Nissan Leaf Versus Chevy Volt Specs and Features- Round Two

Nissans new entry into the "Green" automobile sector offers a whole host of creature comforts to satisfy new car buyers. The leaf comes standard with a navigation system, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, iPod interface, advanced computer monitoring system and a 6-speaker stereo system.

The Leaf's well-appointed interior rivals that of most mid-class vehicles and the control layout appears to be designed with great consideration to the driver. Headroom upfront is a decent 41.2 -inches while rear passengers can expect a cramped 37.3-inches.

Safety features include an advanced air bag system that includes dual-stage front air bags, along with side curtain restraints for both passenger and driver. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Vehicle Dynamic Control and a tire pressure monitoring, also add to the safety-centric aspect of the Leaf.

The Leaf's cargo capacity holds up to 14.5-cubic feet and the vehicle reasonably accommodates five people. The coveted Nissan Leaf SL adds a spoiler with an integrated solar panel, rearview monitor, fog lamps, HomeLink transceiver and a cargo cover.

The Chevrolet Volt

The Chevy Volt became GM's answer to other competing carmakers that have invested heavily in fuel-efficient vehicles. After a substantial tax rebate of up to $7,500, the Volt's base price drops to $32,780. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf SV starts out at $25,280.

With more aggressive styling than the Leaf, the Chevy Volt appears sportier than the competition with 17-inch polished wheels and chrome exterior accents. Safety features for the Volt appear to be more abundant in contrast to the Leaf; including front, side curtain air bags, knee airbags, OnStar four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and GM's popular StabiliTrak system

Like the Leaf, the Chevrolet Volt employs an in-dash navigation unit, with a 7-inch LCD touch screen. More notable, is the 30 GB of onboard audio storage capacity, XM Radio and a premium 7-speaker Bose audio system.

While the Volt appears to be larger than the Leaf, the actual interior room is less than Nissan's offering. The Volt's front headroom measures in at 37.8-inches, while the rear only allows for 36-inches worth of space for your melon. A rear view camera also comes standard with the Volt, along with a Bluetooth connectivity option and parking-assist system. The interior styling cues are interesting to say the least-but not overly impressive in terms of refinement. The center console looks that of a fighter jet, but the rest of the cockpit screams GM parts bin and has a less than inspired feel.

The biggest plus concerning the Volt's interior would be the color options. While the Leaf only offers a light grey interior, the Volt allows customers up to five color combinations.

Conclusion

The Nissan Leaf clearly wins in terms of refinement, cargo capacity, interior space and price. While the Chevrolet Volt offers more bells and whistles, the interior needs a massage in terms of styling and layout.

The Volt's exterior may not bode wheel with certain consumers, as well. The vehicle's aggressive stance appears to be overshadowed by the cheaper look of the plastic under cladding and oddly placed, black door trim.

Overall comfort and practicality takes precedence in this shootout. I believe the Nissan Leaf exemplifies the need for balance between having user-friendliness and state of the art electronic features.

The Round Two winner is: Nissan Leaf

Read Round One of the Chevrolet Volt Versus Nissan Leaf shootout