The first EV pricing shock for this year came from the Chevrolet Bolt: the heavily refreshed all-electric compact hatchback would see a major price cut for the 2022 model that arrived this summer, down from roughly $45,000 to a starting price of just over $38,000, making it the lowest price BEV in Canada.
Hold on there pardner, said Nissan, before it too gave its compact BEV hatchback a major price cut of roughly $7,000 in Canada. Right around then, Hyundai started offering 0% financing on the Ioniq Electric, almost unheard of on BEVs, while the updated 2022 Kona EV has recently dropped its price on the base model $1,300, and up to $3,950 for the Ultimate. Soon after Mazda Canada surprised many by pricing its MX-30 electric crossover at the low end of the BEV market.
Though the Kona EV’s lower starting price of $43,699 just misses making our list, there’s clearly an emerging trend here. One made more notable by generally rising prices for all vehicles these days, new and used.
2022 Nissan Leaf SV – Base MSRP: $37,498; Range: 240 km
The 2022 Leaf now starts at $37,498, compared to the 2021 model, which is still listed on Nissan’s consumer site at its starting price of $44,298. This sub-$38k starting price makes the 2022 Nissan Leaf the lowest-priced all-electric car currently on the market. Until another company drastically drops the price.
Granted, that low price is on a relatively low range 240 km Leaf SV, which offers 147 hp and is the only Leaf model to offer the smaller 40 kWh battery. All other trims come standard with the Leaf Plus designation, which indicates that it uses a larger 62 kWh battery, a more powerful 214 hp front motor, and up to 363 km of range.
Nissan Canada officials unsurprisingly didn’t mention the Bolt in regards to its Leaf’s price chop, but it notes its long-time status selling mainstream electric vehicles, going on more than 10 years now.
“Nissan wants to make EVs more accessible and provide additional value to customers,” wrote Douâa Jazouli, manager of product communications at Nissan Canada.
Chevrolet Bolt – Base MSRP: $38,198; Range: 417 km
For Chevrolet, its only plug-in vehicle on the market is technically still not, with a stop-sale on all new and used Bolt models after a recall to address a potential fire risk in certain defective LG Chem-sourced lithium-ion batteries. As of this writing, the Bolt’s battery plant has resumed production in Michigan, with extra production going first to replace all traction batteries for current Bolt owners, with no estimated timeline yet of when Bolt and Bolt EUV production might resume.
GM Canada has confirmed recently that battery module replacements would begin in October for affected Bolt owners. GM spokesperson Lindsay Collins stated in a note this week that GM expected to launch new software within 60 days (roughly the third week of November) that will “allow customers to return to a 100 percent state of charge once all diagnostic processes are complete.”
Even with its current on sale status up in the air, the notable price cut on the 2022 Bolt hatchback seems to have sparked the wider recent price chops on BEV hatchbacks.
“We lowered the Bolt EV’s base price by $6,800 from the 2021 model to make EVs attainable for everyone,” wrote Collins. “It is great to see the industry is helping to make EVs affordable for Canadians.”
Its quick charging capabilities may not compare to some newer or upcoming models, but the Bolt offers by far the most range per dollar in the BEV market, which Canadians will appreciate in cold winter conditions.
Mini Cooper SE – Base MSRP: $40,999; Range: 183 km
There’s less happening on the 2022 Mini Cooper SE front than its hatchback rivals above, with a relatively low $41k price that, unique in this group, is greater than its 2021 MSRP. Then again, the latest Mini Cooper SE also has six kilometres more range than before, though the imminent launch of the Mazda MX-30 EV means the Cooper SE will no longer be the lowest-range BEV in Canada.
With 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque, the Cooper SE is an all-electric warm hatch, with little outside its unique wheels and large plug door on the driver’s fender to differentiate it. Its 50 kW max quick charging speeds are at the low end, but the small 32.6 kWh battery means it can be quick charged to 80 per cent in roughly 35 minutes.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric – Base MSRP: $41,599 (2021 model); Range: 274 km
Reports in the U.S. have surfaced that the 2021 model will be the last model year for the Hyundai Ioniq Electric hatchback, and with no 2022 model listed on Hyundai Canada’s consumer site, there could very well be major dealer rebates offered to help clear remaining models before the much more modern Ioniq 5 crossover arrives early next year.
The Ioniq Electric currently has a $1,000 customer rebate listed on Hyundai Canada’s consumer site, so while there may not be an MSRP change, look for rebates and low financing rates to help sweeten the pot on remaining Ioniq BEVs.
Mazda MX-30 – Base MSRP: $42,150 (on sale in QC and B.C. only) Range: 161 km
With sales limited to Quebec and BC for the Mazda MX-30’s launch in October, the Mazda MX-30 also sadly has the least amount of official range of any vehicle on this list, at a paltry 161 km. To help extend its usability, Mazda plans to launch an MX-30 PHEV next year, which will still be powered exclusively by the electric motor, with a rotary generator turning on to charge the battery once the initial charge is depleted.
No word yet on whether that vehicle will keep its 50 kW DC quick charging speed, or that capability at all. Also unknown is whether the PHEV version will change the size of its small 32.6 kW lithium-ion battery, which can provide a 20-80 percent charge in 36 minutes.
