Nissan's real Tesla rival won't come until late 2018

Nissan on Tuesday night took the wraps off its 2018 Leaf - and the reveal was fairly lackluster.

The car does have a range upgrade, but it's nominal at 150 miles. It starts at $29,990 and comes with some nice tech perks, like ProPilot Assist and an "e-pedal" that lets drivers start, accelerate, decelerate, and stop using just their right foot. But it falls short of being a Tesla Model 3 or Chevy Bolt competitor.

Nissan is planning to pull out the real show-stopper in late 2018. Nissan President Hiroto Saikawa said a second-generation Leaf with a 60-kWh battery could have a range exceeding 300 miles, the Financial Times reported. Keep in mind that the range could fall when using US fuel economy standards.

Still, it's clear Nissan's real Tesla competitor has yet to come. Until then, the roughly $30,000 Leaf could be a good choice for a budget conscious shopper who doesn't regularly travel long distances.

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