On Hybrids & Electrics: 2012 Nissan Leaf (Again!)
By Steven Lang on March 1, 2012
Over the last 5 years, my family has driven various Toyota and Honda hybrids for well over 100,000 miles. A 2003 Civic Hybrid, two Priuses (01 and 05), and a 2001 Honda Insight. The results? About 50 mpg. Lots of complements with the 1st generation Insight in particular, and a driving experience totally devoid of high revs and Baruthian thrusts.
The good news is we’ve saved about $6000 in gas costs. For a family of four that can add up to a lot of alternative forms of excitement. We’re talking long vacations. Cheap cruises. IRA’s and 529′s.
Well OK. These aren’t the types of excitement that truly make an auto enthusiast. But for 98% of the driving that we do, the hybrids have served as a brilliant way to keep us on a better financial path during this nasty recession.
There is a down side to those rosey financials. We still spent well over $6000 in gas. That money will be going, in part, to the Arab dictatorships and the Russian mafia. Not to go too deep into the ideological and religious morass. But as with many of you, I would strongly prefer to minimize our financial and political involvement with these forces.
Enter the Leaf. Can this all too known electric car solve our long-term oil dependence? Or is it a future footnote of automotive history like GM’s EV1?
In Ocean Blue the Nissan Leaf is an absolutely stunning vehicle if you are among the less than 1% of American auto enthusiasts who appreciate a hint of French design.
The Leaf has an almost 2CV-like curvature from the front bumper to the b-pillar, and then the quintessential tucked in rear that many folks associate with modern day French hatchbacks. The front end also has a slight buggy eyed look to it that Renault-Nissan applies in spades (and clubs) to the Nissan Juke. It works well with the Leaf when you see it in person.
To me the Leaf looks nice and subtle compared to the insectozoid exterior designs of the Prius and the bulky proportions of the Volt. As for today’s consumer, most everyone else will look at the Leaf and see a simple Versa hatchback with minor tweaks. The design is still French though. Even if it now takes a Japanese brand name to sell it.
By Steven Lang on March 1, 2012

Over the last 5 years, my family has driven various Toyota and Honda hybrids for well over 100,000 miles. A 2003 Civic Hybrid, two Priuses (01 and 05), and a 2001 Honda Insight. The results? About 50 mpg. Lots of complements with the 1st generation Insight in particular, and a driving experience totally devoid of high revs and Baruthian thrusts.
The good news is we’ve saved about $6000 in gas costs. For a family of four that can add up to a lot of alternative forms of excitement. We’re talking long vacations. Cheap cruises. IRA’s and 529′s.
Well OK. These aren’t the types of excitement that truly make an auto enthusiast. But for 98% of the driving that we do, the hybrids have served as a brilliant way to keep us on a better financial path during this nasty recession.
There is a down side to those rosey financials. We still spent well over $6000 in gas. That money will be going, in part, to the Arab dictatorships and the Russian mafia. Not to go too deep into the ideological and religious morass. But as with many of you, I would strongly prefer to minimize our financial and political involvement with these forces.
Enter the Leaf. Can this all too known electric car solve our long-term oil dependence? Or is it a future footnote of automotive history like GM’s EV1?

In Ocean Blue the Nissan Leaf is an absolutely stunning vehicle if you are among the less than 1% of American auto enthusiasts who appreciate a hint of French design.
The Leaf has an almost 2CV-like curvature from the front bumper to the b-pillar, and then the quintessential tucked in rear that many folks associate with modern day French hatchbacks. The front end also has a slight buggy eyed look to it that Renault-Nissan applies in spades (and clubs) to the Nissan Juke. It works well with the Leaf when you see it in person.

To me the Leaf looks nice and subtle compared to the insectozoid exterior designs of the Prius and the bulky proportions of the Volt. As for today’s consumer, most everyone else will look at the Leaf and see a simple Versa hatchback with minor tweaks. The design is still French though. Even if it now takes a Japanese brand name to sell it.
