10 Best Electric Cars So Far
Electric cars are getting better all the time. The latest Mazda MX-30 Electric is fun to drive and offers a decent 100 miles per charge.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 EV sedan adds some variety to a SUV-dominated segment with its long range and attractive design. The Genesis Electrified G80 is a luxury competitor that can accelerate to 60 mph in under four seconds.
1. Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf has been the world's most popular electric car for a decade. It has a low price and a wide array of standard features, plus there's the added benefit of zero tailpipe emissions.
The 2024 Nissan Leaf is a solid option for value-minded shoppers who are ready to make the switch to an electric vehicle. Its under-$30,000 starting price, competitive driving range and easy compatibility with the CHAdeMO charging connector are key benefits.
Drivers can also opt for the pricier 2024 Leaf SV Plus, which has a larger 62-kWh energy store that delivers more range and quicker acceleration times. This model also comes with standard driver assist technology such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. The Leaf's small hatchback body allows for 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats.
2. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford's Mustang Mach-E is a surprisingly premium electric SUV. It's got the looks to back up its premium price tag, and it also offers competitive range and charging capabilities - although it still lags behind the Tesla Model Y in terms of on-paper driving range.
Depending on battery pack configuration, Ford's Mustang Mach-E can travel up to 300 miles on a charge. This is impressive for a nonluxury EV, and it's more than enough to handle commuting or running errands without inducing range anxiety.
In addition, the Mustang Mach-E features a handy "Whisper mode" that turns off fake engine noise and focuses on delivering gentle acceleration arcs for minimal energy use. Even at full speed, it's capable of getting from a standstill to 60 mph in just six seconds. That's a great time for an EV, and it shows that the Mustang Mach-E isn't just a showboat.
3. Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 is a credible competitor in the electric sedan category, with impressive range and sports-sedan handling. It's one of few EVs with the ability to break 400 miles between charges. The driving experience is smooth and refined, if not quite as exciting as the Tesla Model 3.
In dual-motor form, the Polestar 2 feels like a throwback European performance sedan, with brisk acceleration and precise steering. Its minimalist cabin is attractive without being Tesla-level stark, and its advanced driver assist system carries over the well-reviewed version found in Volvo's cars.
Those who opt for the Performance Pack can add adjustable Ohlins suspension that helps keep the car's heft in check through corners. However, the rear seat is a cramped and uncomfortable place for taller kids, and a large hump in the floor limits foot space.
4. Rolls-Royce Spectre
Unlike other electric cars that are noisy, smelly and ruffle your hair when you accelerate, the Rolls-Royce Spectre delivers all the quiet Rolls-Royces have long promised. Its all-aluminum Architecture of Luxury is 30 percent more rigid than the Ghost, and it's clad in a thick layer of sound deadening.
Powered by two separately excited synchronous motors, the Spectre puts out 584 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That's below the Black Badge Phantom and Ghost's output but enough to get you from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. Its most important contribution, though, is that it's utterly silent inside the cabin. Even when cruising on the highway, the Spectre barely makes a sound. It's an experience that's hard to imagine any other car can match. It's the true definition of luxury.
5. Tesla Model Y
The 2023 Tesla Model Y is a small electric SUV that offers excellent driving range, a spacious cabin and impressive acceleration. It can reach 0-60mph in five seconds, making it a popular choice among speed enthusiasts.
This SUV has plenty of cargo room, with 30.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 72.1 cubes in the front trunk. This makes it one of the most spacious small EVs on the market.
Moreover, the Model Y is a pleasure to drive, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. Its Autopilot feature can even keep pace with other cars and stay within its lane on a winding road. It can also be upgraded to full self-driving capability. However, it's worth mentioning that the Model Y's competitors offer a more premium design. Examples include Ford's Mach-E, Polestar 4 and Volkswagen ID.4.
6. Toyota BZ4X
For a company that’s late to the electric vehicle party, Toyota has brought plenty to the table with its 2023 bZ4X. It’s funky looking, but it has a practical cabin design that should appeal to EV newbies.
The bZ4X has front- or all-wheel drive and one single electric motor with 201 horsepower, allowing for a 0-60 time of 7.1 seconds. AWD models add a second motor to boost power and output to 214 horses.
A 72.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack offers EPA-estimated ranges of 228 miles in the front-wheel-drive XLE and 242 miles in the AWD Limited. It also supports 100-kilowatt DC fast charging, though that’s lower than some rivals offer. Toyota says the bZ4X can charge to 80% in 30 minutes.
7. Rivian R1T
As electric vehicles go, the Rivian R1T stands out. This California start-up is a true industry disruptor: it’s the first to market with a full-sized electric pickup truck. And it did so without having to deal with labor unions or build its EV around existing gasoline models or platforms.
Rivian’s trucks use a skateboard chassis that houses a 135 kWh battery pack. It’s able to deliver 314 miles of range on a single charge and can tow up to 11,000 pounds.
Buyers can customize their Rivian with a number of gizmos, and the starting price is comparable to what one would pay for a well-equipped gas-powered light-duty pickup truck. However, it’s too early to tell if Rivian’s vehicles can live up to their promise of reliability. The company’s website says it will take up to several months to receive a Rivian after ordering.
8. Rolls-Royce Spectre
Taking the lead from Rolls-Royce's internal combustion-engined models, the Spectre is designed to be the pinnacle of luxury. Its heft, stiffness, and single-pedal driving mode all contribute to its regal demeanor on the road.
Its 4.4-second run to 60 might be leisurely in today's world of hyper-fast EVs, but chief engineer Mihiar Ayoubi says it fits the company's goal of creating an "oasis of tranquility."
While the Spectre has all the imposing coupe shape and peerless cabin quality you expect from Rolls, its 577-horsepower electric powertrain ushers the brand into the modern era of electric vehicles. It doesn't escape a few traditional EV pitfalls, like the need for a grille and the loss of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, but it does enough to deliver on its brief that buyers don't seem to mind despite the stratospheric price tag.
9. Rimac Nevera
The Rimac Nevera is the world’s fastest EV and a rolling display of what Croatian tech firm Rimac can do. It has four electric motors, one for each wheel, and makes logic-defying loads of power. Its top speed defies belief at 258 mph, and it can do 0-60 in just 1.7 seconds.
But it’s not just about straight-line insanity; the Nevera is also a masterful driver’s car. It’s easy to overtake on the motorway and cruise at a brisk pace. Its towering brakes and surreal regenerative capability are impressive too.
EVs often get criticised for lacking character, but the Nevera shows that it can offer the best of both worlds. And it’s priced to match its jaw-dropping performance. Only 150 examples are expected to be made.
10. Audi e-tron GT
Audi’s e-tron lineup skews toward utility, but its 2024 RS E-tron GT is a sedan that combines eye-catching styling with impressive performance. While its cramped rear seat and unimpressive EPA range ratings may be turnoffs, peerless interior materials and fast charge times make the GT a pleasure to drive.
The RS version I drove packs a pair of electric motors to deliver 0-60 times under four seconds and up to 637 horsepower. While that might be enough to blow away most sedans, the e-tron GT’s calm ride and svelte appearance are what really stand out.
A 12.3-inch virtual cockpit and 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen are loaded with popular content, and the e-tron GT’s driver-assistance tech is state-of-the-art. There’s even a specialized acceleration sound, which sounds powerful and progressive — just like an Audi should.
