2023 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range
Best electric car for most people
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Long Range RWD
Most energy-efficient electric car
2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD
Best small electric SUV
Electric cars are going mainstream. What began as a trickle of niche EVs just a few years ago has become the fastest-growing segment of the automotive industry.
Starting at just $28,795, the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is one of the most affordable electric cars on the road today. Larger than its sibling, the Bolt EV, this unassuming subcompact crossover rocks more interior volume than its competitors while still remaining extra compact and city-parkable. The ace up the Bot EUV’s sleeve is available GM Super Cruise — a surprisingly high-tech addition to this basic budget EV — easily the best hands-free highway driving assist technology I’ve ever used, making long commutes significantly more relaxing.
At 247 EPA-estimated miles per charge and a 55-kW DC fast charging max, the EUV isn’t the best pick for long road trips, but the compact runabout still offers plenty of wiggle room for city and suburban commuting and running errands. Unfortunately, you’ll have to act fast to get one. GM has announced that production is coming to an end this year with orders closing for good shortly before the final examples roll off the line in November 2023. Once it’s gone, the next best affordable EV will be significantly more expensive.
Pros
- Small, but surprisingly spacious
- Excellent urban driving range
- Available with GM Super Cruise hands-free highway assist
- Dashboard tech leans heavily on Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for navigation, entertainment and more
Cons
- Slow charging speed discourages long road trips
- Production ending at the end of this year
Additional Attributes
- Range: 247 miles
- Efficiency: 3.45 mi/kWh, 115 mpge
- Max DCFC: 55 kW, 10 to 80% in 46 minutes
- Features: Super Cruise highway assist, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
- Starting price: $28,795
California-based EV startup Lucid takes the electric car endurance crown with its 516-mile Lucid Air Grand Touring. To accomplish this feat, Lucid stuffed its large sedan with a massive 112-kWh battery pack, but that’s only half the story. The Air also features an impressive aerodynamic design that helps it cut through the air with very little drag and compact electric motors with an efficiency of 3.8 kilowatt-hours per mile. At the other end of the spectrum, the Air’s performance is equally impressive with up to 1,050 horsepower and a 2.6-second 0-to-60 mph sprint.
All that power will cost you. The Air starts at $87,400, but the Grand Touring model tips the scales at $138,000… and that’s not even the most expensive spec.
Pros
- The most range of any EV on sale today
- Touring and Pure specs tie for most energy-efficient EV
- Tons of storage space including two full-size trunks
- Wicked fast 3.0 second 0 to 60 mph
- Now available with wireless Apple CarPlay
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Awkward dashboard tech, no Android Auto
- Limited driver aid tech relative to competitors at this price
Additional Attributes
- Range: 516 miles
- Efficiency: 3.8 mi/kWh, 89 mpge
- Max DCFC: 300 kW, 10 to 80% in 16 minutes
- Features: 34-inch curved main display, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Alexa voice command
- Starting price: $138,000
The 320-mile F-150 Lightning is one of the best modern full-size pickups that I’ve driven, electric or not. The Lightning’s utility is enhanced by its electric powertrain, freeing up space under the hood for a massive “frunk” storage space and enabling the powerful Pro Power Onboard mobile power bank system. But what really makes the F-150 Lightning so good is how much it feels like a normal Ford F-150.
The Lightning makes very few compromises to the winning formula that has made the F-Series the best-selling vehicle in America by a country mile. It’ll face serious competition when Chevrolet and Ram’s electric pickups reach the market in the coming years, but for now, Ford is the king of the hill.
Pros
- Massive front trunk
- Familiar F-Series truck features and design
- Excellent suite of standard and available driver-aid tech
Cons
- Tends to blend in with other F-Series vehicles
- Truck shape and weight hurts overall efficiency
Additional Attributes
- Range: 320 miles
- Efficiency: 2.08 mi/kWh, 70 mpge
- Max DCFC: 155 kW, 10-80% in 30 min.
