Charged-Up Cars: The Best Electric And Hybrid Vehicles
The very first electric cars debuted in the early 1830s. Little more than horse buggies with electric motors, they were the first real glimpse of a horse-less transportation future. In the nearly two centuries that have passed since those first electric vehicles tore down unpaved paths, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has come to dominate transportation. But today, electric (EV) and hybrid vehicles are seeing a resurgence.
Battery technology is allowing for extended range and outright performance has matched and in some cases exceeded the best ICE vehicles. Here is a guide to the best EV and hybrid vehicles available today and some to get excited about in the next couple of years.
Chevrolet Bolt
Chevrolet’s Bolt EV is a four-door, five-passenger compact wagon that has a 238-mile range. Powered by a 200-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels, the Bolt can hit 60 MPH in 6.5 seconds. The little hatchback is packed full of the usual tech goodies that car buyers want including USB charging ports, a Bose sound system, and even a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
The styling of Chevy’s Bolt may have gotten a mixed reaction when it debuted in 2017, but everyone could agree on the fact that the small hatchback was good to drive and significantly cheaper than its competition.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The new Toyota Corolla Hybrid might be the biggest hybrid bargain on the market today. Starting at just $23,000, it’s cheaper than the Prius by over $1,000, while using the exact same drivetrain. And if you don’t love the look of the Prius, the Corolla sedan is nothing if not handsome.
For that low, low price, you get a well equipped 4-door sedan that is capable of achieving 52 MPG. It’s also very safe, earning an NHTSA 5-Star crash-test rating. Don’t expect Bentley levels of luxury from the compact Corolla, but it’s definitely not sparse. It can be a bit plastic-y but comes with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and a mobile hotspot in the well designed infotainment system.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai is coming of age. Their cars, crossovers, and SUVs are every bit as good as their American, German and Japanese rivals. Thanks to some clever poaching of BMW engineers, and a new vision for the future of the company, their performance cars like the Veloster N are properly great to drive.
The Sonata is Hyundai’s mid-size sedan, and a good one at that. It’s not great at any one particular thing but it is competent at everything. That makes it a good all-round sedan that offers a legitimate alternative to the crossover craze.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry should need little in the way of introductions. It’s far and away the best selling car in America and the textbook definition of “family sedan.” They’re made in seven countries around the world including the largest Toyota manufacturing facility, which happens to be in Kentucky.
The current generation of the Camry is the best, with a comfortable ride, predictable handling, lots of space and loaded with tech goodies. If you opt for the base Camry Hybrid, it’s possible to achieve 53 MPG, but going up a trim level or two nets you a lot of tech, creature comforts, and a better overall experience. That adds weight, unfortunately, which can affect fuel economy.
Honda Accord Hybrid
Ok, it’s not flashy, it’s not particularly engaging or lust-worthy, but it is the type of car that your very sensible Dad would tell you to buy. None of that is necessarily a bad thing, it’s a Honda Accord after all, which is a good car, with a hybrid powertrain, which is a good thing, that gives you 48 MPG in both the city and highway, also good, which you can drive for 600 miles between fill-ups.
Honda know how to make cars that are well-engineered, efficient and good to drive. The Accord handles better than a crossover, gets better gas mileage and has one of the best reliability reputations in the business.
Honda Insight
Honda’s hybrid Prius-fighter, the Insight, first debuted in 1997 as a sub-compact two-door car with a design that eschewed style in favor of aerodynamic efficiency. That first-generation Insight was not only the most aerodynamically efficient car you could buy at the time, it was also the most fuel-efficient with an EPA-rated 70 MPG on the highway.
Today, the Honda Insight looks very similar to the Civic, which is no surprise considering they share a platform. The new Insight uses a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. Combined they allow the Insight to achieve 55 MPG in the city and 49 MPG on the highway.
Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid
Ford’s decision to abandon cars and focus on SUVs, crossovers, and trucks means that the great Fusion platform is not long for this world. It also means that precious few engineering and development dollars have gone into the Fusion to keep up with rivals. Despite this, the Fusion is still a good car, with handsome styling that’s aged particularly well.
