Nissan Leaf US pricing official: as low as $25,280

[tinrobot]

It's official: starting this December, Nissan dealerships in select U.S markets will start selling the all-electric Leaf, the first mass-produced, zero-emission vehicle, at a starting price of $32,780. After $7,500 worth of federal tax credits, the price should drop to as low as $25,280. There are several states offering additional tax credits that could lower the cost of owning a Leaf even more – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California, a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia and a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon.

Nissan also announced a lease program for the Leaf that will put you in the drivers seat for $349 a month for three years.

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/2011-nissan-leaf-us-pricing-officially-announced-as-low-as-25/

With the $5,000 rebate in California, the price drops to a little over $20k.

The reason I post this is that the Leaf is actually affordable, and will be the first commercial battery electric vehicle to offer a real competitive alternative to gasoline powered cars.

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. See also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=238911&mesg_id=238911

[seabeckind]

2. Sorry, not affordable to me...

I couldn't afford to do the clunker thingy, either. I guess I'll stick with my 14 year old Ranger.

[Javaman]

4. Same here.

14 years old, 202,000 miles, leaking oil.

I'm hoping I can limp it along for a couple more years, so I can buy another used one.

New cars just don't figure into my finances or my future.

[SocialistLez]

3. That isn't low

My mom is paying for my car right now and when my 2005 Saturn gives out, I'll probably be looking at the Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit.

I really want a Nissan Leaf but I'm a bit wary of the reliability of a Nissan.

I hope Ford or Honda comes out with an electric car soon. I hate that Honda hypes up hydrogen fuel cell cars. I want a plug-in hybrid da**it!

[tinrobot]

5. Ford will have a Focus EV next year.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. What's wrong with Nissan's?

Probably rated higher in quality than Toyota's right now. :D

[SocialistLez]

7. I like the styling

An aunt of mine got her rich fiance to buy her the new Maxima. It's nice but I've looked at the stats on Nissan and I'd rather get a Honda.

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Reliability

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/cr-recommended/best-worst-in-car-reliability-1005/reliability-findings/reliability-findings.htm

...

Asian brands still dominate

The major Japanese brands and South Korea's Hyundai and Kia make plenty of reliable vehicles. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 were Asian. Toyota accounted for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.

On the whole, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Hondas and Acuras were average or above. Toyota, with its Lexus and Scion brands providing a broader product range, had just one vehicle that was below average in reliability, the Lexus GS AWD.

The Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have been mostly very good despite lapses such as the subpar Nissan Quest minivan. The once problematic Infiniti QX56 and Nissan Armada SUVs are now average, and the same goes for the 4WD Nissan Titan pickup, although its RWD version is still troublesome. Over the last two surveys, the Nissan Versa hatchback has been average while the sedan has been far below average-an oddity.

...

[Statistical]

9. Yeah Hyundai is passing Nissan.

I would buy a Hyundai before a Nissan.

I wish more companies would get into EV market though. I mean it is a good first start but having a single mass produced model (excluding the 6 figure Tesla) is well limiting. :)