If you’re looking for an affordable electric car and don’t want a Tesla, then you should check out the new Volkswagen ID.4 and the Nissan Leaf. Both EVs present a great value proposition as you can buy either for around the $30k to $40k range and achieve over 200 miles on a single charge. But which one really provides you with the better value?

Nissan Leaf versus the Volkswagen ID.4

The all-new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 has been the talk of the EV town over the past few months, and we’re not too surprised. Not only is it the newcomer in the EV market, but it’s a tough competitor to boot.

It’s powered by either a two-wheel, rear-drive powertrain or an all-wheel-drive powertrain that can produce 201 hp and 302 hp, respectively. The Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, is a front-drive hatchback that can be powered by either a 147 hp or 214 hp electric, depending on which battery size you choose.

While neither car can hold a candle to a Tesla Model’s performance, the Nissan Leaf can get a rolling start up to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds as compared to the Volkswagen ID.4’s 5-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds, according to Car and Driver’s testing.

Performance isn’t everything

Of course, when it comes to electric vehicles, performance isn’t what most buyers are concerned with. And to that point, the Volkswagen ID.4 is slated to achieve up to 260 miles of range on a single charge, while the Nissan Leaf can go up to 150 miles when equipped with the 40.0-kWh battery and 226 miles with the larger 62-kWh battery.

Both EVs take around 7.5 hours to charge on a Level 2 charger, however, the Volkswagen ID.4 can be charged on a DC fast charger, which can charge it up to 80% in only 38 minutes, CNET reports.

Size matters between the two

While both electric vehicles can fit up to five occupants within their cabins, the ID.4 boasts a slightly larger interior volume. The new Volkswagen EV measures 101 cubic feet while the existing Nissan Leaf measures 93 cubic feet.

That’s not too surprising, considering the ID.4 is around 4 inches long, and a couple of inches wider and taller than the Leaf. So if you need more room, then the ID.4 could be the EV for you.

Which one is a better value?

From a cost standpoint, the Nissan Leaf provides a better value than the Volkswagen ID.4. The Leaf has a starting price of around $32,000 while the ID.4 starts at $39,999, before any additional rebates. However, if you’re looking for more in-cabin technology, an updated futuristic look, and all-wheel-drive capability, then the extra money that you’ll spend on the ID.4 could be well worth it.

But if you’re just looking to get into an electric vehicle that can take you from point A to B while providing a quick charge time in between, then for the money, it’s hard to beat the tried-and-true Nissan Leaf.