Tesla sells probably the most EVs, however in the event you don’t assume it sells the most effective EVs, listed below are some different fashions that you possibly can select as an alternative.
Tesla doesn’t have as huge a lead over its opponents because it as soon as did. Though its EVs are nonetheless among the many finest, competing automakers have caught up and have even surpassed Tesla in some areas.
Shopping for the most effective EV isn’t so simple as simply loading up the Tesla website and ordering one anymore. It’s a must to analysis and examine the Tesla mannequin you’re with its principal rivals, that are rising in numbers. We’ve lined up the primary rivals for every Tesla mannequin and highlighted their execs and cons that can assist you make the most effective car-buying resolution.
The Tesla Mannequin 3 remains to be the go-to EV if you need a compact electrical sedan that does every thing nicely and is inexpensive. There are a number of variations to select from, beginning with the $38,990 base rear-wheel mannequin, which has 272 miles of EPA vary and a 0 to 60 mph dash time of 5.8 seconds. The highest $54,990 Efficiency mannequin has 303 miles of vary and an acceleration time to 60 mph of two.9 seconds. The longest-range mannequin is the $42,290 Lengthy Vary Rear-Wheel Drive variant, which has 363 miles of vary.
The Competitors:
The one Mannequin 3 rival that’s not a bespoke EV, which means it’s constructed on a combustion automobile platform, but is sweet sufficient to problem the Tesla is the BMW i4. The bottom single-motor i4 eDrive 35 prices $52,200; it has the identical dash time as the bottom Mannequin 3 and a spread of as much as 276 miles in the event you stick with the smallest out there wheels. The longest-range mannequin is the dual-motor $61,600 i4 xDrive 40, with a claimed EPA vary of as much as 307 miles and an acceleration time of 4.9 seconds.
Should you’re after all-out efficiency, BMW provides the $69,700 i4 M50 with 536 horsepower and a dash time to 60 mph of three.7 seconds. We’ve tried a number of variations of the i4 through the years, and it’s undoubtedly a reliable EV that appears nice and is well-built. Nevertheless, it’s additionally fairly heavy and never as easy to string round a twisty highway because the a lot lighter and extra nimble Mannequin 3.
Hyundai went all-out on aerodynamics with the Ioniq 6, which is why it appears to be like like a pebble—a design that appears to separate opinions. Below its streamlined physique sits the E-GMP platform that underpins most electrical Hyundais and Kias. This platform runs on 800 volts, serving to the automobile be environment friendly and cost shortly, with a median of about 200 kilowatts when hooked as much as a sufficiently highly effective charger.
The Ioniq 6 begins at $37,500, and for that, you get 240 miles of vary from its 53-kilowatt-hour battery and simply 150 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electrical motor, sufficient for 0 to 60 mph in round 8.5 seconds. If you’d like barely extra energy and probably the most vary, the $42,450 SE variant with 225 hp and a bigger 77.4 kWh battery offers you 361 miles and far faster acceleration. Including a second motor for all-wheel drive bumps the value up by $3,500 and the facility to 320 hp whereas the vary drops to 316 miles.
A fair spicier Ioniq 6 N can also be within the works.
The Polestar 2 is without doubt one of the unique Mannequin 3 rivals launched again in 2020. Nevertheless, whereas the 2024 model-year automobile might look nearly an identical, lots has been performed beneath the pores and skin. Lease offers on the Polestar 2 had been excellent for a very long time and used ones are even higher.
The Polestar 2 obtained a number of vital upgrades for 2024. These included upgraded motors, batteries and charging speeds and a change from front- to rear-wheel-drive for the bottom fashions for added efficiency. The Polestar 2 household has various between about 250 miles of vary to as much as 320, relying on configuration.
Nevertheless, the mannequin obtained some huge modifications for 2025 as Polestar focuses extra on the Polestar 3 crossover and upcoming Polestar 4 crossover-coupe. The 2025 Polestar 2 now begins at $64,800, or $66,200 together with vacation spot charges, and the one out there mannequin is the Lengthy Vary, Twin Motor model with the Efficiency Pack. That does get you 476 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, max vary of 254 miles, a zero to 60 mph time of 4 seconds flat, charging speeds as much as 205 kW and a bunch of included choices like Pilot Help, the panoramic roof, a warmth pump with heated seats and steering wheel, and extra.
