It looks like Popular Mechanics had room for two vehicles this year on its annual "Top Products" awards list. Both the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf were named Breakthrough Products for 2010. PM praised the ride quality and technology of the Volt, stating that it's "more than the sum of its cutting-edge parts." In addition, the publication prominently touted the Volt's range-extending abilities, possibly as a jab at the other winner.
The magazine still had some love left for the Leaf, though, calling it, "a pure EV with space for five, a moderate price and enough range for most tasks - plus, an operating cost that's irresistibly low." The Leaf does not do any one thing that hasn't been done before, but Nissan has combined a lot of features together in a mass-market-ready package that has already resulted in 20,000 pre-orders in the U.S. alone.