The chassis is generally “sportier” than rivals and the infotainment system is one of the best in the biz, but the 188-horsepower output of the engine and electric motors offer performance that will never be confused for brisk. Despite the aging platform and powertrain, the Fusion offers 42 MPG, 610 miles of range and is still a worthy choice as a commuter or family sedan.
Hyundai Ioniq EV
Not all hybrids and EVs need to be fire-breathing, track-crushing, monsters capable of warping space and time. Sometimes what is called for is a normal, everyday car that gets you to work, to school, to the grocery store and then home again. That’s exactly what the Hyundai Ioniq is.
Available in either a hybrid or pure EV, the Ioniq is a humble, simple people mover that’s both efficient and well-made. You’ll never see the Ioniq on a bedroom wall poster, but it doesn’t need to be, it just goes about being a competent, efficient daily-driver.
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet’s plug-in hybrid Volt first debuted in 2011. The styling of the first generation car may not have been to everyone’s liking, but it did offer a viable alternative to the Toyota Prius. The second-generation cars (2015 – 2019) are much more handsome and are not only a good hybrid, but a good car, full stop. Capable of driving 53 miles in all-electric mode before the engine kicks in, the Volt can also achieve 42 MPG in hybrid mode.
The Volt is a great around town and commuter car, but if you have a family you may want to consider a larger vehicle as the back seats in the Volt could be a bit cramped.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf has been doin’ it electric-style since 2011. The small five-door hatchback has been a mainstay of the EV market, and one of the best-selling.
When first launched in 2011, the Leaf had a range of 73 miles. Tragic by any standard. As a sign of the pace of technological advancement, a mere eight years later and the Leaf Plus can now manage 215 miles of range. That still lags behind most of its competitors, but the Leaf makes up for that with practicality, build quality and space.
Acura NSX
When Acura revived the NSX for the 2016 model year, hopes were high that the reboot would be as captivating and engaging as the original. As it turned out, the reviews were mixed and the brilliant performance of the car, the technology, and the amazing hybrid drivetrain, with a twin-turbo V6 and three electric motors, were overshadowed by unfair comparisons to the original NSX.
If Honda, and Acura, had named this car anything other than “NSX” everyone would have thought it was a phenomenal sports car in its own right. Zero-to-sixty MPH in 3.1 seconds is nothing to sneeze at, and the chassis balance on a twisty road or race track is sublime. It’s a great sports car with chiseled good looks and performance to match. Bonus, it’s rated at 21 mpg city and 28 MPG highway.
Kia Niro EV
Kia currently offers the Niro in three forms of efficiency. A hybrid version, a plug-in hybrid, and a full electric model. The small crossover can achieve 50 MPG in hybrid form and is capable of 238 miles of range in the all-electric model. Both respectable numbers that put in directly in line with the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt.
Compared to the Bolt, the Niro is the better looking and better-equipped option. The Niro’s interior build quality and materials give it a near-luxury feel. The infotainment may feature a small-ish screen at only 8.0 inches, but it’s packed with features that a lot of comparable cars lack.
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius is to hybrid as peanut butter is to jelly. Toyotas been making the Prius since 1997, and it has become the poster child of the hybrid “green-car” movement. The first-generation cars were largely derided for being uninteresting, uninvolving tools for people who wanted others to believe that they are politically correct. They became an oft-used and cliched political symbol.
The thriftiest Prius will return 58 MPG, which by any standard is impressive. Don’t expect an abundance of space in the compact hybrid and some of the interior plastics may seem cheap, but the Toyota Prius still deserves your attention if you’re interested in a more efficient means of travel.
BMW 530e iPerformance
BMW’s 5-Series cars are some of the best big sedans on the planet. Chock-full of high-tech driver and safety aides along with luxury, refinement and world-class handling, the 5-Series is typically the benchmark by which all others are measured.
