BOWSER BEATERS

Buyers are spoiled for choice in the electric vehicle market as makers embrace zero-emission motoring

Tesla has enjoyed a near-monopoly on battery-powered vehicles for years, but mainstream brands such as Mazda, Nissan, Kia and Hyundai are fighting back with a new breed of practical and relatively affordable machines.

NISSAN LEAF

Nissan powered up its electric hatch this year, adding a more powerful Leaf e+ version with a 160kW motor and 62kWh battery.

Faster and more usable, it also promises bidirectional charging in the future, allowing you to use the car’s battery to power your home. It could prove to be a game-changer in the future.

Priced from $64,990 drive-away, the Leaf has 17-inch wheels, front and rear heated leather seats, a 360-degree camera, climate control and seven-speaker Bose stereo.

It’s affordable, powerful and roomy, but looks plain inside and out. Though it has satnav and smartphone mirroring, a small 8-inch touchscreen and ergonomic flaws such as a foot-operated parking brake and lack of steering wheel reach-adjustment hurt.

But the Leaf wins back points with the most powerful motor here.

Its acceleration rivals hot hatches, and the cabin is hushed at highway speed.

Quick steering gels with the Nissan’s crisp throttle response, while heavy brake energy harvesting slows the car to a stop when you ease off the throttle.

MAZDA MX-30

The MX-30 takes a different path.

While the Leaf looks plain, Mazda’s bold exterior meets a cabin finished with interesting materials including cork, raw plastic and artificial leather. Priced from about $71,000 drive-away, it comes in a single fully-loaded trim.

It has a 12-speaker Bose stereo, wireless phone charging, a sunroof, memory seats and the most comprehensive safety suite here including 10 airbags, plus front and rear auto emergency braking.

A sporty driving position is excellent, but rear-hinged back doors make access to a cosy back seat tricky, while the swooping roofline compromises headroom and visibility.

It has the smallest boot of the bunch, but the bigger issue is under the bonnet. A small 35.5kWh battery brings only 200 kilometres of range. It’s also the least efficient car here and has the slowest charging rate.

Power comes from a 107kW/271Nm electric motor delivering relaxed acceleration in a refined manner with minimal whirr or whine, though there is synthesised engine noise.

The Mazda is the most conventionally carlike to drive, helped by its light weight, low ground clearance and taut suspension tune.

KIA NIRO

Available with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric propulsion, the Niro starts at about $70,990 drive-away in full batterypowered Sport trim.

It’s the only car here with a seven-year warranty and customers get a good degree of kit including a 10.25-inch wide-screen display with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satnav and an eight-speaker JBL stereo. Faux leather trim joins climate control, LED lights and a safety suite including seven airbags, active cruise control, auto emergency braking and more.

It’s also the biggest car here, with the most boot space and generous head and leg room in the front and rear.

Power comes from a big 64kWh battery with an impressive 455 kilometres of range, linked to a 150kW/395Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. It pulls hard and can exceed its claimed range, but makes the most noticeable electric noises of the lot – when both braking and accelerating. Kia’s soft suspension also rolls and pitches noticeably.

Its steering offers little feel or feedback and the tyres can struggle to get all that torque to the ground efficiently.

HYUNDAI KONA

Driving the Kona offers a glimpse into what the Kia could have been.

Based on similar underpinnings, the Hyundai has the same 62kWh battery and 150kW motor. But it’s a more modern machine with a sportier driving experience. Precise steering and firmer suspension result in a car lighter on its feet and more fun to drive.

Less weight, low rolling resistance tyres and clever electronics deliver the best energy efficiency here, resulting in 484 kilometres of claimed range.

Priced from about $67,000 drive-away, the Hyundai is also the cheapest to service at $800 for five years. Our test example’s electric blue paint and white faux-leather trim paired nicely with its high-definition 10.25-inch digital driver’s cluster and central wide-screen display to make the Kia and Nissan look out of touch.

Other niceties include an eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, smart keys and climate control – luxuries such as a sunroof require a $4000 upgrade from Elite to Highlander trim.

Six airbags join front and rear auto emergency braking, plus active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and more in a five-star safety package.