The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt. The EV's reputation has been boosted after Chevrolet fixed battery problems that had been a cause of fires.Jeremy sinek/The Globe and Mail
My wife and I have three kids ages 11, 7 and 3, and a midsize dog. We have a 2013 Honda Odyssey, which is almost paid off. We rent a house and are looking for an electric vehicle to replace or help the Honda Odyssey, that can accommodate our carpooling needs, driving the kids to and from school, which is more than 2 kilometres away. Any ideas? – Russell
Petrina Gentile: Russell has his hands full with three kids and a dog. He should definitely hang on to the Honda Odyssey – nothing beats a minivan for hauling around big families. And even though it’s a 2013 model, it doesn’t sound like he drives much so the mileage is probably low. And it’s almost paid off – another bonus.
Mark Richardson: He needs a second vehicle for just running around, usually with just him or his wife. So something small and easy. If the Odyssey is there for the heavy hauling, he won’t need that much range, either. I’d start with looking at a Chevrolet Bolt.
Gentile: The Bolt is the right size, but I’m not big on recommending it. It has been in the news for safety concerns and fire risks, and it doesn’t have GM’s new Ultium battery platform. Personally, I’d skip it.
Richardson: Those reasons are exactly why I’d recommend it. A year or so ago, all the Bolts were recalled because the batteries could catch fire, but Chevrolet fixed the problem and they’re now considered safe. That reputation, and the older battery, means a much shorter wait time if you want to buy one. A friend of mine just took delivery after only two months.
Gentile: That still makes me wary. I’d rather wait longer for something else with the latest technology. I’d take a Nissan Leaf over the Bolt any day.
Richardson: But Russell doesn’t need the latest and greatest – his electric car will be a second vehicle. A Bolt will be fine for him, it’s relatively affordable at around $40,000 before taxes and rebates, and he can take delivery soon. If he wants more space for carrying kids or the dog, he can opt for the Bolt EUV that has slightly more room in the back.
The Nissan Leaf was the first mass-produced all-electric vehicle on the market more than a decade ago, and more than 550,000 have been sold globally.Nissan
Gentile: I still prefer the Leaf – it’s practical and has a good track record. After all, it was the first mass-produced all-electric vehicle on the market more than a decade ago and more than 550,000 have been sold globally. It also falls in the same price range as the Bolt and he can find a used one, for less.
Richardson: Used is probably the way to go, because the price will be lower for Russell’s first EV. The Leaf is comparatively slow to charge, and it uses the less common CHAdeMO system at rapid charging stations, but none of that is an issue when it’s charged at home. Russell’s EV will probably always be charged overnight at home because the van is available for the longer distances. If it’s a used vehicle, I’d go for the long and reliable history of the Leaf.
Gentile: He should keep in mind a number of new EVs are already on the market like the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but there are long wait times for those.
Richardson: Those are among the best EVs available right now, as well as the Tesla Model 3 and the Kia EV6, which is one reason for the year-long wait times. But for Russell, the best EV would be way more than he needs.
Gentile: If he wants to wait a few months, several more are coming, like the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles.
Richardson: I drove the Ariya recently in California and it was a surprisingly good vehicle. Practical space inside and attractive on the outside, but it’s still more than Russell needs at this stage. It’s a lot more money than he needs to pay, too. It starts at $53,000 before taxes and rebates, and Nissan isn’t even taking orders for it yet. He should stick with something used.
The 2023 Nissan Ariya has a practical use of space on the inside and an attractive appearance on the outside.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: Used is the way to go. I drove the bZ4X in California a few months ago; it’s priced at less than $45,000, but the wait list is long.
Richardson: The overall cheaper prices are not the same for used EVs as for used gas-powered vehicles because the federal rebate, and some of the half-dozen provincial rebates, only apply to new EVs. Also, while there’s a general shortage of everything, the price of used is staying high. However, it’s still less expensive to buy used if you can find one, and I think we both recommend the Nissan Leaf for its reliability, practicality, and decade-long reputation.
Gentile: And there are some used vehicle discounts – Plug’n’Drive in Ontario, a not-for-profit that promotes EVs, for example, offers $1,000 off a used vehicle price. There’s talk of the federal government offering a used vehicle rebate in the near future, too.
Richardson: If so, it’ll be matching PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with offering something to help buy a used EV. But one thing’s for sure – this won’t be the last electric car that Russell will buy.
Gentile: It won’t. For now, Russell should make the transition to electric with a used Leaf.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Petrina at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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Petrina Gentile
Mark Richardson