The 530e iPerformance is a mild-hybrid version of the big Bavarian and can be had in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 530e makes use of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is mated to an electric motor for a total of 248 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The total range is about 400 miles before charging and filling up the tank, making the big Bimmer a good choice for long trips and comfy commutes.
Porsche 918
The second of the Holy Trinity of hypercars, the Porsche 918 is a mid-engine plug-in hybrid that uses a lot of Porsche’s sports car racing technology to make you go very, very fast. Power comes from a naturally-aspirated 4.6-liter V8 that’s derived from the Porsche RS Spyder racing program. Two additional electric motors are paired with the V8 mill and when combined give the 918 a total of 887 horsepower. It’s less than the P1 and the LaFerrari but thanks to all-wheel drive it’s capable of ripping a 0-60 MPH time of 2.2 seconds.
The 918 is meant to be useable every day and on the race track. It can run completely on battery power, in Hybrid mode (engine and electric motors) or in the much more exciting Race mode, which puts that car in maximum attack.
Hyundai Kona EV
Hyundai’s Kona EV is the cousin to Kia’s Niro EV. They share a platform and drivetrain, and while the Kia may be a bit larger, the Hyundai is cheaper and has an advantage on range. Rated at 258 miles, the Kona EV’s range is class-leading. It’s also fun to drive with a good handling chassis and a 0-60 MPH time of 6.4 seconds.
The interior is all quality. It’s comfortable with a good feel to the materials and has a more upscale vibe that matches cars and crossovers which are much more expensive. The Kona is classified as a subcompact crossover, so space is tight, but if you’re looking for a well-made EV that isn’t a Tesla or a Bolt, you can’t do much better than Hyundai’s Kona EV.
Tesla Model S
You can’t talk about electric cars without talking about Tesla. Their goal of bringing EVs to the masses has reshaped the automotive market and prompted most major manufacturers to invest in and build electric vehicles. The company’s first sedan, the Model S debuted in 2012, one year after the Nissan Leaf. Today, it’s the benchmark full-size EV sedan that companies like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi compare against.
Today, there are two trims available, the “Performance” and the “Long-Range.” Both have all-wheel drive, high-tech features and the famous minimalist interior punctuated with the massive touchscreen.
Tesla Model 3
Tesla’s “affordable EV for the masses” is the Model 3. Available in three trims, Performance, Long Range and Standard Plus, the Model 3 has a lot to offer. zero-to-sixty MPH in 3.2 seconds in the Performance trim and 322 miles of range in the Long Range trim. Plus, the Tesla Supercharger network is the best in the world right now for charging up while away from home.
It should be noted that many have reported questionable build quality and software glitches in Tesla’s cars, the Model 3 included. Also, “affordable” is a relative term. Regardless, the Model 3 is quickly becoming the small EV benchmark and a legitimate performance car as well.
Tesla Model X
Defined by its Falcon Wing rear doors, the Model X SUV is Tesla’s foray into everyone’s love affair with trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. Dual motors and all-wheel drive are standard on both the Performance and Long Range trims. If you opt for the Performance trim and switch on Ludicrous mode, the Model X becomes the fastest accelerating SUV in the world. Capable of hitting 60 MPH from a standstill in just 2.7 seconds. Electricity can be pretty fun!
The range is 328 miles in the Long Range trim and the interior is what you’d expect from Tesla, minimalist with a huge touchscreen. The Model X is expensive, but it’s practical and safe, earning an NHTSA five-star safety rating.
McLaren P1
In 2013, Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren debuted supercars that would completely change the sports car landscape and redefine performance. The Ferrari LaFerrari, the Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1 became known as the “Holy Trinity” of hypercars. All three featured hybrid powertrains and showed the world that the coming electrification of the sports car was a very good thing.
The P1 is the sum total of McLaren’s many years of Formula 1 experience, technology, aerodynamics, and chassis engineering expertise. A 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 727 horsepower and is assisted by an electric motor that adds another 177 horsepower for a total of 904. Zero-to-sixty MPH is dealt within 2.8 seconds, but it’s the race track where the P1 really shines, obliterating lap times wherever it goes.