- Features: Available Pro Power 240V V2L mobile power delivery, Ford Blue Cruise hands-free highway assist
- Starting price: $73,135
Rivian won my heart with the quirky and adventurous R1T electric pickup and now it’s back with a more practical take on its battery-powered truck platform. The new Rivian R1S wraps the automaker’s design around the more family friendly two-box silhouette of an SUV. The result retains the whimsical elements that I love — the pill-shaped headlamps and instantly recognizable light bars at either end — but makes room for more adventurers onboard.
Rivian has also launched its new dual-motor electric powertrain option. Yes, this is a step down from the power of the quad-motor setup, but it’s also a big step up in range, efficiency and affordability making the 533-hp, 352-mile R1S Dual Motor with the Large battery pack the sweet spot for all but the most hardcore off-road enthusiasts.
Pros
- Bold, eye-catching design
- New dual-motor powertrain offers more range and efficiency for less money
- Even more powerful Performance upgrade available
Cons
- Touchscreen-heavy dashboard may turn off traditional truck and SUV shoppers
- Driver aid tech needs more time to bake
Additional Attributes
- Range: 352 miles
- Efficiency: 2.33 mi/kWh, 78 mpge
- Max DCFC: 220 kW, 10 to 80% in 23 minutes
- Features: Access to Rivian Adventure Network charging stations, Gear Guard camera based security system, over 36-inch water fording depth, excellent off-road capability
- Starting price: $84,000
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","Name","Max Range (mi.)","Price (incl. destination)"],["Best electric car for most people","2023 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range","272","$41,630"],["Best affordable electric car","2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV","247","$28,795"],["Best luxury electric car","2023 BMW i7 xDrive60","324","$125,195"],["EV with the most range","2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring","516","$138,000"],["Most energy efficient EV","2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE Long Range RWD","361","$46,615"],["Best electric truck","2023 Ford F-150 Lightning 4WD Extended Range","320","$73,135"],["Best small electric SUV","2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD","330","$51,880"],["Best three-row electric SUV","2023 Rivian R1S Dual Motor Large","352","$84,000"],["Best electric sports car","2023 Porsche Taycan GTS","246","$140,950"]],"chartName":"Comparison of the best electric cars for 2024","headingRows":"0"}” edition=”us” class=”c-shortcodeChart”>
Comparison of the best electric cars for 2024
How much range you’ll need from an EV will vary depending on your individual needs and driving habits. For most drivers with an average American commute — around 55.2 miles according to the most recent US Census Bureau data — an EV in the 200 to 300 mile ballpark will provide adequate range for daily driving, unexpected errands and the occasional road trip. This leaves some wiggle room for apartment dwellers, who may not be able to charge every night and for drivers who live in areas with extreme heat or cold weather, which can sap as much as 41% of EV’s stated range in the most extreme cases.
Check out our explainer on how much range to target when buying an electric car.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Within the same class, EVs tend to be more expensive than their combustion-powered cousins due to the rare and costly materials that make up their large battery packs. Economies of scale and new production processes could eventually result in at the point of purchase price parity, but for now prospective buyers will want to look to any available federal and state tax incentives or rebates to offset the cost. Additionally, EVs can be less expensive to operate, potentially saving money over the long term.
Are electric cars as safe as gas-powered cars?
Lacking tailpipe emissions, transitioning to electric cars can greatly improve local air quality, but in areas where electricity is generated with fossil or carbon-based fuels, EVs will still have a macro environmental impact. Factor in the mining of rare battery and motor materials and the answer becomes less clear.
Many major automakers have pledged to build carbon neutral supply chains, factories and manufacturing processes, which could further reduce EVs’ global environmental impact. Meanwhile, moving regional electrical grids to renewable sources while individual homes make use of rooftop solar generation can make an electric car more and more environmentally friendly over its lifetime.
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