Tesla Mannequin Y
The Tesla Mannequin Y appears to be the proper automobile for immediately’s automobile consumers: it’s a sensible and roomy crossover, appears to be like like a sporty coupe-like fastback, and has numerous efficiency and vary. It wasn’t an accident that it turned 2023’s world best-seller, surpassing even the ever-present combustion-engined Toyota RAV4.
It has a beginning worth of $44,990 for the Lengthy-Vary Rear-Wheel Drive variant that goes 320 miles on one cost and sprints to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The $47,990 all-wheel-drive Lengthy-Vary Twin Motor lowers the vary to 308 miles however provides extra energy and drops the acceleration time to 4.8 seconds. The Mannequin Y Efficiency prices $51,490 and sacrifices some vary (279 miles EPA) in favor of a 3.5-second time to 60 mph.
The Competitors:
Constructed on the identical E-GMP platform because the Ioniq 6, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is without doubt one of the hottest Mannequin Y alternate options. The bottom $41,800 Commonplace Vary mannequin has 168 hp and 220 miles of vary, which isn’t a lot, so you need to get the variations with the bigger battery pack to drive additional on one cost.
The least you’ll pay for one is $45,850, and also you’ll get 225 hp and 303 EPA miles of vary. Including a second prices $3,500 additional and ups the facility to 320 hp however lowers the vary to 260 miles. There’s additionally the bonkers range-topping $66,100 Ioniq 5 N, which lets you shift pretend gears and hearken to a simulated engine, nevertheless it’s additionally blistering in a straight line and enjoyable across the bends (and a observe).
Though the Kia EV6 shares mechanical similarities with the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, it boasts a novel look akin to a futuristic rally automobile on stilts. It offers a extra dynamic driving expertise in comparison with its Hyundai counterparts. The bottom mannequin prices beneath $43,000 and has a 58 kWh battery with 232 miles of vary.
You’ll have to pay a minimum of $45,590 to get the bigger 77.4 kWh battery pack, which supplies you 310 miles and ups the facility from 168 hp to 225 hp. The $49,850 Lengthy Vary AWD mannequin provides a second motor on the entrance axle for 320 hp mixed, however the vary drops to 282 miles. The recent 576-hp EV6 GT prices $61,600, and it could actually speed up to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, nevertheless it’s additionally the lowest-range mannequin, with 206 miles on one cost.
Ford makes one of many extra fun-to-drive electrical crossovers, the Mustang Mach-E. It won’t seem like it, nevertheless it handles nicely (to the detriment of journey high quality), offering some justification for utilizing the Mustang nameplate. It additionally has an amazing inside with numerous area and respectable vary.
The Mach-E vary kicks off at $41,995; you get 250 miles of vary and 267 horsepower from a single rear-mounted electrical motor. Improve to the Prolonged Vary battery pack for $45,990; the vary goes as much as 320 miles. The drive unit will get extra energy to compensate for the heavier battery and nonetheless delivers an identical 6.1-second benchmark dash time. On the prime of the Mach-E vary sits the $60,900 Rally mannequin, which will get extra energy and means that you can have enjoyable sliding round a mud highway.
After our first drive, we preferred the Chevrolet Equinox EV lots. We preferred its breadth of capabilities and the way regular it felt to drive. With a beginning worth of $34,995, it’s additionally fairly inexpensive, and also you get a whole lot of automobile for the cash. The vary is fairly spectacular, too.
The bottom front-wheel-drive mannequin is rated as much as 319 miles on a single cost, and in the event you go for all-wheel drive, that drops to 285 miles. The twin-motor 2LT Equinox EV, the choose of the vary, will price $43,295. The value goes as much as $46,795 for the highest 3RS variant.
Polestar desires to make a splash with the Polestar 4 crossover. Its coupe-like rear finish resembles the Mannequin Y and Mach-E by way of physique type, nevertheless it’s uncommon in not having a rear window. For $54,900, you get the bottom single-motor long-range mannequin, which has 272 hp and 300 miles of EPA vary.