BMW i3
What the i3 lacks in overall range, 153 miles, it more than makes up for in the looks and luxury department. The exterior design is eye-catching and attention grabbing while the interior is a masterclass in modern automotive design.
As you’d expect in an offering from BMW, the i3 is packed with cool tech features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, a wireless phone charging tray, a self-parking feature, and a premium Harmon/Kardon sound system. Where the i3 lacks is in the driving range department, which is well behind most of its competitors, and in backseat room. However, if you don’t need to drive far and are in the market for an attention grabbing EV, the i3 is a great choice.
Ferrari LaFerrari
The third car of the Holy Trinity is the Ferrari LaFerrari. Unlike the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1, the LaFerrari uses a Formula 1 style kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) to provide bursts of extra power. Energy is recovered under braking and stored for use later when the car is accelerating.
The LaFerrari has a monster of a motor, a 6.3-liter, naturally aspirated V12 that punches out 789 horsepower. When mated with the KERS system a maximum of 950 horsepower can be called upon to hurl the Ferrari toward the horizon.
BMW i8
Practicality is just so tedious. If you’re ready to ditch things like cargo space, rear leg-room and ease of ingress and egress, then look no further than the stunning and futuristic BMW i8. The coupe is phenomenal but it’s the open-top roadster that is the real stunner. It is downright impossible to not stop and stare at the i8, and if you’re in to curb-appeal by the ton, the hybrid Bimmer has you covered.
The i8 is powered by a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors. Combined they produce 369 horsepower and can accelerate the i8 from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.1 seconds.
Audi e-tron
Audi’s first all-electric SUV is the e-tron. A bit bigger than the Q5 and a bit smaller than the Q8, the e-tron fits into Audi’s model lineup as an alternative to the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. What the e-tron has going for it is Audi’s reputation for high build quality and superb interior design and comfort. Plus, it’s quite easy on the eyes.
The German crossover uses two electric motors, providing all-wheel drive, and makes a combined 355 horsepower. Sixty MPH comes up in 5.5 seconds if you have a heavy right foot and you can go 204 miles between charges. Both figures are decent but certainly not class leading.
Porsche Taycan Turbo And Turbo S
When it comes to EVs, Porsche is the new kid on the block. Their first dedicated EV, the Taycan, is a monster of a sports sedan. Designed to compete directly against the best that Tesla can do, the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S offer all-wheel drive and up to 750-horsepower (in the Turbo S).
Zero-to-sixty MPH is dispensed within 2.6 seconds and with a top speed of 161 mph, the Porsche EV is no slouch. Porsche’s attention to detail and the fit and finish are second to none, making the Taycan the head of the EV class right now.
Rimac Concept Two
The follow-up to the well received and manic Concept One is the Concept Two. Taking everything that Rimac learned with the Concept One, the Concept Two is a revolutionary step forward.
The four electric motors now produce 1,888 horsepower and accelerate the car from 0-60 MPH in 1.85 seconds! Top speed is claimed to be 258 MPH and the C2 has a range of up to 402 miles. Technology is at the fore in the C2 and it features Level four autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance systems, and the entire vehicle is unlocked using facial recognition technology. “Hypercar” might be too weak a word to describe the Concept Two.
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar’s first EV is the I-Pace. An all-wheel drive, 394-horsepower crossover wrapped in a stylish body packed full of luxury. Tasteful, trendy, handsome, and chock-full-of-technology, the I-Pace represents everything that is good about Jaguar tradition and blends it with the body of a thoroughly modern EV crossover.
The I-Pace can run the 0-60 MPH sprint in 4.5 seconds and is limited to a top speed of 124 MPH. Charging takes a bit longer… 10 hours on a home charger or 45 minutes if you use a 100kW DC supply. The I-Pace is spacious, comfortable and one of the best looking EVs on the market today, and if you “hyper-mile,” it’s possible to get 298-miles of range per charge.
