A decade ago, the thought of driving an electric car was just weird. They were niche, way too expensive, and frightening with the range anxiety. No more. In fact, it's not just the way of the future but an ever more popular choice today. Range is way up for most of them, and depending on your commute and your local climate, you may not have to plug in more than once a week. Other than the Tesla Model 3, here are four EVs we're stoked about. Maybe one of them will find their way into your garage.
2020 Kia Soul EV
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Best for Urban treehuggers |
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Count on Kia to make the Soul even better than it already was. The new Soul EV ($37,500 base MSRP, estimated) version gets a 201 horsepower electric motor and 64kWh battery pack, which amounts to 243 miles of all-electric range. That's seriously impressive, and all that efficiency gets coupled with great interior space and an almost sexy new design that makes the hamsters seem like the distant past. The new EV boasts 40 percent more torque, and nearly 85 percent more power. The car will launch to 60 mph in 7 seconds, compared to the old car's 9.7 seconds. There's plenty of improvement inside and out without losing the playful spirit of the original Soul.
2019 Audi e-tron
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Best for Lifestyle junkies |
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The Audi e-tron strikes the right cord by being an EV crossover instead of a sedan, and it's one handsome hauler. The e-tron is larger than Q5 but smaller than the Q7, and it ends up looking like the fancy Q8. It has a sumptuous cabin with great materials and ergonomics, as well as an impressive 150-kW DC fast-charge capability, which Audi says can get the vehicle from zero charge to 80% full in only 30 minutes, beating Tesla. We think it's one of the most intriguing EVs to come along in a while and one that will turn heads.
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf
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Best for budget ev buyers |
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Don't count out the only EV in the VW lineup (okay, so more ar on the way) because it's a good one, despite the meager 125-mile range. Not only is it a relatively affordable EV, even undercutting the Kia Soul, it's really fun to drive and has the right amount of room for errands thanks to the hatchback configuration. The e-Golf gets a spritely 134-hp electric motor and a small 35.8-kWh battery pack. Perhaps the most interesting part of the e-Golf is its understatedness, which might be a strong draw for the more conservative EV buyers. No one will notice you zipping around town, but you'll have fun doing it.
2019 Jaguar I-PACE
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Best for Tesla Haters |
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Take one look at the I-PACE, and you'll want more. It's actually one of Jaguar's best-looking vehicles, second only to the F-Type Coupe. This crossover-style EV looks more like a sleek wagon. Inside is a 90.0-kWh battery pack, all-wheel drive, and two electric motors that spit out a potent 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque. Range is 234 miles, which can't touch Telsa, but is more than enough for most folks. Too bad its $69,450 base MSRP is a tad high, but it's still way less than the $81K asking price for the Tesla Model X, and it looks about 1,000 times better.
Is it the right time to switch to electric?
- EVs are becoming more mainstream.
- Range drops 30% in cold weather, so evaluate your climate.
- More charging stations are showing up everywhere.
- You'll go to gas stations just to use the restrooms.