At just $9,140, is the 2025 Nissan LEAF the best new car deal in Chicago?
The 2025 Chicago Auto Show opened this week, and I’ve been struggling a bit with how to approach this story about the decline and fall of what was once the American auto industry’s premier commercial vehicle show – but one thing was absolutely clear: the Nissan LEAF is the best new car deal in Chicago. ***
Like any wild deal like this, there are asterisks and caveats. And (I promise) I will absolutely get to those. That said, I have some musings about the state of the Chicago Auto Show that I’ve shared, below, to sort of “set the stage,” if you will. If you want to skip those, you can can click here to get right to the nitty-grity on that 2025 Nissan LEAF deal, or simply click here to find a Nissan LEAF deal near you.
2025 Chicago Auto Show Map
If you have fond memories of the Chicago Auto Show from years past – and not even that many years past; like, pre-COVID years past – skip the 2025 show.
Once upon a time, the Chicago Auto Show occupied both main halls, with another hall housing commercial trucks and vendors, and drive activations outside and in the parking lot. Since that heyday, the show has shrunk significantly. It’s down to a single hall now. Depressingly, the show can’t even fill that with OEM displays, and has worked a number of vendors, drive events of both the EV and ICE-powered varieties, and even military recruiters into huge swaths of floor space. Despite the compacted nature of the displays, the show floor is not packed. You will be able to sit in any car you want, for as long as you want, with minimal chance of interruption.
I was lucky enough to be able to walk the show with my good friend and industry legend, Greg Lucia. Greg is best known for an iconic, gonzo PR stunt he pulled off while he was working at Toyota that involved the Space Shuttle Endeavour being towed to its final destination at the California Science Center in Los Angeles across the 405 freeway by a then-new Tundra.
Oddly enough, we both honed in on a specific year, 1997, as one that stood out.
“I had a part-time job at Sears while I was in college,” I told Greg. “I was making $9/hr. plus either 1% or 3% of everything I rang up. It worked out to a pretty steady $12/hr., and that money was good enough that there were a bunch of cars I could have reasonably bought. I ended up with a ’98 Dodge Dakota pickup. Manual. My payment was $218/mo.”
“Those were neat trucks,” he said. Adding, after a thoughtful minute, “I don’t think you could do that, today.”
Greg is obviously correct. Auto Shows have turned a corner. Instead of being someplace that any able-bodied person could go and, with a reasonable amount of effort and willingness to put in the hours, pick out a fun, dependable vehicle. In such an economic climate, it’s no wonder that the car you drove said something about you above and beyond what you could afford. Today, the closest thing to that mid-sized Dakota is probably the current Ford Ranger. The mid-sized Ford starts at $32,820 … but the average part-time mall job doesn’t pay any more than I made back in ’97. If anything, it pays less.
I wondered what possible value a traditional auto show could offer a college kid in 2025, when something like a base Ford Mustang that started at about $15,800 in 1997 has more than doubled to $31,920 and the cost of college has risen even higher, over 140% in the same interim, while wages have largely stayed the same.
Deeply entrenched in this gloomy mood, I plodded along between the relatively subdued Nissan and Volkswagen booths towards the ComEd presser (see the show map, above), that was already under way.
ComEd $100M commercial EV rebate program
ComEd chose the Chicago Auto Show to lay out the 2025 version of their beneficial electrification rebate programs that will offer customers access to $100 million (up from $90M last year) in funding opportunities designed to remove up-front cost as a barrier to widespread adoption of EVs and the expansion of charging infrastructure in northern Illinois. $53 million of that budget is earmarked specifically business and public sector customers, with up to $7500 available for each light-duty (Class 1 or 2) EV purchased by a ComEd commercial customer.
That was when it hit me: this is why local events like the Chicago Auto Show exist — to highlight deals that are unique to the area, that outlets like Motor Trend and Car and Driver and even Electrek (if we’re being honest) might overlook due to factors like geography, international audiences, or some other general lack of interest.
Allow me then, to explain how a parks district, or a police department, or a car sharing fleet, or a delivery fleet, or any other company, incorporation, or LLC in northern Illinois can score an absolutely killer deal on a Nissan LEAF.
