The Best (and Worst) Electric Cars in 2023

The Best (and Worst) Electric Cars in 2023

best electric cars in 2023

One third of American drivers are seriously considering going electric as generous tax credits, fuel savings and reduced emissions lure the masses towards EVs. My own household made the switch in early 2022, and we’re never going back to ICE. In hopes of adding clarity to the current EV market, we’ve created this resource to share what we think are the BEST electric cars, trucks and SUVs in 2023. We’ve also shared what we think are the worst.

The Best Electric Cars in 2023

These models are stand-outs for their value. Range, charging speed and available features are given priority over performance in our analysis.

2023 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive

Model 3 RWD price

Price: $41,990

Range: 272 miles

Fast charging (adding 200 miles in 20-30 minutes)

Why it’s great: The Tesla Supercharger network makes cross country travel hassle-free. Tesla charges are very reliable, and with 1,500 locations in all 50 states, finding one is rarely an issue.

Plus, the price you see on Tesla’s online configurator is the price you pay (before taxes and required fees, of course). While legacy automakers continue to struggle with out-of-control dealer markups, Tesla and other direct-to-consumer EV makers have the upperhand on pricing.

See pre-owned Tesla inventory near you, or configure a new Tesla at Tesla.com

2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range

2023 Model Y price and range, the best electric cars in 2023

Price: $52,990+

Range: 330 miles

Fast charging (adding 200 miles in 20-30 minutes)

Why it’s great: The Model Y is the larger, more family-oriented version of the Model 3. Last year, the Model Y overtook the 3 as the best-selling EV in America. Although it is the most expensive model on this list, if you can afford it, the ease of public charging, great range, spacious interior and exhilarating performance all make this the sweet spot for many buyers. Plus, there are no dealer markups.

But wait, there’s more. Both the Model Y and Model 3 are available for delivery soon after placing an order. Tesla wait times are between one and three months as of late 2022. That’s about as good as it gets in today’s EV market. 

Should you ever decide to sell, both of these Teslas have amazing resale value.

See pre-owned Tesla inventory near you, or configure a new Tesla at Tesla.com

Check out this resource: The Best Electric Vehicles Under $50,000

2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SEL (Rear-Wheel Drive)

2023 IONIQ 5 SEL

Price: $46,250 (dealer markups are common but negotiable)

Range: 303 miles

Fast charging: Add 200 miles of range in 20 minutes

Why it’s great: The 2023 IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60 are the first models powered by Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform. This is next-gen 800-Volt architecture at (relatively) affordable prices, and that’s awesome. 

Plus, the IONIQ 5 is spacious, and looks really cool. Sadly, Hyundai has had a very difficult time scaling up production due to supply chain constraints, so expect to either wait for at least six months, or battle outrageous dealer markups to get your hands on a rare allocation.

I love my IONIQ 5. Here’s a review of my ownership experience so far. 

See Hyundai IONIQ 5 inventory near you.

2023 Kia EV6 Wind (Rear-Wheel Drive)

Kia EV6. the best electric cars 2023
2022 EV6

Price: $49,795 (dealer markups are common but negotiable)

Range: 310 miles

Fast charging: Add 200 miles of range in 20 minutes

Why it’s great: Kia’s version of the IONIQ 5 looks completely different, with very similar specs. That’s because both models share the e-GMP platform with great range and even better charging. 

The 2023 EV6 has slightly more availability than the IONIQ 5 right now. For the 2023 model year, Kia decided to drop the “Light” base model, kicking the entry-level price all the way up to nearly $50,000. 

As always, I recommend everyone take a test drive before dismissing EVs. They’re quiet, efficient and fun. The EV6 would be a great one to take for a spin.

See Kia EV6 inventory near you.

Here’s every electric truck’s pricing and range.

2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro (Rear-Wheel Drive)

American-made 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro
American-made Volkswagen ID.4 Pro

Price: $42,495

Range: 275 miles

Fast charging: Add 190 miles of range in 28 minutes

Why it’s great: The VW ID.4 is now made in America at Volswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee factory. That means it will qualify for the revised EV tax credit (up to $7,500), as long as your VIN confirms that it is an American-made ID.4. I was impressed during my test drive of the ID.4. It rides like a luxury crossover, and has plenty of acceleration when you need it. However, it’s definitely the least sporty of this bunch, but it’s also the least expensive.

Now made in America, there is also a new cheaper option starting at $37,495. However, with public charging infrastructure slow to build out, the expected 208 miles of range is not enough for us to confidently recommend it to anyone but those who expect to stick around urban areas 95% of the time. The ID.4 Pro, on the other hand, is exceptional value with the EV tax credit. 

