You are here: Home / Industry News / Auto Show Coverage / NAIAS 2013: Nissan Leaf S Model Drops $6,400 In Price

NAIAS 2013: Nissan Leaf S Model Drops $6,400 In Price

January 16, 2013 by 12 Comments
Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Digg Email Reddit Tumblr

Nissan hasn’t been happy with sales of the Leaf EV in the past two years, and it has become clear that major changes were needed to make the Nissan Leaf more appealing. Credit is due to Nissan then for making a massive price cut to the Nissan Leaf, lopping off $6,400 of the lowest-priced 2012 model. When combined with certain state and Federal incentives, a Nissan Leaf could cost as little as $19,000.

The new Nissan Leaf S model will have a starting MSRP of just $28,800, compared to the $35,200 MSRP of the 2012 Nissan Leaf SV. The other Nissan Leaf Models also see a price drop, with the SV model now starting at $31,820, and the top-trim SL model going for $34,840. Nissan credits the move to American-based manufacturing in Smyrna, Tenn. for making these much-lower prices possible.

The Nissan Leaf S model still has plenty of features including air conditioning, power windows and locks, and push-button start. Stepping up from the S to SV model though gets you 16-inch aluminum wheels, a 6.6 kW onboard charger (up from the 3.3 kW charger on the S model), a hybrid heating system, upgraded speakers, and a 7-inch LCD display.

Finally, the SL model adds 17-inch wheels, leather seats, a 480-volt fast-charging port, LED lights, and a solar panel-equipped spoiler. With states like California offering a $2,500 tax rebate on EVs, combined with the $7,500 rebate from the Federal government, the Nissan Leaf now feels like the pricing is a lot more appropriate.

Can an under $20,000 Nissan Leaf save the electric vehicle? Or is this new pricing scheme too little, too late to pull Leaf sales up to expectations?

Print Friendly Version of this pagePrint Get a PDF version of this webpagePDF
Filed Under: Auto Show Coverage, Electric Vehicles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
About Christopher DeMorro

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can follow his slow descent into madness and non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.

  • Ashfaq Rasheed

    I had test driven it in December, I am going to go lease one now!!

  • Nixon

    “When combined with certain state and Federal incentives, a Nissan Leaf could cost as little as $19,000.”

    Even less if you know when to buy to get the best deals, and have really good negotiating skills. $19K is still based upon MSRP. That leaves lots of dealer profit still on the table to be haggled over. EV buyers need to refuse to buy at MSRP just because EV’s have electric motors instead of gas motors. Just say no to MSRP, even when you are leasing!

    • Christopher DeMorro

      @ Nixon

      Car dealers generally don’t make much money on new car sales, depending on the vehicle it could be as little as a few hundred bucks per car. Rather, dealers make their money on used car sales and big bonus incentives from the automaker for reaching certain sales goals.

      That said, there is probably some wiggle room…but I think at $19,000, the Nissan Leaf suddenly makes a lot more sense.

  • t_

    It makes a LOT more sense to buy now a Leaf. It suddenly costs almost as much as a similar gas powered car. Now it is time that many people realize, that they can drive eco- friendly and also save much money(no gas, significantly lower pay for maintenance). If this move pushes other automakers to lower their prices also, then electric car sales should accelerate. There are many people, who would have such car, but cannot or do not want to pay so much.

  • Pingback: Next Chevy Volt To Cost “Thousands” Less - Gas 2

  • Diego

    They should make three different models with different ranges like Tesla, instead of only lowering the price of the car.

    The Leaf is a nice car, but it’s range is lacking.

  • Pingback: Nissan Leaf Getting NISMO Version, But Only For Japan - Gas 2

  • Pingback: Ford Focus Electric Cost Cut, But Still Not Competitive - Gas 2

  • Pingback: Video: Watch The Manufacture Of A Nissan Leaf In Tennesseee - Gas 2

  • Pingback: GM Aiming To Cut Chevy Volt Cost By $10,000 - Gas 2

  • Pingback: Nissan Leaf Being Manufactured (VIDEO) | CleanTechnica

  • Jay Dratler Jr.

    Leaf sales will start to rise as people start discounting fossil-fuel industry propaganda and doing their own arithmetic.

    With solar panels, you can dump gasoline and its high (and rising!) energy cost forever. You can “gas up” in your own garage, without smell, mess or fire risk. And you can recover the solar array cost in just a few years, depending on how much you drive.

    To see how, search for “Jay solar car payback” or “the physics-economics of solar panels.” (This is not a solicitation: I have nothing to sell but math. I’m getting my own solar array installed this summer and buying an EV this fall.)