2012 Coda First Test

The Coda electric sedan surprised us at our recent 2013 Car of the Year testing simply by showing up after a years-long delay getting the car to market. While it's too soon to reveal how the Coda performed during the competition, we can offer up what's likely the Understatement of the Year: Starting a car company ain't easy. And for doing that, the folks over at Coda should be patting themselves on the back.

And they are. Like any new kid on the block, Coda needs to impress, and the biggest callout in its press material is its electric motor, rated at 134 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Coda claims those numbers beat most of the major all-EV players on the market in the sub-$50,000 range, including the Nissan Leaf (107 hp and 207 lb-ft) and the Mitsubishi i (66 hp and 145 lb-ft). The Focus EV beats it in the horsepower department (144 hp) but comes up short of the Coda's torque number (188 lb-ft). Most owners should be satisfied with the Coda's straight-line performance. The compact sedan felt plenty strong off the line, thanks to its instant torque kick in the pants, and most passing maneuvers were achieved with little drama. The suspension (MacPherson struts up front and struts in the back) does a decent job of soaking up the bumps, though the cabin gets a bit loud at freeway speeds despite its relatively quiet EV nature overall. We also noticed a high-pitch drill-like sound at speeds above 60 mph. We can't say if it was a specific issue with our car or an issue with all Codas, but it was there on our test car at least.

During our instrumented tests, the Coda needed 9.6 seconds to get from 0-60 mph and completed the quarter mile in 17.6 seconds at 78.6 mph. Lapping the figure-eight course took 28.5 seconds at 0.58 g (avg) and its brake setup (front discs and rear drums) halted the Coda from 60 mph in 130 feet. Leisurely numbers indeed, but better than the Mitsubishi i in every category and almost identical to the Nissan Leaf, which needed 9.6 seconds to go from 0-60 mph and 28.4 seconds to round the figure eight. In case you were wondering, the Chevrolet Volt completes the tasks in 8.8 and 28.4 seconds respectively in its EV mode.

But most owners will likely care less about the Coda's athletic abilities and more about how far it can travel before it needs to recharge. Tucked underneath the Coda is a 31-kWh, lithium-iron phosphate battery pack kept in check by a thermal management system developed in-house. A quick glance at Coda's website reveals an advertised range of up to 125 miles per charge, though the fine print states it's loosely based on the LA4 city cycle. The more realistic EPA combined range is 88 miles, which tops the Ford Focus EV (76 miles), Nissan Leaf (73 miles), and Mitsubishi i (62 miles). We were able to test the range during a recent press event where Coda planned a somewhat ambitious route that began in Santa Monica, California, continued east to downtown L.A., northwest through the San Fernando Valley, and back to the starting point via a stretch of Malibu canyon roads. The route totaled 75.3 miles and we reached the finish line with about eight miles' worth of juice left in the battery.

Recharging the battery is relatively quick, thanks to the on-board 6.6-kW charger. When connected to a Level 2, 240V power source, the Coda reaches full charge in about six hours -- one hour quicker than the Leaf with its smaller 24-kW-h battery and 3.3-kW charger. The current charge-time champion appears to be the Fit EV, which needs just three hours to reach full charge, providing 82 miles of range.

Pricing for the Coda has been set at $38,145, which includes the $895 destination but not the $7500 federal tax credit. The optional premium audio and leather seating package adds $1495 (eco-friendly surfaces sourced from recycled material are standard).That places the Coda about $2000 less than the Ford Focus EV, but about the same price as the Leaf.

Why go with the Coda over the others? Aside from the slight advantages in performance and range, Coda says its 10-year/100,000-mile battery warranty beats that of the Leaf and Focus, both of which only offer eight years of coverage. The Coda also offers a respectable amount of space, including a 14.1-cubic-foot trunk and 35.1 inches of front head room. From here, the Coda's wow factors are purely subjective. According to the Coda reps, their car will appeal to customers who prefer to drive something that blends into the crowd. And aside from the LED daytime running lamps and 17-inch rims, the sedan will rarely command second looks. Coda also claims customers will appreciate the EV's no-frills interior and amenities (we're not sure what customers they're referring to, but OK). There's no push-button start, one-touch power windows, cruise control, or telescopic steering. A standard Alpine infotainment system includes navigation, Bluetooth, Internet radio capabilities, and a battery information screen. In short, the target customer is someone who desires a basic EV with the style and rudimentary features of an early 2000s compact sedan.

And that's essentially what the Coda's bones consist of, once you remove the guts relating to the electric powertrain. Specifically, the Coda's body (also referred to as the "glider") is basically a rebadged Hafei Saibao, a gas-powered economy car that has been on sale in China since 2004. The battery is also produced in China through a partnership with Lishen Battery. Coda says other items are sourced from America, including the motor and its proprietary battery management system. From there, all the pieces all arrive at Coda's facility in Benicia, California, where final assembly takes place.

So what's next? In the short term, Coda is looking to expand into other markets outside of California. (There are currently four dealers in the state.) Coda recently signed a partnership with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors and says the two companies will develop an entry-level EV, though it's unclear if it will join or replace the current Coda sedan. Coda claims that car will reach market in mid-2014. For now, we'll be keeping a close eye on Coda and just how many low-key eco-friendly customers warm up to the new kid on the block.