What is the Best Electric Car?

Electric cars are becoming more mainstream. Manufacturers are now focusing on electric as the future of driving, and car buyers who once believed these cars were financially out of reach might now find more affordable options. Electric is no longer synonymous with luxury price points, and new models are being released every year.

What is the best electric car? Some buyers believe the best option is the most affordable. Others want the electric option that can drive the furthest on a full charge. Here are the best electric cars by price, range and even speed.

Most Affordable Electric Cars

While electric cars are still more expensive than the standard vehicle, these energy-efficient cars are becoming more affordable. The least expensive electric cars include:

• Nissan Leaf

• Mini Cooper SE

• Mazda MX-30

• Hyundai IONIQ Electric

• Hyundai Kona Electric

Nissan Leaf

For those on a tight budget, the Nissan Leaf holds the top spot as the least expensive electric car on the market. The Leaf has a base price of $27,400. Its range is fairly decent for the price point; the Nissan Leaf can travel an estimated 226 miles on a full charge. While this is less than half the range of the best performing electric vehicle, a range of more than 200 miles is still decent for the average driver.

Mini Cooper SE

The Mini Cooper is small and it’s extremely affordable, with a base price of $29,900. However, while the Mini is budget-friendly, those who want an electric vehicle for a long commute might reconsider the Mini. The SE’s range is the lowest on the market; the Mini can only travel an estimated 119 miles in the city or 100 miles on the highway on a full charge. Those who drive long distances may need to plug in often to ensure that they don’t have to seek out a charging station during their drive.

Mazda MX-30

With a base price of $33,470, the MX-30 is still affordable for budget-conscious electric buyers. Car and Driver took the new Mazda MX-30 for a spin and found that the MX-30 lagged in acceleration and the range was less than 100 miles.

Hyundai Kona Electric

Priced a bit higher than the MX-30, the Kona is still affordable at $34,000. Its range also significantly surpasses the MX-30; the Kona can drive an estimated 258 miles on a full charge. 

Hyundai IONIQ Electric

The IONIQ is offered in both a hybrid model and a fully electric option. The base price of the electric IONIQ is a bit more expensive at $43,650. However, the IONIQ offers an estimated range of more than 300 miles, which makes the model a great choice for commuters.

This is the Best Electric Car for Range

Buyers who aren’t on a budget and who want the maximum distance possible from that electric fueled motor might look solely at the range stats. What is the best electric car for range? The top five vehicles with the highest ranges include:

• Lucid Air Dream (estimated range of 520 miles)

• Tesla Model S (estimated range of 405 miles)

• Tesla Model 3 Long Range (estimated range of 358 miles)

• Tesla Model X (estimated range of 348 miles)

• Mercedes-Benz ESQ-450 (estimated range of 340 to 350 miles)

While Lucid currently offers the longest range vehicle on the market, the company could be bested by Tesla once the new Roadster hits the market. Tesla has stated that the new Roadster will offer an estimated range of 620 miles.

The longest range vehicles are mostly considered luxury models. The Tesla Model S is the least expensive long-range vehicle with a base price of $54,490. The Model S is priced just below $100,000, while both the Model X and the Mercedes-Benz ESQ-450 are more than $100,000.

This is the Best Electric Car for Speed

Speed and power might be aligned with diesel engines and V8 supercharged engines, but now electric models are embracing power and speed. While electric motors did not always provide great acceleration, newer models are capable of hitting top speeds and accelerating from 0-60 in less than two seconds.

The best electric cars for acceleration include:

• Rimac Nevera (0 to 62 in 1.85 seconds)

• Tesla Roadster (0 to 60 in 1.9 seconds)

• Tesla Model S Plaid (0 to 60 in 1.99 seconds)

• Lucid Air Dream (0 to 60 in 2.42 seconds)

• Tesla Model X Plaid (0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds)

Buyers who want electric speed should be prepared to pay for it. The fastest electric cars are some of the most expensive. The Rimac Nevera costs more than $2 million. The Lucid Air Dream is $169,000, and the Roadster is estimated to be more than $200,000.

While every car on the list can accelerate quickly, what are their top speeds? The fastest electric vehicles are:

• Rimac Nevera (258 MPH)

• Tesla Roadster (250 MPH)

• Tesla Model S Plaid (200 MPH)

• Lotus Evija (200+ MPH)

• Lucid Air (168 MPH)

The Lotus Evija isn’t available for all buyers, however. Lotus is limiting production to 130 vehicles. Like the Nevera, the Evija also costs more than $2 million.

What’s the Safest Electric Vehicle?

Some buyers don’t care about price and speed might not interest them. Instead, they want the safest vehicle available. One of the best safety ratings is noted as the Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Electric vehicles that have earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS include:

• Volkswagen ID.4

• Tesla Model 3

• Tesla Model Y

• Hyundai Nexo

• Volvo XC40 Recharge

• Volvo C40 Recharge

• Audi e-tron

• Audi e-tron Sportback

What is the Best Electric Vehicle?

The best electric vehicle depends on the individual buyer. Every vehicle has its own pros and cons. Buyers have their own personal preferences as to what defines the perfect vehicle; some might need an inexpensive electric vehicle, others want the safest or the vehicle that offers the best range.

For buyers with an unlimited budget, the best vehicle could be the rarest or even the fastest. When money isn’t an issue, buyers could spend millions on the perfect electric vehicle. The limited production of the Lotus Evija could make it a unique and desirable model for buyers who want to add to their collection.

Each year, new models enter the market. The Tesla Roadster is still a much anticipated new model, and when it is released, the Roadster will top the list for the fastest and longest range electric vehicle available.

Use Carzing to Find the Best Electric Vehicle

Buyers who want to pursue their electric options by price or body type also can use Carzing to simplify their search for the best electric vehicle. Buyers can set their budget parameters to find the most affordable options. Carzing even lets buyers search for used electric models, too.

If search results are limited, buyers also can expand the geographic scope of their search. This can help buyers find the exact car they want. Search results also can be sorted by distance, price or other data.

Carzing also lets buyers get pre-qualified for financing. Choose from different loan terms and monthly payments. Carzing also helps buyers understand how much money they need for the down payment at the dealership.

The best electric vehicle might be a matter of opinion, but every buyer can find their ideal electric vehicle by using Carzing to power their search.