Trying to make sense of which electric car is worth buying for me. I want:
- some autopilot for motorway traffic
- pedestrian/car automatic braking
- 300km motorway range
- less than 45k€ price, ideally less than 40k€
So right now, candidates are Tesla Model 3 (standard range), Nissan LEAF e-Plus (AKA 2019), Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric. I consider the Chevy Bolt EV/Opel Ampera-e to be dead in Europe.
Spoiler alert: I have ordered the Kia e-Niro which fits the bill!
I have put question marks below when the numbers are guesses of mine.
| Tesla Model 3 SR | Nissan LEAF e-Plus | Hyundai Kona Electric | Kia e-Niro | |
| France availability | Q2 2019 or later | Q4 2018 (acc. to local dealer) | Now | Q1 2019 |
| Total price before incentives | 50k€ (Premium pack 5k€ + Autopilot 5k€)? | 45k€? | 45k€ (Executive) | 42.5k€ (e-Active) |
| Gross battery capacity (kWh) | 52 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
| Battery supplier | Tesla/Panasonic | LG Chem | LG Chem | LG Chem |
| EPA Range (km/miles) | 354/220 | 362/225 | 415/258 | 415/258 |
| Battery thermal management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charge connector type(s) | Tesla CCS | Chademo+CCS or Chademo+CCS-Combo or CCS-Combo | CCS-Combo | CCS-Combo |
| Fast battery charge max power (kW) | 120 | 100 | 100 (54 min from 0 to 80% at 70kW) | 100 (54 min from 0 to 80%, 42 min from 20 to 80%) |
| Slow battery charge max power (kW) | 7.7 | 11-22 | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Motor power (kW/hp) | 192/258 | 160/215 | 150/204 | 150/204 |
| 0-100km/h (s) | 5.6 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 7.8 |
| Reversible Heat Pump | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptative Cruise Control/Lane Keep Assist | $5000 option | N-Connecta has ProPilot option? | LKA on Executive only | Standard (Level 2 autonomous driving) |
| 360° camera | No | Yes | No | No |
| 5-seater | Need to see European model, floor very high at the back, but seats recently upped | Yes but huge central floor hump | Yes but little back space. Very low central floor hump though (2.5cm/1in) | Very low central floor hump though (2.5cm/1in) |