Choosing all-wheel drive will drive the value to $62,900 and double the facility to 544 hp. The acceleration time to 60 mph drops from 6.9 seconds to three.7 seconds, however so does the vary, which is 30 miles decrease than within the single-motor variant.
The Mannequin S is the unique collection manufacturing Tesla, one of many game-changing electrical automobiles that performed an enormous half in accelerating EV adoption. The Mannequin S you should purchase immediately is a closely up to date model of the automobile launched again in 2012, which suggests it doesn’t look fairly as sharp and futuristic as a few of its rivals, that are faster and supply superior vary.
The Competitors:
BMW makes each combustion and electrical variations of its 5 Sequence sedan. The latter is named the i5 (additionally out there in Europe because the i5 Touring wagon), and it’s the perfect electrical sedan to get in the event you don’t wish to stand out and shout about selecting an EV.
The bottom $67,100 i5 eDrive40 has a single rear electrical motor that makes 335 hp, sprints to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, and might drive as much as 295 miles. Go for the $70,100 i5 xDrive40 with all-wheel drive, and also you’ll get 389 hp (0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds) and 266 miles of vary. The $84,100 i5 M60 range-topper packs 593 hp and might attain sixty from a standstill in 3.7 seconds, much like an M4 Competitors.
Lucid makes probably the most environment friendly and longest-range premium electrical sedans due to its proprietary 900-volt platform. The Air just isn’t solely comfy and roomy inside, nevertheless it’s actually good enjoyable round a twisty highway, with loads of dealing with stability and exact steering that means that you can place the automobile very precisely.
The vary kicks off with the single-motor $71,400 Air Pure, which was so good that we known as it the choose of the vary in a current evaluation. The 411 miles of vary you will get out of its 88 kWh battery pack highlights simply how environment friendly this automobile is, and its 4.5-second 0 to 60 mph dash time can also be wonderful for a base variant.
If you’d like the massive 118-kWh battery, you will get it within the Grand Touring mannequin, which prices $111,400 however will take you 516 miles on one cost. The Air Sapphire top-performance mannequin is ridiculously costly at $250,500. Nonetheless, it is without doubt one of the quickest-accelerating automobiles on the planet due to the mixed energy of three electrical motors.
Earlier than the Air and i5 got here alongside, the Taycan (additionally out there because the Taycan Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo) was the one sturdy different to the Mannequin S. Nevertheless, it couldn’t match the Plaid model’s straight-line acceleration. After the current refresh, although, Porsche has upped its energy significantly, and the Taycan additionally has extra vary than ever and even higher dealing with.
The Taycan has the best beginning worth out of all of the sedans right here, $99,400. You get 274 miles of vary, 402 hp from a single rear motor that pushes the automobile to sixty in 4.5 seconds, and the lightest and most nimble Taycan variant. The 4S provides a entrance motor for 536 hp and three.5 seconds to 60 mph, however the vary drops to 252 miles.
With the $3,160 Efficiency Battery Plus choice, you may improve the vary to 318 miles within the single-motor Taycan or 295 miles within the 4S. If all-out efficiency is your precedence, the $173,600 Taycan Turbo and $209,000 Turbo S supply 871 and 938 hp, sufficient for two.5—and a couple of.3-second acceleration occasions to 60 mph, respectively. They get the bigger battery as normal and supply 292 and 266 miles, respectively.
The head efficiency mannequin is the $230,000 Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package deal, which sacrifices the rear seat in favor of most observe efficiency. It reaches sixty from a standstill in 2.1 seconds due to 1,019 hp from its two motors, and it’s the one variant that may attain 190 mph flat out.
Mercedes took of venture when it made all its bespoke EVs look nothing like its combustion automobiles within the quest for aerodynamic effectivity and maximizing inside area. That is why it’s possible you’ll hear some folks name the EQS sedan “egg-shaped.” It will not be the prettiest sedan, nevertheless it’s removed from being a nasty luxurious EV, with a futuristic inside and loads of vary from its huge battery pack.
