So, I swapped my Volt for a Leaf for an overnighter...

[CarZin]

There are about 10 Leaf's on the campus I work. We have an EV listserv. I sent out a message asking if anyone would want to swap cars for a day, and got one very excited taker. He got his Leaf in December, and it is the top level Leaf with all available options. It seems most dual car owner reviews are coming from Leaf owners that buy Volts, not a Volt owner buying a Leaf, so want to point out the differences I saw between the two cars, and what they can marry between the two to make both better...

Pros of the Leaf:
- The EV Meter showing actual instantaneous numbers on kW consumption/regeneration, the pull from your AC system, and other systems is really neat. It is nice to know exactly how much energy the AC is consuming. It is also nice to know the hill that zonks a part of my range everyday is pulling 30 kW per hour when I am on the steepest part of the grade. The Volt should definitely have these meters.

- The Ride is a bit more quiet (however, you can hear the engine whine which is more annoying)

- Braking is more normal and feels more like a normal car

- I prefer the gear selector

- Much better turning radius

- Back seats are better

- Head room is vastly superior


Now the cons:

- The Regeneration is weak compared to the Volt. Their equivalent for 'Low' is 'Econ' mode, which remaps the throttle so the car is very slow off the line and regernation is increased. There is no way to drive the car in 'sport' mode AND have the regernation be aggressive. It is a winning combination on the Volt. The Leaf owner couldnt believe the regernation in the Volt. He loved not having to brake the car except at complete stops. The Leaf simply doesnt have this.

- The front seats dont slide back very far. This may be part of the reason the back seats seem so much roomier.

- The electric engine whine can be annoying.

- Lane change quick flip turn signaling is missing.

- Interior quality is lacking compared to the Volt (plus, no leather options)

- The Range Meter is a joke

- Its missing the electric guages the Volt has, which I would take as a whole compared to the Leaf.


Anyway, if you have good insurance, and a Leaf owner you trust, I suggest trying this out as well. I could definitely live with the Leaf if I had to, although I still really prefer the Volt.

[firebirdbandit]

Thanks for sharing. There seems to be two areas where you meant to say "Volt" and actually said "Leaf".

[firebirdbandit]

I also should note that it seems like the Leaf owner got used to the Volt's L gear pretty quickly. I've given people test drives and they don't seem to like it. I didn't like it at first and my wife didn't either. It seems like it too a few days to a week and now we both use it all the time. It's really one of the big benefits of the Volt. I think most people would prefer driving in L.

[MrEnergyCzar]

Some Freudian slips but a great review....

MrEnergyCzar

[CarZin]

I think I found my mistype in one spot. If you think there is another, let me know.

[guyflyguy]

Very good comparison. I have been driving a loaner Leaf for a week while one of our Volts is in the bump shop (minor repair).
I would agree with everything you say. I drive the Volt in L and am used to the slow down from the regen rather than the coasting of the Leaf. It took awhile to get used to, but after a few days it is acceptable. The GOM (Guess O Meter) is really bad - it promotes range anxiety.
My quick list:
Pro: Interior room is welcome
Con: Not fun to drive
Double con: It's still ugly

[ronr64]

This is all highly opinionated of course but you forgot one very important aspect, at least to some people including myself. And that is style. The Volt is substantially better styled compared to the leaf in my opinion. I mean it is not even close. Of course beauty, even in cars, is only skin deep but the Volt has the personality and function to back up those good looks. (relatively speaking, it aint no Ferrari...)

[CarZin]

Well, that is obviously the eye of the beholder. If it means much, the Leaf owner said he thinks my car is a lot more attractive than the Leaf (I agree), but again, left that out because it is subjective.

[SolarVolt]

Nice review. I think there is one more area you may want to check:

Anyway, if you have good insurance, and a Leaf owner you trust, I suggest trying this out as well. I could definitely live with the Leaf if I had to, although I still really prefer the Leaf.

Was the regen comparable to the Volt when using the brake pedal? Was there a way to tell when the friction brakes started slowing the vehicle as the brake pedal is pressed harder, such as on the EV meter?

Thanks for the write-up.
Bruce

[CarZin]

Doh! That was the other one.

The regen for the Leaf, when you take your foot off the accerlator, is next to non existent compared to the Volt. I couldnt really tell it was there. Using the actual brake pedal was a requirement. One GOOD thing about the meter in the car is that it tells you how much energy you are getting through coasting or braking in actual kW measurements.