Lexus ES300h
Lexus’ ES300h is the luxury sedan you choose if you value luxury and style over Autobahn blitzing performance. Lexus has ditched the bland and subtle styling of the past and is moving in a very bold and angular design direction. Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no doubt that it stands out.
As you would expect, luxury offerings are on point with interior quality and technology options being a very strong selling point. Under the hood, the ES300h has a 215-horsepower, electric motor-assisted, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The ES is front-wheel drive, and while it’s not a drag strip demon, it is very efficient and will return a respectable 46 MPG on the highway.
Lexus LC500h
Ok, let’s cut to the chase… The Lexus LC500h looks like a million bucks. Inside and out, the LC500h is all about details. The interior design is nearly a work of art and one of the single best places to be on four wheels.
While the standard LC500 comes equipped with an incredibly sonorous V8, the hybrid version of Lexus’ coupe is fitted with a V6 and a pair of electric motors for a combined 354-horsepower. It’s rated at 35 MPG on the highway and can deliver a 0-60 MPH time of 4.7 seconds. It’s not the fastest or most efficient hybrid coupe on the market, but it might be the best looking.
Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD
The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD shares a similar drivetrain set-up to the NSX. A 3.5-liter V6 is mated to three electric motors and all-wheel drive to deliver 377-horsepower. That’s enough to propel the RLX from a stop to 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds.
The all-wheel drive gives the RLX tenacious grip in all conditions, but the heavy drivetrain dull chassis handling and the aging platform means that rivals from Germany have the edge on a twisty road. Comfort and luxury are a strong suit for the Acura, and while most will find the infotainment system outdated, the overall quality and fit and finish in the RLX is top-notch. The RLX can return 29 MPG on the freeway, which isn’t too bad considering its size and weight.
Rimac Concept One
Rimac is a unique company, founded by racer and car enthusiast Mate Rimac in Croatia. The company first made a name for itself with a truly mental car… a 593 hp, all-electric BMW E30 named the “Green Monster.”
Rimac has moved well beyond the BMW and in 2011 introduced the word to the Concept One. The Concept One is a full-bore hypercar and a technological tour de force. Capable of hitting 60 MPH from a standstill in just 2.6 seconds and rocketing to a top speed of 221 MPH, the Concept One makes use of four electric motors and a 90kW battery to produce a massive 1,287 horsepower.
Lexus LS500h
If you need more room than the LC500h and you happen to want a full-size, luxury sedan without a German badge on the hood, then the Lexus LS500h might be the perfect hybrid for you. The drivetrain is the same as in the LC500h, a 3.5-liter V6 with a pair of electric motors. You get 354-horsepower and a trick transmission that is both a continuously variable automatic and a 4-speed with manual shifting.
The big Lexus is less spritely than the LC500h, and 60 MPH comes up in 5.4 seconds. But to be fair, you don’t buy an LS for drag racing, you buy it because it’s a great big comfy luxury cruiser. Thanks to the hybrid tech it will return 31 MPG.
Upcoming – Rivian R1T
All electric pickup trucks are coming, and the Rivian R1T might be the first to market. Set to hit the road in late-2020, the R1T and an upcoming SUV, the R1S, are sure to shake up the truck market. Ford has invested heavily in Rivian, and that could be seen as a sign of things to come for the long-term.
The design of the R1T is futuristic but still maintains a traditional pickup shape. Underneath, the Rivian packs a spec sheet that would embarrass quite a few supercars. The four-motor version is said to be capable of a 0-60 MPH run of 3.0 seconds and a sprint to 100 MPH in just 7-seconds. The four motors combine for 753-horsepower, can tow 11,000 lbs and deliver a range of 400 miles. Not bad for a start-up.
Upcoming – Tesla Roadster
If we are to believe the hype, then Tesla’s upcoming Roadster should be a world-beating hypercar. The engineering staff at Tesla, and Elon Musk himself, have said that the two-door electric sports car will be the company’s “halo” model and set the standard for EV performance.
