The global EV market is projected to hit 145 million by 2030 and that means more and more automakers are adding electric vehicles to their portfolio. This might sound like a good thing at first, but for prospective buyers, finding the right EV in this competitive market is getting harder by the day. So let's take a look at 5 of the best electric vehicles on sale today that come from different manufacturers and segments but share the solid fundamentals that we expect from a modern EV. And to make this as informative as possible, we'll also take a brief look at 5 EVs that don't quite have what it takes to survive in this competitive landscape.
1 Love It: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai has gone from a maker of bland Korean econoboxes to one of the most cherished brands in North America, offering quality and reliability in a modern package for an affordable price tag. Hyundai debuted the Ioniq 5 in 2021, featuring quirky neo-retro aesthetic, a tech-loaded cabin and a massive cabin, it was an instant success story for the Korean auto giant. The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 continues to be one of the best family EVs on sale today, with a starting price of just under $43,000 and a manufacturer-claimed range between 238 miles and 315 miles. The base Ioniq 5 with the RWD setup features a single motor mated to the standard range battery that puts down 168 horsepower while the extended range battery will get you 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. The AWD versions get a beefier dual-motor setup that produces 320 horsepower and 446-pound feet of torque. This lends the family-friendly Ioniq 5 a quiet respectable 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. Speaking of family-friendly, the Ioniq 5's interior is just as futuristic and offers SUV levels of boot space with the ability to seat 5 occupants in total comfort. This is why Hyundai grabbed a ton of awards for the Ioniq 5, and we think it is one of the best EVs on sale today.
2 Love It: 2023 GMC Hummer EV
Hummer is an iconic symbol of American Patriotism and excess that was erased from the American automotive landscape by the fuel crisis and rising eco-awareness among the people. But this time, GM has resurrected this behemoth as an EV. For 2023, the GMC Hummer EV carries a starting price of around $107,000 for the tri-motor EV 3X trim puts down 1,000 horsepower and gets this 9,640-pound truck to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.3 seconds. The new electric Hummer can also tow up to 7500 pounds which is impressive given the weight of the truck but it's no match for trucks like the Rivian R1T. The Hummer EV has a manufacturer-claimed range of 329 miles thanks to GM's new Ultium battery pack that allows for 350-kilowatt fast-charging, which in ideal conditions can add up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. As for this truck's design and appeal, GM has done justice to the Hummer nameplate with chunky, ruggedized styling dominating the interior and exterior design of this truck. The squared-off dashboard design with huge displays and the glass T-Top, give it unique characteristics that will draw a lot of high-end truck and SUV buyers to the 2023 Hummer EV.
3 Love It: 2023 Genesis GV60
It looks like the Hyundai Motor Group has set its sight on the competitive EV crossover market and has a three-pronged strategy to take over the segment. This includes the Hyundai Ioniq 5 at the cheaper end of the spectrum closely followed by the more performance-focused Kia EV6. Then comes the 2023 Genesis GV60, the most premium iteration of the E-GMP platform. With a starting price just shy of $60,000, the Genesis GV60 competes with established players like the Tesla Model Y, Audi E-Tron, and Jaguar I-Pace. Genesis offers the GV60 with a 77.4 kWh battery pack across the trim range which is capable of 239 kWh fast charging. This should allow the 2023 GV60 to charge the batteries from 10-80-percent in just 18 minutes, which is class-leading. The GV60 is Dynamically sound and surprisingly agile through corners for a crossover, and with up to 429 horsepower on offer and a clever boost mode for some instant torque boost, it is one of the most well-rounded EVs at this price point. The interior is also a step up from other crossovers in the segment, thanks to the lavish use of premium upholstery and switchgear. That’s paired with one of the best infotainments in the business and a whole host of driver assistance suites for a truly premium and effortless driving experience.
4 Love It: 2023 Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is a revolutionary EV, that took Porsche's precision engineering to the electric age. As a result, two years after its official launch, the Taycan continues to be one of the most agile and dynamically gifted four-door EVs. The 2023 range of Porsche Taycan starts at $88,150 and in typical Porsche fashion, is available in a wide range of trims and configurations. The range-topping Turbo S is the hottest Taycan on sale today and is priced at $188,850. That gets you a 750 horsepower AWD setup which is capable of taking this four-door, 4800-pound Porsche to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds. Variants such as the Taycan 4S and GTS offer more accessible performance, packing 522 and 590 horsepower respectively for a substantially lower sum of money. The Taycan gets a choice of relatively modest battery packs rated at 83.7 kWh and 93.4 kWh respectively. The result is a range of 206 or 246 miles on a single charge, which is not on par with competitors like the Tesla Model S, but it somewhat makes up for it with 800-volt DC fast charging capabilities that allow it to get from 5 to 80% in a manufacturer claimed 23 minutes. Even the interior is one of the best in the business, thanks to Porsche's latest infotainment setup and generous use of premium materials. So if you want a high-end EV that brings the perfect blend of luxury and performance then look no further than the 2023 Porsche Taycan if you need more space than a conventional sedan, Porsche also offers the Taycan as wagons in the Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo specifications.
