The Coda starts at $38,145. That means its price falls between the Focus Electric at $39,995 and the Leaf at $36,050. Like those competing EV’s, the Coda qualifies for a federal tax credit of $7,500, as well as a California E.V. rebate of $2,500. That brings the final price, without options, to $28,145 in the Golden State, the only market where the vehicle sells.

That’s a hefty price for a car that lacks what other EVs have. There is:

• No keyless entry
• No push-button start
• No switchable Sport and Eco driving modes
• No backup camera
• No mobile app for your smartphone
• No one-touch window lowering
• No cruise control

And things rattle and feel like they are going to come unhinged. Instead of a conventional gearshift handle, the Coda uses an oversized dial to move through the gears. Looking like a RadioShack gadget from the 1970s, the dial spins loosely, as if not engaged with its purpose. It continues to spin instead of stopping when reaching the end of the gear selections. The functionality and graphics on the Alpine seven-inch color touch screen for navigation and audio are even more retro.

If you had asked me several years ago to describe the kind of EVs I thought we might be driving in 2012 I would have described the Coda. Fortunately, Nissan and others lavished their electric cars with luxury appointments, innovative features and sophisticated powertrains.

If Coda can figure out how to lower the price by $10,000 or more, I might accept these shortcomings. But at its current price, the car ain’t worth it. Not by a long shot. The good news is that there are a lot of better EVs to consider.