Most buyers overlook the 2021 Nissan Leaf — but they would be wrong to do so. While the market for electric vehicles is endlessly expanding, more rooted options like the Nissan Leaf are easy to pass over, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a worthwhile option for an electric sedan. In fact, it made the list of Autotrader’s “10 Best Electric Cars for 2021,” and critics agree that it rightfully deserves its spot.

The top 10 best electric cars for 2021

Earlier this month, Autotrader officially published their final picks for the top electric cars of 2021 — and some of them may surprise you. There were a variety of choices, showing a widespread of thought and distributing the high accolade to brands less obvious than Tesla — and, it may be worth noting that among the cars selected, none of them were from Tesla. The 2021 Nissan Leaf sits happily amongst those choices, along with direct competitors such as the Chevy Bolt EV.

How many versions of the 2021 Nissan Leaf are there?

In their press release, Nissan was delighted to announce the placement of its 2021 Nissan Leaf onto the AutoTrader list. But, the list wasn’t specific about any trim level or package option, of which there are two for the Nissan Leaf. The base model Leaf starts at a more affordable $31,670 and offers a reported 150 mile of range on a single charge. Upgrade to the second and final option, the long-range Leaf Plus, and you can expect to get as much as 226 miles of range at a higher price tag of around $38,270.

Autotrader restrictions for the list

You may have wondered why some cars didn’t make the list. While it’s true that the 2021 Nissan Leaf is a great option for an electric vehicle, it also fits into the restrictions required to make the list — where some other cars don’t. To find a place on this Autotrader list, the car must be priced under $75,000 to ensure that it is a reasonable enough purchase for the general consumer base. Sure, you could say there are plenty of amazing electric hypercars and supercars on the market, but that doesn’t really help us make any purchasing decisions.

Along with that, the car must be readily available for purchase or will be available for purchase to the general consumer market at the time the list is published or within six months of publication, again in an effort to make it relevant and timely to readers. The final step is a criterion regarding range, where the vehicle must be able to sustain power solely from an electric drivetrain source for a minimum of 15 miles.

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, and that also means that the technology is becoming both more affordable and more versatile. Every year it seems that new EV options are popping up on the market, but that doesn’t mean that more established and seemingly less exciting options aren’t worth your time or money, too.