The promises are big: a 0-60 MPH time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed of 250 MPH, all-wheel drive and a range of 620 miles. Whether Tesla can deliver on that promise is another discussion, but what is for certain is that the Roadster has a real chance of becoming the ultimate hypercar with performance that can melt your face!
Upcoming – Tesla Model Y
The next model car from Tesla is likely to be the Model Y. Based on the Model 3, the Y is a crossover version that shares the same drivetrain and promises to offer class-leading performance and range.
Coming in the summer of 2020, the Model Y will be available in two trims, Long Range and Performance. Long Range trims can be configured in either rear or all-wheel drive, and the Performance trim will have all-wheel drive as standard. Expect performance to be similar to the Model 3, with a claimed 0-60 MPH time of 3.5 seconds for the Performance all-wheel drive trim. Range should be in the neighborhood of 300 miles per charge and the Model Y will feature three-row seating for up to seven people.
Upcoming – Volkswagen ID.3
Volkswagen’s ID.3 is the first in a series of “ID” branded EV cars and SUVs that will be released over the next few years. The ID.3, which is set to debut in 2020, represents VW’s efforts to build an affordable, all-electric car that’s roughly the same size as the ever popular Golf.
But unlike the gasoline and diesel-powered Golfs, the ID.3 is rear-motored and rear-wheel drive. Two motors are available for the production car, a 148-horsepower unit and a 201-horsepower unit, and capable of up to 340 miles of range. Because of its size and relatively light weight (for an EV), along with a rear-wheel drive set-up, the ID.3 should be a ton of fun to drive as well.
Upcoming – Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4-Matic
Mercedes-Benz wades into the EV battle with the EQC400 4-Matic SUV. Based largely on the GLC, the luxury Benz has all the creature comforts, technology and handsome styling that you’ve come to expect from the German manufacturer.
Powered by two electric motors, the EQC converts electrons into 402-horsepower. That’s good for a claimed 4.8 second 0-60 MPH run. The trade-off for performance is range, and in the EQC expect that to fall between 200 and 250 miles. Brimming with advanced safety features and a five-way drive mode, the big Benz should have you covered for any environment and situation you’re likely to encounter.
Upcoming – Honda e
The little Honda E is a retro EV throwback taking styling cues from the very first Civic of 1973. Designed primarily for urban use, the E has a single motor, powering the rear wheels and making about 148-horsepower. Since the E is tiny, designed for cities and is, in fact, cooler than a polar bear’s toenails, range is expected to be around 120 to 130 miles of pure unadulterated fun.
The interior is just as retro-tastic as the exterior and the production model is expected to keep the “no door mirror” design. You get a pair of rear-facing cameras and two screens on the dash to display what’s behind you. Currently only offered in the UK and EU markets, there is no word, as of now, that the Honda E will make it to the US.
Upcoming – Lamborghini Sian FKP 37
The first electrified vehicle produced and built by Lamborghini is the upcoming Sian FKP 37. As you would expect from the Italian company, the Sian is not about range, efficiency or advanced battery technology, it’s purely about performance and neck-snapping speed.
Based on the Aventador, the Sian starts with the Aventador SVJ’s V12 engine and integrates an electric motor within the transmission. Combined, the hybrid powertrain churns out a meaty 807-horsepower. That’s plenty to rocket the Lambo from 0-60 MPH in 2.8 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 217 MPH.
Upcoming – Tesla Cybertruck
Clearly designed using only a ruler the Cybertruck is Tesla’s hyped-up interpretation of the all-electric pickup truck of the future. The design is controversial, the performance is alleged to be staggering and the debut and initial demonstration were dubious. If Tesla can pull-off the Cybertruck, and keep the production version close to the concept, the pickup truck market is in for a real shake-up.
In the top-of-the-line trim, the tri-motor all-wheel drive Cybertruck has a claimed 0-60 MPH time of 2.9 seconds, a range of 500 miles and a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. It’s noting if not distinctive and should be exciting when it comes to market sometime in 2021.
