Bolt vs Leaf: Hybrid Performance

The most appealing part of any electric vehicle is undoubtedly its performance. When anyone gets behind the wheel of an EV, they’re looking for unparalleled fuel economy and the power to turn heads around town.

Both the Bolt and Leaf are certainly capable of that. The Bolt is powered by an electric drive unit, while a standard 110 kW AC synchronous electric motor does the work for the Leaf.

Each engine is capable of commendable power, but you’ll see noticeably more in the Bolt. While the Leaf sees up to 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque with its standard engine, the Bolt churns out a jaw dropping 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the highlight of any EV, the Bolt once again shines a bit brighter. Even in some of its more premium trim levels, the Leaf’s highest possible battery range is 226 miles. There’s just no competing with the 259-mile range of the Bolt.

Even in the EPA-estimated MPG equivalents, the Bolt is far ahead of the competition. With a 127 MPG city equivalent and 108 MPG highway equivalent, you’ll be able to stay out on the road longer.

Bolt vs Leaf: Interior Comfort & Convenience

As impressive as the hybrid capabilities and effortless charging are, that’s likely not all you’re looking for in the Bolt or Leaf.

Luckily, both come standardly equipped with beautifully crafted interior cabins designed for your comfort and convenience. That starts with their spacious seating options. Here, the Bolt once again grabs the advantage, providing those in the second row 36.01 inches of legroom compared to the 33.5 inches in the back of the Leaf.

Still, these electric vehicles do share plenty of interior features such as:

• Automatic climate control
• Heated front seats
• Push button start/stop
• 60/40 split-folding rear seating

Depending on which trim you choose, in either vehicle, you can also expect some upgrades like a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel.

Bolt vs Leaf: Intelligent Safety

You’ll also see the technology of the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf at play in their impressive rosters of intelligent safety features.

Both come with plenty of intuitive systems to have your back on the road ahead. Some of their shared safety features include:

• Blind Zone Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Pedestrian Detection
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

There’s no doubt that you and your passengers will be protected in either the Bolt of the Leaf. However, if you’re looking for just a bit more peace of mind behind the wheel, you’ll want to go with the Bolt.

Along with everything else, the Bolt features some unique safety features you won’t be able to find in the Leaf. For example, the following distance indicator will help you maintain an appropriate and safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.

Additionally, the teen driver system will allow you to keep a close eye on those drivers-in-training, letting you limit certain features and automatically turn on specific safety systems. It’ll also provide an in-vehicle report card to monitor their driving habits.

Finally, the HD surround vision system of the Bolt uses multiple cameras to give you an overhead look at your vehicle and the surrounding area. All this additional safety technology helps the Bolt set an unrivaled safety standard, and one you certainly won’t find in the Nissan Leaf.