Once best electric cars were the outliers of the car world, with the likes of Tesla seemingly the machinations of a billionaire, they are now a staple of some of the largest car brands around; Nissan, VW, Porsche, Audi, and more all have electric vehicles.
The automotive world is increasingly moving towards making more EVs, which, somewhat ironically, makes picking the best electric cars harder than ever.
As a sign of how far electric vehicle technology has progressed, all but two of the models in this year’s best-of list are pure electrics or BEVs (battery electric vehicles). Here, then, are the best electric cars.
Best Electric Cars
VW ID.4
Features
- Stylish and subdued
- Solid SUV pick
- Comfortable ride
- Autonomous driver assistance
- On par with other lower-priced electric vehicles.
- Offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo
- It makes for a tangible getting around car
- Wrapped up into an affordable package
Advantages
- Comfortable ride
- Up to a 260-mile range
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included
- Free Electrify America charging for three years
Disadvantages
- Not the most exciting car
- Infotainment is buggy
2021 Lucid Air Dream Edition
Features
- The first model out of the game promises to be a surprise
- Company’s top-of-the-line model
- All-wheel-drive 1,080 horsepower
- Drag coefficient of 0.21
- World’s most aerodynamic luxury car
- Match its slipstream hull
- Carved out a sleek interior
- Curved 34-inch touchscreen in front of the driver
- Responds to Alexa commands
- Forward-looking technology
- Built-in lidar to achieve fully autonomous driving
- A full self-driving mode
- Offering a bi-directional home charging station
- Enables the air to supply temporary power to a house in a power outage
Advantages
- Incredible range
- Advanced sensor technology for autonomous driving
Disadvantages
- High price
GMC Hummer EV Edition1
Features
- Back in a pure-electric version.
- Three electric motors
- Generate 1000 horsepower
- Launch control
- 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds
- Equipping the first EV Hummers
- Full-on off-road package
- Skid plates and rock sliders
- Washable underbody cameras
- Adaptive air suspension
- “Extract Mode” that can raise the body over half a foot
Advantages
- Impressive off-road prowess
- Solid range
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support
Disadvantages
- Wicked expensive
2021 Mustang Mach-E Premium
Features
- A stylized and solid mix of technology and performance
- Raised front fenders and broad haunches
- Front trunk, or frunk
- Plastic liner easily be cleaned
- Serving post-pandemic tailgating potluck dishes.
- Plenty of techs to keep drivers happy
- The 15.5-inch touchscreen sits in the center of the dash for the infotainment system
- Supports Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto
- Lacking from Tesla’s vehicles
- Boosting the luxury feel
- Premium Bang & Olufsen sound system
Advantages
- Sports car styling
- Over-the-air updates
Disadvantages
- Not a Mustang
Tesla Model Y
Features
- Mix affordability
- Storage space into an attractive-looking package
- 76 cubic feet of space
- 326 miles of range
- Room for up to seven people
- Access to Tesla’s 250kw supercharger network
- Automatic steering, acceleration, and brake control
- More advanced Full Self Driving
Advantages
- Lots of storage space
- Autopilot as standard, FSD available
- 250kW Supercharging available
Disadvantages
- No cheaper standard range model on sale
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support
2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Features
- EV with a two-speed transmission to boost acceleration
- EV with an 800-volt system
- It cuts down recharge times
- Pure-electric production Porsche.
- Sedan supercar features
- Neck-snapping acceleration
- Carbon-ceramic brake rotors
- Active anti-roll bars
- Air springs and high-speed rear-wheel steering
- Slots on the front are front brake air ducts
- Close at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics
- Head up display, SiriusXM satellite radio
- Ability to receive over-the-air software updates
Advantages
- Supercar handling
- Superior performance
Disadvantages
- No Android Auto support
- A fully loaded model elicits sticker shock
Audi e-Tron
Features
- Longest range EV
- Offers 402 horsepower
- 4,000 lbs of towing capacity
- Hit 60mph mark in just 5.5 seconds
- Hefty SUV design
- e-Tron offer a dual-screen infotainment system
- Supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon’s Alexa
- Plenty of tech and stylish look
- Expensive than a Tesla Model Y
- Travels over 300 miles on a single charge
Advantages
- Upscale, relaxed ride with storage space to spare
- Good performance and speed
- All the tech you’d expect
Disadvantages
- Not the best range
2021 Tesla Model 3
Features
- Best electric cars available
- Excellent coverage, features, and a price
- Can go up to 262 miles on a single charge
- Stubbier and plumper
- Technical abilities of driver-assist AutoPilot feature
- Software updates offer continual improvements
Advantages
- Forward-looking features
- Over-the-air updates
- A good range for the price
Disadvantages
- Distracting center-only instrument display
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support
Nissan Leaf (2022)
Features
- Ideal car for people new to EVs
- Roomy interior
- Plenty of hi-tech options
- Semi-autonomous ProPilot driver assistance software
- ‘ePedal’ offers a one-pedal driving mode
- Supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
- Cheaper 40 kWh battery models
- Offer 149 miles of EPA range
- CHAdeMO rapid charger
Advantages
- Cheapest electric car in the US
- ePedal one-pedal driving mode
- ProPilot driver assistance software
- Roomy interior with Android Auto and CarPlay support
Disadvantages
- 40 kWh model has limited range
- CHAdeMO rapid charger
2021 Polestar 2
Features
- Independent performance car company
- Founded by Volvo
- Free to push the envelope of engineering and EVs
- First pure-electric 5-door
- Attractive with safety system leader.
- Driven by two electric motors, front and rear axles
- The battery pack delivers an EPA rated 233 miles of travel on a single charge
- The more advanced infotainment system
- Google’s Android Auto platform
- Self-cleaning headlights
- Butt-kicking sound system from Harmon Kardon
- Combination of driver assistance and safety systems
- Run-off mitigation suspension system
- Reduce injuries in an off-road accident
- Post impact braking to assist
- Volvo’s top-notch emergency braking system
- Pedestrian detection system
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane centring
Advantages
- Reasonably priced luxury
- Solid handling
- Excellent Android Auto infotainment
Disadvantages
- Mediocre range in this class
And with the move towards only zero-emission vehicles as early as 2030 for some car makers, we’re on the cusp of seeing a surge of EVs available, from simple urban runabouts to performance EVs.