Most people nowadays are more aware of how their certain actions can affect the environment. The climate change caused by environmental change has become a great issue. A lot of huge companies have tried to make more environmental-friendly products, and when we talk about automobiles, there is no exception.
These days, electric vehicles are developed to make environmentally-friendly vehicles. And one of the famous automotive brands that create these vehicles is none other than Tesla. In the past few years, Tesla has released a lot of electric car models that are not only good for the environment but also has an outstanding performance. One of the most popular models from Tesla is Tesla Model 3.
On the other hand, Nissan, one of the famous oh-so-familiar Japanese car brands, also made an electric vehicle called Nissan LEAF. This 5-doors hatchback was introduced for the Japanese and United States market in December 2010. LEAF, (which is an acronym for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car) has developed since and just released its newest model in 2020.
Right of the bat, we can see that Tesla Model 3 and Nissan LEAF are both great examples of awesome electric cars. But which one of them is actually a better ride?
Price
First of all, let’s talk about prices. 2020 Nissan LEAF is sold for around $31,620 per unit, while the 2020 Tesla Model 3 is sold for around $39,990. In terms of price, we can say that Nissan LEAF is definitely the winner. But of course, which one worth the price is still a questionable matter.
Exterior
When we buy a car, we don’t want it only to be functional, but we would also want it to look cool. And in terms of the designs, both 2020 Nissan LEAF and 2020 Tesla Model 3 has attention-grabbing designs, as well as they are aerodynamic.
For the Nissan LEAF, we can see a car with a strong profile that would be more attractive to car shoppers who are in search of a family car but still have that aggressive look. Nissan LEAF has still the iconic V-Motion grille and LED headlamps on the front. We can also see the sleek lines on the sides, which makes it look sporty. Nissan LEAF also has a unique floating roof design that makes the overall look of this car even more eye-catching.
Similar to the Nissan LEAF, Tesla Model 3 also has an eye-catching design, but we can feel more of a sporty vibe right away when we see this car. Tesla Model 3 has this particular design that makes it look faster than Nissan LEAF, almost like a sports car. Interestingly, the Tesla Model 3 is built on a metal structure which is a combination of aluminum and steel. These materials help Tesla Model 3 to resist heavy crashes and therefore increases safety for its drivers and passengers.
Even though we can count on Tesla Model 3 in terms of safety, parking especially in smaller parking spaces can be a bit tricky with this one, considering this car is 184.8 inches long. Meanwhile, 176.4 inches Nissan LEAF makes it easier for us to park.
Interior
Now let’s move on to the cabins of 2020 Nissan LEAF and 2020 Tesla Model 3. Nissan LEAF has a modern interior design, packed with a variety of technologies, including driver-assistive systems. These systems will help Nissan LEAF take on any road with no doubt. We can also see the steering wheel-mounted audio controls, automatic temperature control, and 7-inch information display on the Nissan LEAF.
Nissan LEAF also provides connectivity features such as smartphone integration, which will allow the drivers to stay connected and focused on the road at the same time. This feature also comes with hands-free text messaging assistance. Convenient!
The Tesla Model 3 has a more futuristic touch in the interior design. This car is packed with even more technology that we probably have never seen before. First of all, Tesla Model 3 has a 15-inch touchscreen display as the main infotainment source. It also comes with a navigation and WiFi feature.
Do you think that is all? Think again. Tesla Model 3 allows us to use our smartphone as a key and allows us to access all the driver controls on the touchscreen. This car even has an autopilot feature where the drivers can go on a drive without actually having to drive at all.
Now, both 2020 Nissan LEAF and 2020 Tesla Model 3 might have a wide high technology touchscreen display that can fully entertain its drivers and passengers. And it seems that Tesla Model 3 is leading with all the technologies it has. But when we come to the matter of cargo space, Nissan LEAF is unbeatable. 2020 Nissan LEAF comes with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Unfortunately, Tesla Model 3 only offers much smaller cargo space, which is 15 cubic feet.
Performance
Enough about designs and interior features, let’s get into the performances. 2020 Nissan LEAF comes standard with a 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor and 40 kWh lithium-ion battery. This configuration allows Nissan LEAF to generates 214 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Tesla Model 3 comes with a Standard Range Battery that generates 258 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. In terms of fuel economy, Nissan LEAF is also falling behind with only 149 MPGe, while the Tesla Model 3 can reach 250 MPGe.
And speaking about acceleration, the 2020 Nissan LEAF can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Not that fast, but it is still pretty good. But for you the speed lovers, here is some good news. The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has an outstanding acceleration. This car can runs from 0 to 100 km/h only in 3.3 seconds!
Safety Features
First, let’s look into 2020 Nissan LEAF safety features. As the active safety features, Nissan LEAF comes standard with Anti-lock Braking System, Stability Control, and Engine Immobilizer as an extra security system. And for the passive safety features, Nissan LEAF is equipped with front-impact airbags, side-impact airbags, overhead airbags, knee airbags, and seatbelts pretensioners.
2020 Tesla Model 3 has pretty much the same safety features that Nissan LEAF has. It is equipped with Anti-lock Braking System, Stability Control, Engine Immobilizer, seatbelt pretensioners, as well as front, side, overhead, and knee airbags. So, in terms of safety features, we can see that both of these cars are at the same level.
Conclusion
Okay, so here comes the big question: Which car is a better ride? We know that Tesla Model 3 is more expensive than the Nissan LEAF. But we all have to agree that Tesla Model 3 offers more technology and performance than its competitor. It is fast, comfortable, reliable, and also comes with remarkable performance. There is no arguing that the Tesla Model 3 worth the price and IS the better ride.
But on the other hand, for the car shoppers who are looking for not so fast, maybe more of a family-friendly car, Nissan LEAF is definitely the way to go. It is cheaper and has more cargo space, so going on road trips with the family will be guaranteed to be enjoyable.
How about you? Which one do you think is a better car? Or do you have a favorite car of your own? Let us know in the comment section below!