Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf, second generation, ideally the 62 kWh Leaf Plus The cheapest way into a usable EV, as long as you buy it for what it is. The battery is air-cooled rather than liquid-cooled, and some pre-2015 Leafs degraded badly in extreme heat, so target a second-generation car, ideally the Leaf Plus sold from 2019. It fast-charges through CHAdeMO, a plug almost no other EV still uses, and many 2019 to 2022 US cars were recalled over a fire risk while fast charging, so confirm the dealer software fix, offered since mid-2026, was done. Get a battery health report: dropping below 9 of 12 capacity bars makes it eligible for a warranty repair, not a new battery. It suits commuting and errands in a mild climate with charging at home.