Structuring that $9,140 Nissan LEAF deal
For 2025, Nissan’s groundbreaking LEAF S starts at just $28,140 before incentives. That’s already more than twenty thousand US American dollars less than the $49,740 average transaction price of a new vehicle recorded just last month. But $28,140, you’ll notice, is a lot more than $9,140. Here’s how we get there:
- Nissan themselves are eager to get these LEAFs off dealer lots to make room for the next-generation version. So eager, in fact, that the company is offering $7,500 in customer cash right off the bat.
- If you’re an Illinois resident, you could get another $4,000 from the state if you buy between now and April 30th.
- Finally, if you’re a ComEd commercial customer you can score a third rebate — this one good for up to $7,500 if you spend more than 50% of your time driving the vehicle in a low-income or “EIEC” area.
- Now, we do some math: $28,140 – 7500 – 4000 – 7500 = $9,140 … and that’s before any dealer discounts or negotiations come into play. (!)
For that $9,140 you get a smooth, capable EV with 149 miles of range* whose only real shortcomings are its relatively slow charging speed* compared to something like a Hyundai IONIQ 5, of course, the CHAdeMO charging standard* that every other brand has abandoned and for which precious few public charging options exist.
And, admittedly, those are three very real, very scary asterisks.
For a business, though? For a parks district or city official or lab courier or car share service that has some dedicated parking space to put their own charging into? That’s not as much of an obstacle as it might be to you and me. Heck, a young, ambitious college student who realizes they can fit a few robot lawnmowers under the LEAF’s spacious 23.6 cubic foot (668 liters) hatch might just find the money needed to start an LLC in Illinois and find any number of fun, expressive, practical news car they can actually pay off with a part-time hustle at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show after all!
That’s my take, anyway — you can get tickets to the 2025 Chicago Auto Show here, explore ComEd’s business and public sector EV rebate program here, then let me know what you think of all these musings (and whether or not you think I could get a few Automowers into the back of a Fiat 500e) in the comments.
SOURCES | IMAGES: ComEd, Nissan, the twisted mind of Greg Lucia.
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We’ve got huge news in the 4X4 Ford world with the launch of the first-ever all electric Ford Bronco. Plus, we’ve got a new long-wheelbase Model Y from Tesla and a full-scale d*ck-measuring contest in the world of full self driving. All this and more on today’s episode of Quick Charge!
We’ve also got a $300 million investment from Uber into Tesla Robotaxi rivals Lucid and Nuro and a suitably rapid successor to Lancia’s legendary HF nameplate – that could be an ideal new-age Neon, if Stellantis grows the stones to bring it Stateside.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Some of the best financing deals on EVs are offering 0% APR for up to 72 months, and if you combine that with an electric car eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, you get a pretty solid deal if you’re looking to buy.
However, the EV federal tax credit dies a premature, unnecessary death on September 30, 2025, thanks to the Republican-controlled Congress, so check out the best EV financing deals below that our friends at CarsDirect have surfaced.
2024 Acura ZDX – 0% APR For 72 Months + up to $10,000 cash
It’s not every day you can pair 0% APR for six years with up to $10,000 in savings, but that’s what’s on the table for the 2024 Acura ZDX through September 2.
For the A-Spec trim with all-wheel drive, buyers get $6,000 off the MSRP. Go with rear-wheel drive, and that drops to $3,500. The Type S also gets a $2,500 cut.
If you own an Acura or a competing brand, there’s an extra $4,000 loyalty or conquest cash offer in the mix.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Acura ZDX in stock. – trusted affiliate link
2025 Toyota bZ4X – 0% APR For 72 Months + $2,500 cash
In many regions, Toyota is offering 0% APR plus $2,500 in bonus cash on the 2025 bZ4X when you finance through Toyota Financial Services. That $2,500 is basically a rebate tied to Toyota’s promotional interest rate.
This offer wraps up August 4, so if the bZ4X is on your list, now’s a good time to make a move.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Toyota bZ4X in stock. – trusted affiliate link
The 2025 Subaru Solterra is sticking with its usual deep-discount playbook of 0% APR for 72 months through July 31. But there’s a lesser-known perk worth flagging.
According to a national dealer incentive bulletin, Subaru is also kicking in $2,500 in dealer cash. You can stack it with the 0% financing deal, but don’t expect it to be plastered all over ads – it’s a behind-the-scenes offer, so shopping around could pay off.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Subaru Solterra in stock. – trusted affiliate link
2025 Honda Prologue – 0% APR + $11,500 cash
Through September 2, Honda’s got one of the most generous EV deals around on the 2025 Prologue: 0% APR plus up to $11,500 in bonus cash.