The modifications introduced by the mid-lifecycle refresh make it look higher than earlier than. The refreshed mannequin’s web battery capability is 118 kWh (up from 108.4 kWh), which ought to improve its EPA vary over what it could actually at present do, which is between 305 and 352 miles. It may inch very near 400 miles.
The 355 hp single-motor rear-wheel drive EQS 450+, the longest-range mannequin, will price you $104,400 whereas the range-topping EQS AMG mannequin retails for $147,550. It has 649 hp (and as much as 751 hp briefly with a lift operate) and it could actually speed up to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
The Mannequin X isn’t as standard because it as soon as was, despite the fact that it’s nonetheless a compelling, giant, luxurious electrical SUV. It nonetheless appears to be like fancy and distinctive from the skin, however its inside construct high quality and design are not any match for rivals just like the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV or the futuristic BMW iX. It feels nice from behind the wheel, although, and there’s loads of vary, whichever model you go for.
Nowadays, two mannequin variants can be found: the $79,990 All-Wheel Drive, which boasts a 335-mile vary and a 3.8-second acceleration time to 60 mph, and the highly effective Plaid, priced at $94,990. In Plaid type, it’s faster off the road than every other electrical SUV in the marketplace, attaining the benchmark dash in 2.5 seconds, a prime pace of 149 mph, and an EPA vary of 326 miles.
The Competitors:
The Kia EV9 is without doubt one of the few true giant three-row electrical SUVs with sufficient area for adults within the third row. It appears to be like enormous, however it’s barely shorter and narrower than a Mannequin X, despite the fact that it sits on an extended wheelbase and is a number of inches taller, which, together with the boxy form, gives the look that it’s a bigger automobile general.
The EV9 is the biggest automobile constructed on the 800-volt E-GMP platform however has bigger batteries than any associated mannequin. For $54,900, you get the bottom mannequin with a single rear motor and the smaller 76.1 kWh battery pack that provides it a spread of 230 miles. If you’d like the bigger 99.8-kWh pack in RWD type, which has 304 miles of vary, you’ll have to pay $59,200.
Including a second motor for all-wheel drive will increase the value to $63,900, and the vary is lowered to 280 miles. The quickest model is the $73,900 GT-Line, which has the identical 379 hp as the opposite dual-motor variants however 516 lb-ft of torque in comparison with 443 lb-ft. This permits it to succeed in 60 mph from a standstill in 5 seconds, making it fast for such an enormous bus. It should grow to be even faster when the EV9 GT arrives on the scene.
Rivian not too long ago overhauled its R1 lineup, giving its automobiles new motors, batteries, options, and refinements over the earlier model. Though, at first look, it appears to be like nearly an identical to the outgoing mannequin, the producer considers the brand new R1S the second technology of the automobile, declaring all of the areas the place it has been improved.
Solely out there with all-wheel drive, the R1S vary begins with the $75,900 R1S Journey Twin Commonplace, which has 270 miles of vary from its 92.5 kWh battery, 533 hp from its two motors, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. The $82,900 R1S Journey Twin Massive offers you 109.4 kWh and 330 miles of vary, 665 hp from a extra highly effective pair of motors, and a 3.4-second acceleration time.
If you’d like much more vary, Rivian provides the $89,900 Journey Twin Max, which has 141.5 kWh and a claimed vary of 410 miles. Energy and acceleration are an identical to these of the Twin Massive mannequin. The brand new $105,900 R1S Ascend Tri Max with three drive models is extra highly effective at 850 hp than the outgoing quad-motor variant, with 850 hp and a couple of.9 seconds to sixty. It options the identical 141.5 kWh Max battery pack for 371 miles of claimed vary.
Rivian will introduce a brand new quad-motor R1S in 2025, the R1S Ascend Quad Max. Its 4 motors will ship 1,025 hp and 1,198 lb-ft, sufficient to push the R1S to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
BMW’s status for making satisfying automobiles to drive shines by way of once you get behind the wheel of an iX—it’s sporty but in addition actually well-judged and remarkably comfy. In contrast to the Mannequin X, EV9 and R1S, it’s solely out there with two rows of seats, however what it lacks in area, it makes up for in cornering prowess and a tech-focused inside that simply feels nicer than any of its rivals.
