PARIS, Sept 7 — he new, second-generation Nissan Leaf is a quantum leap forward for Nissan in terms of aesthetics, semi-autonomous technology and range on a single charge, but how does it stack up against the best of the rest?

2018 Nissan Leaf

Range: 378km/235 miles

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 8.0 seconds

Top speed: 144km/h (90mph)

The new car is the first ever Nissan to come with a semi-autonomous park assist feature, and as part of its ProPilot suite of active driver aids will be able to negotiate single lane freeway driving with minimum human input.

A woman drives an electric BMW i3 vehicle along a downtown street in Los Angeles August 10, 2017. — Reuters pic

BMW i3

Range: 200km/124 miles

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds

Top speed: 150km/h (93mph)

BMW’s compact electric car uses a host of exotic materials such as carbon fibre to cut weight and improve handling and it's the only car in this list that comes with the option of a range-extending gasoline engine that can kick in to recharge the electric motor.

First production model of Tesla Model 3 out the assembly line in Fremont, California is seen in this undated handout photo from Tesla Motors July 10, 2017. — Reuters pic

Tesla Model 3

Range: 354km/ 220 miles (base model)

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds (base model)

Top speed: 210km/h (130mph)

It has a 12-18 month waiting list and doesn't come with many toys as standard, but all Model 3s regardless of trim levels will offer emergency autonomous braking and collision avoidance as standard as well as an on-board 4G/LTE wireless hotspot.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt. ― AFP pic

Chevrolet Bolt

Range: 383km/238miles

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds

Top speed: 146km/h (91mph)

The Bolt can claim to be the first affordable electric car with a 200mile+ range to go on sale in the US. Initial deliveries began in the fall of 2016 and it narrowly missed out on winning the 2017 North American Car of the Year Award.

A 2017 Hyundai Ioniq electric car is displayed at the 2017 New York International Auto Show in New York City April 14, 2017. ― Reuters pic

Hyundai Ioniq

Range: 280km/ 174miles

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 10 seconds

Top speed: 166km/h (103mph)

What it loses in terms of range it makes up for in comfort thanks to a cossetting and quiet cabin ideally appointed for cruising alone or with family. It also comes with a host of premium features as standard equipment.

The new Smart ForTwo does away with doors in favour of convex glass panels that open upwards and backwards and is the first vehicle of any type from Daimler to come without a steering wheel. ― AFP pic

Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

Range: 160km/99miles

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 11.5 seconds

Top speed: 129km/h (80mph)

Although based on an existing fun-to-drive gasoline car, the addition of a battery pack along the floor actually makes the Smart even more fun to drive due better weight distribution. However, this is a car for fun, emissions-free urban adventures, not for hitting the road on a long journey. — AFP-Relaxnews