WILL KAUFMAN: Hey Elena, when is getting
charged with multiple batteries a good thing?
ELENA SCHERR: No-- no--
no-- no.
WILL KAUFMAN: What?
ELENA SCHERR: No.
WILL KAUFMAN: What?
ELENA SCHERR: No, we are not doing this.
We are not doing the electricity jokes in the EV video.
WILL KAUFMAN: Guess what, it's too late,
we're already rolling.
Let's talk EVs.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ELENA SCHERR: Electric cars are good now.
Did you get the memo?
Yeah, they have enough range and they're
available in enough price ranges that they're
a viable alternative for most commuters.
Imagine never having to go to a gas station again.
Today, we're rounding up the best EVs
so you don't have to go charging in blind.
Oh, man now I'm doing it.
WILL KAUFMAN: Gotcha.
Everything we're going to talk about
has been through our full testing and rating process,
which you can see more about--
[BUBBLES POPPING]
There's a link.
There's a link--
ELENA SCHERR: Somewhere.
We put a link in.
WILL KAUFMAN: This list includes everything
we've tested up until now.
Our ratings are updated in real-time.
So if you don't see the vehicle you're looking for,
make sure to check edmunds.com to see if it's there.
ELENA SCHERR: All right, let's actually talk about the cars.
Tesla may have captured consumers imaginations
with its futuristic and pricey vehicles,
but there are affordable EVs out there that cost
less than $40,000.
When the Kona electric hit the market,
it immediately became our favorite new EV.
Why?
Well, because it's just a car, but better.
You get a comfy practical hatchback
with Hyundai's easy infotainment and useful driver aids.
Only it's faster and more efficient than the gas models.
In our testing, the Kona EV was more than a half second quicker
to 60 mile per hour than its turbocharged sibling.
And all that power is available right off the line.
So you don't have to wait for a turbo to spool up
or a transmission to wake up.
WILL KAUFMAN: We picked a Kona EV up for our long term fleet.
I really enjoy commuting in ours.
I think it's the stereo.
It's better than most in the class.
Although, that rear seat is kind of tight for big infant seats.
Rear seat infant accommodations aside,
we liked the Kona electric so much
we gave it our Editor's Choice Award for the top EV of 2019.
ELENA SCHERR: Good job, Kona.
WILL KAUFMAN: This is one electric
that won't be wearing the Kona shame.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
When it launched, the Chevrolet Bolt
leapfrogged the competition with its 238 miles
of range, quick acceleration, and approachable price.
Even with more competitors on the market now,
the Bolts strengths mean it's worth checking out
if you're shopping for an EV.
ELENA SCHERR: The Bolt isn't perfect.
The interior is kind of plastic-y.
And it has a unique infotainment system that is just not
as good as Chevy's norm.
The lightweight and firm seats aren't very adjustable.
And some people around the office
felt they were a deal breaker.
But your mileage wattage may vary.
WILL KAUFMAN: We put 30,000 miles on a Bolt
as part of our long term testing program.
And its nimbleness and small size
made it a solid choice for the daily commute.
ELENA SCHERR: One thing that's awesome about the Bolt
is its one pedal driving, where lifting off the gas pedal
causes the electric motors to slow the car down so you don't
even have to touch the brake, and you're recapturing energy
while it happens.
That is a neat EV trick.
For 2020, it offers 259 miles of range.
Although, those few extra miles aren't enough to help
it nab the top EV spot from Hyundai.
You can find out why on our full video comparison of those two
cars.
WILL KAUFMAN: The Volkswagen e-Golf, or e-Golf,
as no one calls it, is practically
a dinosaur in the EV world, having come out way back
in 2015.
We like the e-Gulf for being, well, a golf--
a likeable small car with comfortable seats
and Volkswagen driving dynamics that
make it more pleasant than competitors
from behind the wheel.
For 2019, the e-Golf is up to 125 miles of range.
That's well behind top competitors,
but still enough to get most commuters through their day.
