2015 vs 2016

Are there any significant (non-cosmetic) changes between 2015 and 2016? I understand the 2014 had an A123 battery, and after that it changed to LG. Based on what I've read, I'm leaning toward a used 2015-2016 Spark rather than 2014 due to possibly slower battery degradation.

I had planned on buying a used Leaf, but battery degradation is frighteningly rapid on all of them, presumably due to lack of active thermal management. The Spark sounds like more fun too. Would be nice to have heated steering wheel and rear seat, but I can wear gloves, and people in the back seats are getting a free ride, so they can't complain.

How do the tech features compare between model years, and compared to the Leaf? It seems only the i3 has features such as adaptive cruise or rain sensing wipers.

Redpoint5 said:

Are there any significant (non-cosmetic) changes between 2015 and 2016? I understand the 2014 had an A123 battery, and after that it changed to LG. Based on what I've read, I'm leaning toward a used 2015-2016 Spark rather than 2014 due to possibly slower battery degradation.

I had planned on buying a used Leaf, but battery degradation is frighteningly rapid on all of them, presumably due to lack of active thermal management. The Spark sounds like more fun too. Would be nice to have heated steering wheel and rear seat, but I can wear gloves, and people in the back seats are getting a free ride, so they can't complain.

How do the tech features compare between model years, and compared to the Leaf? It seems only the i3 has features such as adaptive cruise or rain sensing wipers.

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I have a 2014, 2015 and 2016 Spark EV. All drive about the same but I have heard there was a gearing change for the 2015 which may have been modified again for the 2016. My 2015 Spark EV has the most mileage on it (26k miles) and it has exhibited the most battery degradation so far. At 2k miles my battery capacity was 18.61 kWh. Now it is around 16. My 2014 battery capacity at 13k miles is 17.2 and my 2016 at 9k miles is also 17.2 kWh. A friend of mine also has a 2015 and 2016 and he said his 2015 battery capacity was running around 13.9 kWh with about the same mileage as my 2015.

At 5.5 mi/kWh, my 2015 still gives 88 miles of range. My 2014 and 2016 both charge up into the high 90s right now and will go over 100 miles as the weather warms up. My vote for you would be to look for a low mileage 2016 in great condition. Pay careful attention to the front tires. They wear very quickly. I only got about 30K miles on my 2015 and I do not drive the car hard. My 2014 and 2016 were purchased used and both had been driven hard. I just replaced the tires on the front of my 2014 at 13k miles. I will have to do the same for my 2016 at about 15k miles.

I have never driven a Leaf, other than for a test drive, so I can not offer any comments.