5 Love It: 2023 F-150 Lightning
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning looks similar to a regular F-150 or in simpler terms, like every other conventional truck. But that’s where the similarities end because the F-150 Lightning is arguably, one of the cleverest EVs on sale today. With the starting price of $57,869, which is up by $12,000 from last year while the range-topping Platinum Extended Range is priced just shy of $100,000 in the U.S. For your money you get the quickest F-150 ever, starting with the standard range trim with a dual motor setup that puts out 452 horsepower. The Extended range takes things up a notch with 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque that’s good for a 4-second 0-60 mph sprint and a 107 mph top speed. But for the folks who want the best towing capacity, you'd have to go with the Standard Range over the Extended Range since it offers a higher payload and towing capacity courtesy of the lighter battery pack. The absence of a gas engine combined with the independent rear suspension gives the F-150 Lightning a far superior ride and body control than other conventional pick-up trucks. All these factors make the F-150 Lightning, one of the best EVs to come out of North America.
6 Leave It: 2023 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is a pioneer that revolutionized the field of mass-market electric mobility when it was launched back in 2011. With nearly 15 years of experience in the field, one would expect Nissan to make some of the most competitive EVs today, but unfortunately, that's not the case with the 2023 Nissan Leaf. With a starting price of just under $30,000, the Leaf continues to be one of the value-for-money propositions but it fails to rival the features and equipment level offered by other EVs in the segment. The entry-level Nissan Leaf S gets a single motor setup with 147 horsepower, mated to a 40 kWh battery pack which is one of the smallest in the business. The Nissan Leaf SV Plus gets its power bumped to 214 horsepower and gets a slightly bigger battery pack at 62.0 kWh. The result is an unimpressive range which is between 149 miles for the smaller battery pack and 212 miles for the bigger pack. The fact that you have to shell out over $37,000 to get usable range in a car that feels significantly outdated makes the 2023 Nissan Leaf, one of the EVs we'd avoid.
7 Leave It: 2023 Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace was yet another leap forward for jaguar and truly took the brand's image to the modern generation. But the progress at Jaguar has been slow since and the rest of the industry is moving forward with a whole host of modern EVs. The 2023 Jaguar I-Pace has a single variant on sale, priced at $73,000. That get's you a dual-motor AWD drivetrain that’s good for 395 horsepower and 512 pound-feet. Unfortunately, the I-Pace has received next to no hardware updates in its five-year life cycle. As a result, the Jag's 234-mile range starts looking outdated when compared to competitors like the BMW iX or the much cheaper Kia EV6 which manage 324 miles and 310 miles respectively. Even the charging speeds have started feeling last-gen and so does the 99-kWh battery which feels unacceptable in a $70,000+ EV, in this day and age.
8 Leave It: 2023 Mini Cooper SE
The Mini Electrified is the British marque's attempt to resurrect the iconic nameplate for the electric age and Mini has somewhat succeeded, but it's not all good news. The 2023 Mini Cooper SE, just like many others in the industry, suffers from a curse which is its platform. This Electrified Mini is adapted from the gas-powered version which brings some limitations. The biggest is the range, which at a manufacturer-claimed 114 miles, feels very limiting and the 36-minute charge time takes it from 0 to 80%. The single-motor drivetrain puts down 181 horsepower which is adequate, but won't set your pants on fire and the additional weight of the batteries means it also loses some of its signature agility.
9 Leave It: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is an interesting one, as it carries one of the oldest EV nameplates. The term EUV innovatively stands for Electric Utility Vehicle, which implies that the Bolt EUV is nothing more than a jacked-up version of the Bolt hatchback. A fact that’s made very clear by viewing this electric crossover from the side with minimal gains in terms of cabin space. Powering the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV is a single-motor setup that makes 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet and the range is a respectable 247 miles. But the biggest challenge for the Chevy Bolt EUV is the existence of its hatchback twin. Not only is the regular hatchback over $2000 cheaper, but it also has the same powertrain and a higher range. So we suggest you save the $2K and get yourself a 2023 Chevy Bolt EV instead which also benefits from a $5,900 price cut for the 2023 model year.
10 Leave It: 2023 Mazda MX-30
The 2023 Mazda MX-30 is typically Mazda and continues to wow enthusiasts and prospective owners with its classic blend of fatal flaws and Mazda ingenuity. For starters, it’s a stunning-looking crossover and manages to stand out from the crowd with its rear suicide doors and a cozy yet functional cabin. The powertrain however isn't as remarkable with a minuscule 35.5 kWh battery pack responsible for sending juice to a single electric motor making a modest 143 horsepower. As a result, the CX 30's performance isn't going to set your soul on fire, but the biggest chink in the MX 30's armor has to be its range which at 100 miles is borderline unacceptable in this segment. But Mazda aims to fix this problem with the upcoming MX-30 R-EV that adds a Rotary range extender to the mix which should fix the MX 30's biggest flaw.