Ford’s F-150 Lightning is a hybrid pick-up truck that has already attracted millions of pre-orders and aims to blur the lines between car and SUV. It boasts a sub-4 second 0.60 time and can travel up to 300 miles on a charge.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 is another practical SUV that prioritizes driving enjoyment. It offers up to 303 miles EPA range for a reasonable starting price.
1. Ford F-150 Lightning
The F-150 Lightning is the first full-size pickup to go all-electric. Its surprisingly long driving range and impressive acceleration make it a strong competitor to rivals like the Rivian R1T. The truck also has some unique features like the Mega Power Frunk, a front trunk design that provides additional storage space and can be used as a cooler to keep drinks cold.
Ford also opted to include some of its newest in-car technology, including a 15.5-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen that’s bright and easy to use. And, in a bid to ease range anxiety, it offers a real-time calculation of how far a driver can travel on a single charge. This helps the Lightning stand out from trucks with similar capabilities, such as the upcoming GMC EV SUT and Chevrolet Silverado EV.
2. Toyota bZ4X
It took Toyota a long time to get into the electric vehicle game, but its first ground-up EV is a likable entry. The bZ4X is a small SUV that’s sized like a RAV4. It has a front-wheel-drive motor with 201 horsepower and a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery for an EPA-estimated 252-mile range. Add a second motor for all-wheel drive and the range drops to 222 miles.
It can do CCS fast charging at up to 150 kW, which is a lot quicker than the Skoda Enyaq iV or Volkswagen ID.4, but slower than the EV6 or Tesla Model Y. The bZ4X also has plenty of standard features, including a heated steering wheel, fold flat rear seats and a premium JBL audio system. It’s also available with a wireless remote control that can lock or start the car, as well as monitor and control charging and usage.
3. Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai’s first EV sedan is designed to complement and enhance the way you live. It delivers on that mission with an aerodynamic streamlined silhouette and mindful cocoon-like interior. You’ll also appreciate how it can slam a 338-mile EPA estimated range thanks to its 77kWh battery pack and front and rear electric motors.
Single-motor RWD versions can get to 60 mph in about seven seconds. Opt for the more expensive dual-motor AWD and that figure drops to under five seconds.
A raft of safety features is available too including front, thorax and pelvis airbags, eCall in Europe, active cruise control, lane keep assist, cross traffic alerts and parking collision avoidance. You can even tailor the driving experience through a customizable EV Performance Tune-up system that allows you to adjust steering effort, throttle pedal sensitivity and driveline modes.
4. BMW i7
The 2023 BMW i7 is the latest generation of a vehicle that has always been the most performance-oriented model in the brand’s 7 Series lineup. It’s also the most expensive of the bunch but offers an advanced electric powertrain that’s just as capable as a traditional V8 while being easier to control.
Its interior is impressive too, with two curved screens and a wide panoramic glass roof that transform the back seat into a cinema-like space. BMW even offers a special mood lighting strip that extends from the rear door windows to the front doors, giving occupants a unique wrap-around experience.
With a 310-mile range on paper, this is a great luxury EV to consider. The car also offers a fast charge rate of up to 195 kW, though that’s less than what competitors like the Mercedes EQS can offer.
5. Lucid Air
Lucid, a startup electric car maker that originated as battery company Atieva before reorganizing in 2016, is going head-to-head with Tesla in the luxury market. Its debut model, the 2022 Air, pushes performance and range capabilities to the limit.
With a mind-blowing 1,050 hp from dual ActiveCore electric motors and an EPA-estimated 520 miles on a full charge, the Lucid Air is one of the most advanced EVs on the market. Its fastest model, the Sapphire performance variant, accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in just 2.0 seconds.
The 2023 Air also offers industry-leading recharging speed with a 250 kW DC fast charger. It can recharge a depleted battery to 300 miles in just 21 minutes, and owners get three years of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network.