Compare the2022 Chevrolet BoltVS 2021 Nissan Leaf

The Bolt has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Leaf doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Bolt and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Bolt the rating of “Top Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 160 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Leaf has not been fully tested, yet.

The Bolt’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Leaf’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bolt’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Bolt’s reliability 46 points higher than the Leaf.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

The Bolt’s electric motor produces 53 more horsepower (200 vs. 147) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 236) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor. The Bolt’s electric motor produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 250) than the Leaf PLUS’ standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Bolt is faster than the Nissan Leaf:

On the EPA test cycle the Bolt gets better fuel mileage than the Leaf:

The Bolt’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 259 miles on a full charge, 15% further than the Leaf PLUS’ 226 mile range.

The Bolt stops much shorter than the Leaf:

For better traction, the Bolt has larger tires than the Leaf (215/50R17 vs. 205/55R16).

The Bolt’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf S’ standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Bolt has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Bolt can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Leaf doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Bolt LT handles at .78 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Bolt is 1 foot, 1.2 inches shorter than the Leaf, making the Bolt easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bolt has 2.2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

The Bolt has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Leaf with its rear seat folded (57 vs. 30 cubic feet).

The Bolt’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Bolt and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Bolt is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Bolt’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Bolt’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Leaf’s power lock and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Consumer Reports rated the Bolt’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Leaf’s headlights, which were rated “Poor” to “Good” (depending on model and options).

The Bolt’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV/SL.

The Bolt offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Bolt offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Bolt owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Bolt with a number “5” insurance rate while the Leaf is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Bolt is less expensive to operate than the Leaf because typical repairs cost much less on the Bolt than the Leaf, including $287 less for a water pump, $102 less for front struts and $360 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2018 issue and they ranked the Chevrolet Bolt higher than the Nissan Leaf.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2017. The Leaf has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The Leaf has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bolt as the 2017 North American Car of the Year. The Leaf has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Bolt outsold the Nissan Leaf by over two to one during 2020.