See Volkswagen ID.4 inventory near you.

The Worst Electric Cars in 2023

2023 GMC Hummer EV

2023 GMC Hummer EV charging cost

Price: $90,000-120,000 (before markups of up to $100,000)

Range: 329 miles

Why it’s horrible: Where do we start? The Hummer EV costs $100 to charge (because it has a MASSIVE 212 kilowatt-hour battery pack), weighs 9000 pounds (that’s 2x the weight of the typical F-150), and is horrible for the environment. If you’re looking to go green with your EV purchase, this isn’t it. It’s also very expensive, but that’s less surprising these days. 

At auction, we’ve seen many Hummer EVs selling for over $200,000. No thanks.

2023 Mazda MX30

2023 mazda mx30 review

Price: $34,000

Range: 100 miles

Why it’s horrible: If you’re considering the Mazda MX-30, send me an email at [email protected]. I’d like to talk you out of it. I have nothing against Mazda as a brand (they make some awesome cars), but I am very against anyone buying an electric car with just 100 miles of range in 2022. Sure, maybe it’s just for around town. Have you thought about resale value? With barely 100 miles on a charge and slow charge times of around one hour, I’m afraid Mazda’s first EV won’t be worth its scrap metal value in a decade.

Other options to consider at this price point? The Nissan LEAF, base Volkswagen ID.4, Chevrolet Bolt, and soon-to-come Chevrolet Equinox EV are all far more capable for under $40,000.

2023 MINI Hardtop

2023 MINI Hardtop electric review

Price: $34,000

Range: 110 miles

Why it’s horrible: I sure hope CarEdge’s own Ray Shefska forgives me for bashing the electric MINI, but with 110 miles of range and slow charging, I don’t see a single reason why anyone should consider this EV. It’s one of the last ‘compliance cars’ in the EV market. 

2024 Cadillac Celesiq

Cadillac Celestiq review

Price: $300,000+ (yes, count those zeroes)

Range: 300+ miles

Why it’s horrible: Would you pay Rolls Royce money for a Cadillacl? GM seems to think you would. I’m all for going all-out on EV design and innovation, but when Cadillacs cost more than houses, I can’t help but shutter. But hey, it will be hand-built. 

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Every Electric Truck in Development, Plus a Few Already Here

Every Electric Truck in Development, Plus a Few Already Here

Electric trucks are few and far between on highways, but they’re all the rage online. There are fewer than 3,000 electric trucks on the road today, but at least 1.5 million reservations are in the books for upcoming electric truck models. Will trucks ever catch up to crossovers in the electrification of the auto industry? With how many models are in the development pipeline, it will be interesting to find out. Let’s take a look at every electric truck on the way, and the few you might catch a glimpse of in 2022.

Rivian R1T

The Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is available to order today

Introduced: Late 2021

Range: 314 miles

Fuel economy: 71 MPGe

Cost to charge 0 – 100% at home: $19

Price: $78,975 – $121,690

“It’s bigger than a Ford Ranger, smaller than a F-150, and a whole lot more expensive.”

The 2022 Rivian R1T is the most common electric truck on the road today, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to find one. About 2,000 have been sold as of spring 2022. As is often the case, supply shortages (and inflation) have put a damper on the much-anticipated rollout of Rivian’s first model. 

Nevertheless, it’s a very capable truck. The R1T can tow more than 11,000 pounds and the pickup offers a payload capacity of 1760 pounds. And it’s fast, with a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. It’s a rugged, outdoorsy-themed truck for those who use their pickup for more play than work. If you’re in the market for one, get in line. If you’re lucky (and have a deep wallet), you just might take delivery of one by the end of 2023. Rivian prices recently jumped by $10,000 – $20,000, so don’t expect a Rivian for the original price of $69,000.

GMC Hummer EV

GMC Hummer EV

Introduced: Late 2021

Range: 329 miles

Fuel economy: 47 MPGe

Cost to charge 0 – 100% at home: $30

Price: $80,000 – $110,000+

“American excess at its finest….. and least efficient.”

If you would like a 9,000-pound, crab-walking mammoth of a truck that can seemingly overcome physics to reach 60 miles per hour in three seconds, General Motors has you covered. The revived Hummer is a large luxury truck meant to turn heads more than it’s meant to haul stuff to the worksite. 

