Long-Range 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus Starts at $37,445

Yesterday, Tesla announced that it would finally begin taking orders for the long-awaited $35,000 (well, $36,200 with destination) version of the Model 3. Today, in a move that feels very intentional, Nissan announced pricing for the long-range Leaf Plus.

While the regular Leaf gets a 40-kilowatt-hour battery and a 150-mile range, the Leaf Plus gives you a 62-kWh battery and a 226-mile range. If you want the base S model, that will cost you $37,445 with destination. Upgrading to the fancier SV costs an extra $1,960, bringing the price up to $39,405. The top-trim SL version, however, comes with a much larger price bump of $4,040, putting your total at $43,445.

That means the base Leaf Plus is a bit more expensive than the base Model 3, but assuming Nissan doesn’t change what it charges for options, that difference can quickly disappear. For example, the short-range Leaf S can be ordered in five different colors. If you want a Model 3 that isn’t black, though, other paint colors cost from $1,500 to $2,500. The Leaf’s hatchback design also makes it a little more practical than the Model 3 even if it’s also slower and less sporty.

When we first drove the Leaf Plus, we came away convinced that even though we didn’t yet know pricing, there was no longer a reason to buy the regular Leaf. You get more range, quicker charging, and significantly more power. For an extra $6,500, that’s a great deal. Is it enough to lure customers away from the Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevrolet Bolt, and others though? Time will tell.

Source: Nissan

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