2012 Ford Focus Electric vs 2012 Nissan Leaf

2012 Ford Focus Electric

2012 Nissan Leaf

Select style

5-Door HB

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Focus Electric 5-Door HB	N/A	N/A	$36,127	$39,200

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

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$36,127

$35,668

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$39,200

$37,250

Monthly Payment Estimate

$653 / month

$621 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.4

Read Our Full Review

7.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric is fun to drive, matches the Nissan Leaf for range and efficiency, and looks just like a "regular" car, which may appeal to some buyers. It's available only in very limited markets, however, and its $40,000 price will likely turn off some potential customers.

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.

TCC Likes

All the driving fun of any Focus
Slightly higher range than Leaf
Conventional styling doesn't scream 'green'

First "real" battery electric car built in volume
Distinctive and futuristic design
Quiet, smooth electric drive

TCC Dislikes

$40K price causes sticker shock
Very limited availability
No one will know you're driving electric

Range of only 70 to 100 miles
Steering and handling are uninspiring
Rear seats require knees-up position

Fuel Economy

City

0 mpg

Highway

0 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact

Midsize

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Second Shoulder Room (in)

53.7

52.5

Front Leg Room (in)

43.7

42.1

Passenger Volume (ft³)

90.7

98.3

Front Hip Room (in)

53.9

51.5

Second Leg Room (in)

33.2

31.1

Front Head Room (in)

38.3

41.2

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

52.7

50.0

Front Shoulder Room (in)

55.6

54.4

Second Head Room (in)

37.9

37.3

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

58.2

61.0

Track Width, Rear (in)

59.6

60.4

Wheelbase (in)

104.3

106.3

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

71.8

69.7

Track Width, Front (in)

60.5

60.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

6.3

Length, Overall (in)

172.9

175.0

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

14.5

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

44.8

24.0

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.0 x - TBD -

11.5 x 0.6

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.6 x - TBD -

11.1 x 1.1

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

40.7

34.1

Steering Type

Electric Rack-&-Pinion

Electric Pwr

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

36.1

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

17.0

- TBD -

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Spare Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Rear Tire Size

P225/50R17

P205/55R16

Rear Tire Order Code

- TBD -

Front Tire Size

P225/50R17

P205/55R16

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3640

3401

Wheels

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 x - TBD -

16 x - TBD -

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 x - TBD -

16 x - TBD -

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

Engine

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

143 @ - TBD -

107 @ - TBD -

Engine Type

Electric

Fuel System

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

181 @ - TBD -

207 @ - TBD -

Engine Order Code

- TBD -

EM61

Displacement

Mileage

EPA MPG Equivalent - Combined

105

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

EPA MPG Equivalent - Hwy

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

Battery Range (mi)

- TBD -

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA MPG Equivalent - City

110

106

Transmission

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Order Code

44H

RE1F61A

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

7.93

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

Trans Type

Summary

Vehicle Name

Ford Focus Electric

Nissan LEAF

Body Style

Hatchback

4 Door Hatchback

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

0.63

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

0.63

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

1.00

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

1.00

- TBD -

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

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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