The Hummer EV’s #1 party trick is the crab-walk. That’s when the truck turns using all four weeks, allowing it to slide through traffic. The EPA-rated range of 329 miles is a bit misleading. It has a MASSIVE 212 kilowatt-hour battery. That’s triple the capacity of most electric crossovers! While technically it starts around $80,000, used ones are already selling for a quarter of a million dollars

Ford F-150 Lightning

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat

Introduced: Late 2022

Range: 230 – 300 miles

Fuel economy: 68 MPGe

Cost to charge 0 – 100% at home: $14 – $20

Price: $39,974 – $90,874

“This will be the first mass-produced electric truck on the market, but we’re bracing for the dealer markups.”

We recently detailed all we know about the upcoming electric F-150 in a special CarEdge preview. It turns out that truck fans are REALLY looking forward to the Lightning. The question remains, can Ford make enough of them?

Here’s What Stands Out With the F-150 Lightning:

  • It’s the most powerful F-150 ever
  • You can power tools, other EVs and even your entire home with the truck
  • The Lightning looks normal, but features state-of-the-art technology
  • The front trunk is bigger than most regular trunks
  • Up to 320 miles of range, but mediocre charging speeds

Ford has 200,000 reservations in the books for the F-150 Lightning, so new orders can expect a 2024 delivery. If you’re patient, this just might be worth the wait. 

Here’s everything we know about the Ford F-150 Lightning.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Silverado EV electric truck
2024 Silverado EV RST

Introduced: Spring 2023

Range: Up to 400 miles (depending on battery size/trim)

Cost to charge 0 – 100% at home: $28

Price: $39,900 – $80,000+

“It’s the direct competitor to the F-150 Lightning, but it will charge a LOT faster.”

When Ford made such a big deal with the unveiling of the F-150 Lightning, we all knew General Motors would be cooking up something special. The Chevrolet Silverado EV was unveiled at last, and the specs and looks have exceeded expectations. Chevy claims it has faster charging, more power, and more range than the Ford. 

It’s a flexible truck too, and one that’s definitely going to see some worksite use. The storage capacity of the 5-foot-11-inch bed can be extended to 9 feet with the ’available’ Multi-Flex Midgate. 

GM says that the new Silverado is basically a rolling generator, if you buy the required accessories. “When combined with the available accessory power bar, the Silverado EV’s PowerBase charging system offers up to 10 outlets, to provide a total of 10.2kW of all-electric power for countless worksite or recreational needs, including powering your home, with the required equipment.” It can even charge other electric vehicles!

Learn more about the Chevrolet Silverado EV in our in-depth analysis. 

Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla Cybertruck

Introduced: 2023

Range: Up to 400 miles

Price: Unavailable

“Did someone make a truck in Minecraft?!”

Ever since Tesla pulled the curtains back in November 2019, the world has divided into two camps: those who adore the Cybertruck’s angular, Mars-ready looks, and those who abhor it. No matter what your opinion is, it’s still just an idea for now. Tesla has repeatedly pushed back its arrival, and now says that 2023 will be the start of production. 

The Cybertruck will have 3,500 pounds of payload capacity, and can tow 14,000 pounds. Those specs are on another level for sure. It’s also a performance-oriented truck, with a 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds. Pricing had previously been announced to start at $40,000 for rear-wheel drive base variants, but that was later removed from the Tesla website. We expect pricing to range from $55,000 to over $80,000, but it’s pure speculation at this point. 

Toyota’s Electric Truck

Toyota electric truck

In late 2021, Toyota teased the above image of an electric truck. It closely resembles an electric Tacoma, which would be a dream come true for many Toyota fans. They haven’t said a word since, but we’ll update you with the latest once we know more. 

Ram 1500 Electric Truck

Ram 1500 electric truck

Stellantis has taken its sweet time getting into EVs. In 2024, the Ram 1500 electric truck will make a debut with a range of up to 500 miles and futuristic design cues. It will be capable of fast-charging, a quick 0-60 time, andthe latest tech from Stellantis.

The electric Ram 1500 will be built on the new STLA platform that is currently in development. More to come. 

GMC Sierra Electric Truck

GMC Sierra electric truck

They say it’s coming, but we don’t know much yet. The electric Sierra will share the same powertrain engineering as the Silverado EV.

“Like the GMC Hummer EV, the electric Sierra will be purposefully built on the Ultium Platform with the premium materials and capability customers have come to expect from GMC trucks,” says GMC. 

Canoo

Canoo electric truck

The Canoo ‘Pickup Truck’ has more in common with the Tesla Cybertruck that one might suspect. It’s weird-looking, has space-age ambitions, and has been repeatedly delayed. Canoo has undergone multiple leadership shakeups, and that has delayed the launch of Canoo’s first products by a few years (and counting). 

The Canoo truck has a targeted payload capacity of 1,800 pounds, a 6’ 8” bed when extended, and about 500 horsepower. At least 200 miles of range are to be expected on a charge. Hopefully it turns out to be at least 250 miles considering the competition. 

