
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA NA
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
NA - TBD - - TBD -
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA NA
Trans Order Code
MKA RE1F61A NA
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- - NA
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
- - NA
Summary
Body Style
Hatchback 4 Door Hatchback Sedan
Vehicle Name
Chevrolet Volt Nissan LEAF Tesla Model S
Suspension
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - N/A
Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson Strut MacPherson Strut Double-Wishbone
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
NA - TBD - NA
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - N/A
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
NA - TBD - NA
Suspension Type - Rear
Compound Crank Torsion Beam Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
5.0 NA NA
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
8 NA - TBD -
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
-
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
-
Overall Side Crash Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating Driver
-
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
-
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
-
Rollover Rating
-

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