The Most Affordable Electric Car With A Five-Star Safety Rating

Nowadays, finding an electric, safe, and affordable model can feel tricky. Considering the average EV costs $50,000+, the market has seen falling prices in this realm. There is still quite a gap between ICE and EV models, but that doesn’t mean you can’t weed through the pricey nameplates and find an electric model for $30,000 or less. Many brands offer “affordable” electric cars, trucks, and SUVs, including Nissan, Toyota, Ford, Tesla, and so on.

We’ve seen some EV manufacturers slash prices by thousands to keep up with the current struggling auto market, but this doesn’t trump value and safety. Nothing really does. When we think of a safe vehicle, gas or electric, the IIHS, NHTSA, and J.D. Power pop into mind. You rely on these agencies and outlets to report true crash reports from cars so you can make a knowledgeable purchase.

Safety in the EV space has always been a big deal. Manufacturers have more time to deal with safety tech and driver-assistance features, in lieu of perfecting an engine, which makes the battery-driven experience all the more better. Here’s the most affordable EV with a five-star rating from the NHTSA that you can buy new in 2024.

Review

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Nissan Leaf: The Ultra Safe, Ultra Affordable Icon

For 2024, your cheapest AND safest electric model comes from Nissan’s EV fleet. It’s the Leaf! This model first launched in August of 2009 and has since evolved into a perky, easy-to-enjoy four-door compact car that thousands of North American shoppers drive every day. This nameplate is on the smaller side, offering 150 to 215 miles of range per full charge, depending on battery configuration. What’s nice is that for this year, the Leaf offers a 40 kWh battery or a 60 kWh one, with your larger battery offering 200+ miles. The sticker price for this compact model currently sits at $28,140, and Nissan has continued to evolve the vehicle since its launch.

The Nissan Leaf is not only the cheapest EV with a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but also one of the most efficient in its class. 10’s across the board for Leaf: NOW. We’ll cover its NHTSA rundown below, so keep scrolling and reading.

Safety First, Theatrics Last

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2024 Nissan Leaf receives a dazzling five-star safety report card, highlighting its crashworthiness in front, side, and rollover events. You see perfect scores in the side crash testing, while front and rollover have near-perfect 4-star reviews. The NHTSA rounds up popular nameplates annually and tests them for safety and general crash response, so this is where you should look if you’re wondering about stats. IIHS is another good resource, although the NHTSA is our first look when shopping for a new or used vehicle.

When The Leaf Became A Safety Superstar

Since the Lead first hit the scene in 2009, it’s seen good safety scoring. 2024 is just one of the countless five-star years for this compact four-door, so it’s safe to say it’s worth a chance. Unlike many models that fall flat in safety and prioritize aesthetics, the Leaf feels like a sturdy choice for most households. You don’t have as many bells and whistles as a Model 3, but you get a great car for an even greater MSRP. As we shared above, this series has a starting MSRP of $28,140. That’s well under the EV average and beats out many other, less safe vehicles in the electric segment.

For 2024, you have two trims to select from: Nissan Leaf S or Nissan Leaf SV. The S trim has a 40 kWh battery, travels ~150 miles per charge, and has a five-star safety score from the NHTSA. In contrast, your SV Leaf is more expensive, retailing at $36,190, and offers the larger 60 kWH battery pack and 215 miles of range per charge. Let’s face it. 150 miles is not great. However, for its price and safety scoring, you can bet on the Leaf S to get you from point A to B without a problem. You also want to consider that most commutes will be under 150 miles of charge, so your car doesn’t need to have much more mileage as long as you charge it.

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Nissan Leaf Plays It Safe; Literally

For anybody hoping to jump behind the wheel of a Nissan Leaf in 2024, this is a pretty good option. As we shared above, the nameplate has been around for many generations, continuing to improve inside, outside, and right on its platform. Nissan has been releasing more and more hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs since the Leaf first hit North American roadways, so there’s a clear commitment to eco-friendly design.

The Ariya is a perfect example of the company’s evolution, although it costs $39,590. The Leaf has always been your “cheap” choice among Nissan’s fleet and will likely stay that way moving into 2030. That does not have to be a negative thing, though. The Leaf is what many consider to be Toyota’s Prius and is well-known across the world. Is it the best EV in history? No. Is it super safe and great for people on tighter budgets? Yes. That’s a win for us.

2024 Nissan Leaf Specifications

Up To 111 MPGe Combined

We can’t gloss over the fact the Nissan Leaf has one of the best MPGe’s in the electric space for 2024. Per the EPA, this four-door compact car boasts 123 city MPGe and 99 highway MPGe and has a combined rating of 111 MPGe. This is for the cheapest entry trim, so you get quite a decent output per kWh with this model. It’s also worth mentioning the EPA suggests by driving this model, you will save $6,250 in your first five years compared to someone in an ICE nameplate. That could be reason enough to make the switch. 149 miles is the official estimate of the EPA for this car’s range, with Nissan claiming 150 miles. Not a huge discrepancy. We’ve certainly seen larger ones.

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The Nissan Leaf Is An Unsung Hero Of The EV Industry

Although the Nissan Leaf may not be a sports car or a luxury nameplate, that was never its intention. As the year’s cheapest EV with a five-star safety rating, you can expect quality with this model. Since the late 2000s, we’ve watched the Leaf nameplate expand to its current fleet, and with safety and reliability ratings coming back near-perfect, there’s no better time to invest in one.

As we always remind our readers, a good, sturdy EV can change your life. Not only is this an emission-free method of driving each day, but you also can kiss inflating gas prices goodbye. The Leaf has a smaller battery, being able to recharge 128 miles in 42 minutes using Level 3 DC fast charging stations. Even at Level 2, this model sees overnight charge times for both its 40 kWh and 60 kWh batteries, totaling:

• 40 kWh battery charge time: Approx. 7 hours & 45 minutes = full charge
• 60 kWh battery charge time: Approx. 11 hours = full charge

Again, you’re getting between 150 and 215 miles of expected range from this model, so you can depend on it for everyday commutes without a problem. Remember, you’re only a fast charge away from being fully juiced up in any electric nameplate. It’s not as scary as it seems. We promise!