Here’s how it breaks down if you finance through Honda Financial Services: $5,500 in cash off the top, a $3,500 loyalty or conquest bonus if you already drive a Honda (or are switching from a competitor), and another $2,500 on top of that. It’s all stackable. Plus, the 2024 Honda Prologue is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit on purchases.
The catch? You need to live in California or another ZEV state to get the full package. But even outside those areas, Honda’s still offering solid cash incentives that make the Prologue well worth a look.
Click here to find a local dealer with the Honda Prologue in stock. – trusted affiliate link
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E – 0% APR + $0 Down + 0 payments for 90 days
Ford’s rolling out a “zero-zero-zero” deal on the 2025 Mustang Mach-E: You get 0% APR for 60 months, $0 down, and no payments for the first 90 days.
To sweeten the deal, Ford is throwing in a free home charger plus free installation. If you’re already set up with home charging or just not interested, you can opt for an extra $500 bonus instead.
For a popular EV like the Mach-E, this is one of Ford’s most aggressive financing offers in a while, especially with that no-payment cushion built in.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Ford Mustang Mach-E in stock. – trusted affiliate link
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Subaru today launched its compact AWD SUV at an event in New York City. With 300 miles of range, NACS charge port, a speedy 0-60 time of under 5 seconds, you could say that this is Subaru’s first modern EV, no offense to the rebadged Toyota BZ/Solterra…
The exterior looks a bit like a $100K Lotus Eletre with an off road flair. Uncharted will compete with Volvo’s EX30 Rivian’s R2S and other AWD EVs that might not be as rugged like the VW ID.4, Hyundai Kona and even the Chevy Equinox. Subaru’s lighting signature, shared with the 2026 Solterra and Trailseeker, along with its aggressive, rugged off-road styling will set it apart from the crowd.
It features new 18- or 20-inch wheel designs, as well as a high-contrast, available two-tone roof on Uncharted GT for enhanced curb appeal. At the rear, the sleek combination lamps, black badging, high beltline, and seamless rear design, complemented by a silver-painted lower rear fascia, add to the visual presence of the Uncharted. Low-profile roof rails on all-wheel-drive models add more options for carrying gear.
A NACS charge port with speeds up to 150 kW ensures convenient and fast charging options at more than 15,000 Tesla Supercharger stations nationwide. Even in cold weather conditions, the Uncharted can recharge its battery from 10% to 80% in nearly 30 minutes thanks to an onboard battery preconditioning system. At home, you can charge up to 11KW level 2 charging.
The interior is modern Subaru with rugged textile around a big 14-inch CarPlay/Android Auto screen experience (pictured below). There are 2 wireless phone chargers up front and 2 USB-C chargers in the rear.
All trim levels of the Subaru Uncharted are equipped with an All-Weather Package, including heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and windshield wiper de-icer; power rear gate; interior ambient lighting; and DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System. The Uncharted Sport adds X-MODE® Dual-Mode with Grip Control, heated steering wheel, StarTex® water-repellent upholstery, panoramic view monitor, and more. Uncharted GT will include a panoramic moonroof with motorized shade, 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon® premium audio system, smart rearview mirror, and more.
The Uncharted battery is just under 75kWh, around the same size as a long range Tesla Model Y and it will get close to 300 miles in its FWD model (boo). Uncharted Sport and GT models are equipped with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-MODE, an anticipated range of up to 290 miles, and 338 horsepower which will appeal to more Subaru customers.
Full gallery below:
Electrek’s take
While Subaru maintains its close relationship with Toyota in EVs, and this is a C-HR rebadge, the Uncharted breaks some new ground. I love the NACS port, I love the range and the acceleration. Subaru’s fans might finally have an EV they can upgrade their ICE vehicle for.
That’s one thing that might be concerning for Subaru in the EV age: In ICE vehicles, Subaru makes one of the best, complicated AWD systems. However with EVs, AWD is almost table stakes at this point. Subaru will have to continue to innovate in the off road capable small SUV segment if it hopes to compete with all of the EV encombants. At this point, Subaru is a suspension and branding mod for Toyota.
The Uncharted certainly seems to be a good start.
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