Nissan Leaf bests, Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, Train in cheapest commute test

2011 Nissan LEAF
2011 Nissan LEAF

With fuel-efficiency being the latest hot-button issue in the auto industry, no one really stops to ask the true cost of commuting in one gas-sipper over another, or even over using mass-transit.

Kicking Tires conducted a test in the Chicago area, comparing the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Ford Focus on a 64.5 mile round-trip commute from Chicago to one of its suburbs.

The Leaf bested the bunch, with a total fuel cost of $2.40. The Volt, Prius, and Focus, incurred costs of $4.79, $5.02, and $8.72, respectively. The cost of taking the train came out to $10, but with a monthly pass, that number fell to $4.28, beating out all options but the Leaf.

Not factored in to these cost figures are factors such as tax credits, installation of a Level 2 charging port at your home (needed for the Leaf), initial price of car, climate, and personal driving style.

One other option to consider is time. Traveling by train during rush-hour shaves an average of 40 minutes per day off of commute time, a premium some people can not put a price on.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Kicking Tires