WHAT YOU GET HERE ARE
THREE DISTINCT FLAVORS
OF AUTOMOBILE—A SIMPLE
VANILLA, STRAWBERRY, AND
CHOCOLATE SITUATION.
Unbelievably, it’s (as tested) now $2,005
less than the Leaf Plus and undercuts
the Niro by an astonishing $4,715. There
goes the argument that the traditional,
experienced manufacturers are more
efficient at building cars.
However, electric cars are often a hall
of mirrors. Tesla’s federal tax credit
is now exhausted. (Way to punish
successful first movers!) As such,
the Model 3’s as-tested price stays at
$42,690. The Kia and Nissan, on the
other hand, continue to enjoy the $7,500
tax credit, thus placing the Leaf at
$37,195 ($5,495 beneath the Model 3’s
The Model 3’s interior is Zen-like compared to
the other two, and its screen is multiple times
larger (though we’re not fans of white seats).effective price) and the Niro at $39,905
($2,785 below the Tesla).
What you get for these prices are three
distinct flavors of automobile. It’s not
one of those perplexing ice cream shop
choices between hazelnut-almond-rum
or coconut-pecan-raisin. This is a
much simpler chocolate, vanilla, and
strawberry situation.The Leaf Plus is a Tempur-Pedic
passenger car, Dad’s Buick in the lithium
age, with comfy, settle-in seats to glide
Mom to her regular doctor’s appointment
with minimal grumbling and a hatch that
rises to invite the kids’ hockey gear.
The Niro is a fishbowl-windowed
compact SUV—as Kia likes to describe
it—with a firm (often pitching, even
pogoing) ride that pays off with nimble
maneuvering in the hands of a 20-some-
thing driver’s game-controller reactions.
The Model 3 is a low, slinky sport sedan
(remember those?) with a trunk and a
fancy French-curve profile that slightly
compromises rear leg comfort but fabu-
lously amplifies the driving experience.
So let’s swing out the Model 3’s
flush-surface door levers and tug on the
Niro’s and Leaf ’s door handles. Which is
the best mainstream EV for everyday life?COMPARISON
APRIL 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 45Tes l a
Model 3