I’ve owned a 2015 and now a 2019.
I would eliminate the 2016 from your selection process since there were several reliability improvements made to the 2017.
I firmly believe the 2015 (gen1) was over engineered and will last a very long time. Perhaps even longer than a gen2.
But there are creature comforts and significant technical enhancements in the second generation to make it very compelling. You would also get the EV range your commute demands with a rare weather-based exception.
If you are on a very strict budget, can live with the infotainment system and buttons/controls in the 2015, don’t mind using some gas part of the year — and you intend to keep the car a very long time — then I’d say do the Gen1.
If you prefer having a modern controls interface (especially Android Auto / Apple CarPlay), want to maximize EV miles, or find the gen2 more comfortable (as I do), then find a low mileage 2017 model.
I don’t think you will be making a bad decision either way.
I would eliminate the 2016 from your selection process since there were several reliability improvements made to the 2017.
I firmly believe the 2015 (gen1) was over engineered and will last a very long time. Perhaps even longer than a gen2.
But there are creature comforts and significant technical enhancements in the second generation to make it very compelling. You would also get the EV range your commute demands with a rare weather-based exception.
If you are on a very strict budget, can live with the infotainment system and buttons/controls in the 2015, don’t mind using some gas part of the year — and you intend to keep the car a very long time — then I’d say do the Gen1.
If you prefer having a modern controls interface (especially Android Auto / Apple CarPlay), want to maximize EV miles, or find the gen2 more comfortable (as I do), then find a low mileage 2017 model.
I don’t think you will be making a bad decision either way.