You also get standard car play and Android Auto,
and a generous trunk with folding seats
that give the e-Golf plenty of space for cargo.
ELENA SCHERR: The e-Golf is the affordable EV that feels
the most like a regular car.
But it's not as torque and quick as, say, the Kona,
and it's definitely down on range.
WILL KAUFMAN: If you're willing to skip the bells and whistles,
the e-Golf's base price is pretty affordable.
But you'll have to pay extra for things like active safety
features.
If you're looking for a friendly and familiar way
to get into electric motoring, the e-Golf
is worth checking out.
ELENA SCHERR: Nissan doesn't get enough credit
for making the first successful affordable EV.
In fact, the Leaf is still the top selling EV in the world.
The current generation Leaf introduced for 2018
is quieter, more comfortable, and more rewarding to drive.
It offers plenty of range.
WILL KAUFMAN: The Leaf's steering wheel
doesn't telescope, making the car a little less
comfortable for taller drivers.
And steering feels artificial.
But overall, the Leaf has far more strengths than weaknesses,
especially if you don't need the chart topping range offered
by the Kona or the Bolt. And if you do,
the Leaf plus variant amps up the range
to a competitive 226 miles.
ELENA SCHERR: Kilowatt hours, not amps.
WILL KAUFMAN: Stay in your lane, Scherr.
ELENA SCHERR: Hey Will, are you tired of hearing
about the Edmunds long term test fleet yet?
WILL KAUFMAN: How could anyone ever
get tired of hearing about such a valuable resource
for shoppers and enthusiasts alike?
ELENA SCHERR: Good, because we've
had both generations of Leaf in our garage.
WILL KAUFMAN: And the second generation really
was a big improvement.
Even though it was slower, I liked
commuting in the Leaf a bit more than the Bolt
just for the seats.
Although for someone my size, it felt a bit
like driving a toy car.
ELENA SCHERR: Will is actually a lot taller than me.
And I am standing on a box right now.
The Hyundai Ioniq electric has a low cost of entry.
Yet, it offers all the user-friendly tech
we expect from a Hyundai.
It also has the most efficient electric drive
train on the market per the EPAs miles per gallon equivalent--
MPGE.
Which means you'll pay less to keep it charged.
The Ioniq isn't the best driving EV,
and the rear seat is not particularly comfortable,
nor roomy.
But it gets a shout out for offering
a lot of features at an appealing price
and for being so efficient.
If you want to go green and you want to go all the way,
the Ioniq electric is the current champ.
WILL KAUFMAN: Luxury electric cars
aren't just about adding luxury features and performance
to the EV formula.
They're also about pushing boundaries.
Luxury brands work hard to show off their visions of the future
and attempt new and younger buyers like you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ELENA SCHERR: The Tesla Model S might
be the oldest Tesla in production,
but it is still our favorite of the company's three offerings.
And it is only now seeing serious direct competition.
It combines a roomy attractive cabin with astonishing speed
and outstanding range.
Depending on how it's equipped, the Model S
can be staggeringly quick in a straight line.
The price tag, however, is equally intimidating.
And compared to similarly priced internal combustion sedan,
it feels a bit unpolished and lacks some of the luxury
features like massaging seats.
But if you're after something with a Tesla badge
or serious bragging rights, the S is the best of the bunch.
WILL KAUFMAN: You know, we've owned all 3 Tesla models.
So you can find out what they're like to live
with in our long term blog.
In fact, I did the math and we've given Tesla
a total of $295,700.
ELENA SCHERR: I mean, Elon should really
send us a thank you note.
WILL KAUFMAN: The BMW i3 does have the shortest range
of any of the luxury electrics on this list
with just 153 miles.
But it does offer the option of a range extender
that gets you up to 200 miles.
The i3 is a unique little car.
From its funky looks outside to its truly special interior,
we think the i3 has one of the best interiors on the road.
It's stylish and modern with novel materials,
but it's still user-friendly.
And the i3 drives the way you'd expect a BMW to drive.