As odd and mysterious as the Canoo Pickup Truck is for now, the EV startup already scored a significant contract, at least symbolically. NASA selected Canoo to transport astronauts to the upcoming Artemis spaceships for missions to the moon in 2025.

With a bit of luck, the Canoo truck just might be available to reservation holders in 2023. Learn more about Canoo here. 

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Every Electric Vehicle On Sale in 2022: Wait Times and Price

Every Electric Vehicle On Sale in 2022: Wait Times and Price

Hyundai IONIQ 5

(Updated for Summer 2022)

As anyone who’s fallen head over heels for one of the many 2022 electric vehicles and clicked that ‘Order’ button can attest, just because you can order an EV in 2022 doesn’t mean you can drive it home this year. This was a problem I faced myself, but I finally broke the code and got a Hyundai IONIQ 5 at MSRP (here’s how).

Soon after I began my online car search, it became clear that if I wanted a brand-new vehicle, my options were limited by availability. To make the most of the situation, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about the availability and estimated delivery times for EVs on the market today. Here’s what we know as we kick off the new year.

Note: These are fully-electric models that can either be ordered now or purchased at a dealership today. Many more have been announced but are not yet officially available.

MakeModelClassStarting MSRPEstimated Delivery/Lot Availability*
Audie-troncrossover SUV$65,900Available Now
AudiQ4 e-troncrossover SUV$43,900Available Now
AudiRS e-tron GTsedan$103,445Available Now
BMWiXSUV$88,050Mid-2022
BMWi4sedan$55,400Mid-2022
CadillacLyriqSUV$62,990Late-2022
ChevroletBolthatchback$31,000Available Now
ChevroletBolt EUVcrossover SUV$33,500Available Now
FiskerOceancrossover SUV$37,4992023
FordMustang Mach-Ecrossover SUV$43,895Available Now
FordF-150 Lightningtruck$39,9742023-2024
GMCHummer EVtruck$99,995Mid-to-late 2022
HyundaiIONIQcrossover SUV$33,245Available Now (Discontinued)
HyundaiIONIQ 5crossover SUV$43,650Available Now
HyundaiKonacrossover SUV$34,000Available Now
JaguarI-Pacecrossover SUV$69,900Available Now
KiaNirocrossover SUV$39,990Available Now
KiaEV6crossover SUV$42,115Available Now
LucidAirsedan$77,400Mid-2022
MazdaMX-30crossover SUV$33,4702022 - CA Only
MercedesEQSsedan$102,310Available Now
MercedesEQBSUV~$55,000Late 2022
NissanLeafhatchback$27,400Available Now
NissanAriyacrossover SUV$47,125Late 2022
PolestarPolestar 2sedan$45,900Available Now
PorscheTaycansedan$82,700Available Now
RivianR1Ttruck$67,5002023
RivianR1SSUV$70,0002023
SubaruSolterracrossover SUV$46,220Mid-to-late 2022
TeslaModel Ssedan$94,990Late 2022 - 2023
TeslaModel 3sedan$46,990Mid-to-late 2022
TeslaModel XSUV$104,9902023
TeslaModel Ycrossover SUV$62,990Late 2022 - 2023
ToyotabZ4Xcrossover SUV$43,215Mid-to-late 2022
VolkswagenID.4crossover SUV$40,760Mid-2022
VolvoXC40 Rechargecrossover SUV$55,300Available Now
*For a vehicle ordered in May 2022, unless there's existing dealership supply.

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What Does It All Mean? Supply and Demand Are Out of Whack

A few things might stand out to you on this list. Not a lot of options are available if you need a new vehicle right now. VW Group’s new EVs are available at many dealerships, although there are reports of major dealer markups. It’s quite easy to find EVs of the previous generation on dealer lots. Think Kia eNiro, Hyundai Kona EV, Nissan Leaf and the like. 

The vast majority of 2022 electric vehicles are crossovers. No surprise there given the sales trends over the past decade. Honda doesn’t have a single EV arriving in the North American market until the 2024 Prologue electric SUV. That is surprising considering the popularity and good reputation of the brand. What will it take for automakers to catch up to demand? An end to the chip shortage would be a great step in the right direction. There’s also the supply versus demand factor. Ford, Rivian, Tesla and VW are all swamped with orders well into 2022, and even into 2023. All except Tesla are EV newcomers who are facing the same production ramp-up struggles that Tesla just barely survived a few years ago. We’ll update this page regularly as more information becomes available, so save it to your bookmarks!

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below, or shoot an email to [email protected].