ELENA SCHERR: Between the rear suicide doors,
big wheels with skinny tires, and that dramatic interior,
the i3 really isn't like anything else on the road.
Our long term i3-- yeah, we had one--
made a great city run about.
And if you're looking for something a little different
from your EV, the i3 is a standout.
WILL KAUFMAN: The Tesla Model 3 encountered some early growing
pains.
And the elusive $35,000 model didn't exactly live up
to its advanced billing.
But if you don't mind the teething issues,
you'll find the Model 3 a remarkably sporty electric car
with a healthy amount of space for its small footprint,
and an interior that pushes the definition of modern.
ELENA SCHERR: I'm going to be the Tesla complainer.
Oh, no.
I'm not a big fan of having all the cars controllers
go through that big center touch screen.
And the displays sort of made me feel
like I was driving in a room with someone who
was playing a video game.
WILL KAUFMAN: It's definitely more distracting
to adjust vehicle settings, even simple things
like adjusting your mirrors.
But the Model 3 performed so well in our testing
that we had to give it its due.
In fact in a recent head to head comparison test,
our own Carlos Lago said that it was more fun to drive
than the new BMW 3 Series.
ELENA SCHERR: I'm not going to argue with Carlos.
The I-Pace is an impressive machine
that exudes style, poise, comfort,
and technical sophistication.
The all wheel drive electric SUV delivers plenty
of range and good utility.
But Jaguar is relative inexperience with EV technology
results in surprisingly high electricity
consumption and a lack of smoothness when braking
at low speeds.
One of the things I personally liked about the I-Pace
was how it melded a sci-fi future with classic design,
especially in the interior.
It's one of the prettiest EVs out there even
if it isn't the most efficient.
WILL KAUFMAN: This is also one of those cars
where we've seen some really strong discounts.
So you might be able to find a deal on it too.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The Tesla Model X is currently the only electric vehicle
you can get with three rows of seating.
It also has the most personality of any Tesla,
which is a mixed bag.
The Falcon wing doors and panoramic windshield
set it apart.
But these features could also be viewed as gimmicks that
don't really add functionality.
ELENA SCHERR: Either way, the Model X's firm to rough ride
doesn't do it any favors.
Still, there is no denying that this is one quick SUV.
Our long term Model X launched to 60 miles per hour
in a truly ludicrous 3.5 seconds.
And you can get all the futuristic tech
that make Tesla Model special.
But there are so many new EVs on the way.
WILL KAUFMAN: Volkswagen's got the ID coming,
which is a whole new electric platform for them.
And Ford says they're making both an SUV and a pickup truck.
ELENA SCHERR: Yeah, they partnered up
with Rivian, who are making a truck and a large SUV.
There's also the Mercedes Benz EQC and Audi e-tron.
WILL KAUFMAN: We have an e-tron coming in for testing soon.
So keep your eyes on our electric car rankings
to see how it stacks up against the Model X.
ELENA SCHERR: For our sports car fans,
Porsche just unveiled the Taycan,
a pricey high performance sedan that could give the Tesla Model
S a run for its money.
I mean, not like directly dollar for dollar for the money.
Anyway, it's really fast, it's really cool.
We think people are going to like it.
We just had a chance to check it out in person
and we were pretty impressed.
WILL KAUFMAN: And there's even more.
The Polestar 2 looks great.
The new generation Kia Soul is getting a new EV version.
And of course, Tesla has the model Y coming, along
with the new Roadster--
ELENA SCHERR: Roadster.
WILL KAUFMAN: And their own pickup truck.
ELENA SCHERR: It feels like new electric cars
and new EV technology are being announced every day.
So stay tuned to Edmunds for news
and reviews on the latest EVs.
You can also read full reviews of every car
that we talked about in this video
and find great deals on electric vehicles near you.
WILL KAUFMAN: Did we mention our long term blog?
ELENA SCHERR: Shockingly, yes.
WILL KAUFMAN: Whomp.
Whomp.
[MUSIC PLAYING]