It’s additionally fairly costly for the reason that US lineup solely has two variants, each of that are very highly effective and have the bigger out there battery pack. For $87,250, you get the iX xDrive50 with the 105.2 kWh battery pack good for 315 EPA miles and a 4.4-second 0 to 60 mph time. The $111,500 iX M60 is even faster to sixty, finishing the dash in 3.6 seconds, however its vary is barely decrease at 285 miles.
2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV
The ovoid form of Mercedes’ bespoke EVs appears to work higher for the SUV type issue, which is why most individuals will agree that the EQS SUV appears to be like higher than the three-box mannequin. It’s simply as lavish inside nevertheless it’s much more spacious, and it is simply obscenely opulent and over-the-top in the event you get the Maybach mannequin.
All variants now get the identical bigger 118 kWh battery pack because the sedan. The bottom EQS 450+ prices the identical $104,400 because the sedan and it has the identical 335 hp rear motor however a bit much less vary at 339 miles. Including a second motor and all-wheel drive improves acceleration barely and ups the value to $107,400 whereas the vary goes right down to 330 miles.
The EQS 680 Maybach begins at $179,900 and it will get a dual-motor setup with 649 hp, which propels it from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and its vary is 321 miles with the usual 21-inch wheels. Nevertheless, the Maybach variant is not a lot in regards to the vary as it’s about flexing, which it’s wonderful at with its price ticket that may simply go north of $200,000 with choices.
We’re nonetheless uncertain if the Tesla Cybertruck is a rugged and highly effective truck that you could tow and go off-road in or if it’s only a film prop that’s good for posing greater than the rest. It’s not a truck for introverts as a result of it’s probably the most conspicuous automobile on the planet proper now, and it’ll get you a whole lot of consideration—you need to settle for that in the event you’re even contemplating shopping for a Cybertruck.
There’s no query about its energy and acceleration, although. With the current addition of Off-Highway Mode, you may lastly take it rock crawling or fake you’re a rally driver round an unpaved highway, and it’s good at power-pulling.
With all hopes of a rear-wheel-drive $61,000 Cybertruck nearly lifeless, the $81,895 Twin Motor variant with 600 hp, a 4.1-second 0 to 60 mph time, and 318 miles of vary will stay the entry-level mannequin. The $101,985 Cyberbeast has three motors delivering a mixed 834 hp and 740 lb-ft, propelling the Cybertruck to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. The vary drops to 301 miles for the Cyberbeast.
Tesla says that dual- and tri-motor Cybertrucks can tow as much as 11,000 kilos. If the producer launches the single-motor truck as deliberate, it could actually solely tow 7,500 lbs. Its six-foot mattress with a motorized retractable tonneau cowl is rated to hold a payload of as much as 2,500 lbs.
The Competitors:
Though Ford didn’t launch a brand new electrical mannequin on a brand new platform like Ram is doing with the 1500 REV, the F-150 Lighting was performed proper. It’s fast, sensible, and full of tech, and it’s one of many highest-rated electrical vans that you could purchase immediately.
The Professional work truck variant is probably the most inexpensive, costing $54,995 and having a spread of 240 miles with the usual 98 kWh battery pack. Upgrading to the Prolonged Battery (131 kWh) prices a minimum of $10,000, nevertheless it will increase the vary to 320 miles. The XLT model with the small battery prices $62,995 and $67,995 with the bigger pack.
F-150 Lightnings with the usual battery have 452 hp and might tow as much as 7,700 lbs, whereas these with the bigger pack have 580 hp, which permits them to tow as much as 10,000 lbs. Payload capability can also be affected by the selection of battery pack: normal battery vans can carry as much as 2,235 lbs, whereas these with the big pack can solely take 1,952 lbs. The payload capability appears to fluctuate barely relying on which trim and choices you select.
Rivian has achieved a lot for what remains to be an EV startup, and it owes a lot of its success to the R1T, which is a superb automobile. It’s the truck model of the R1S, and it shares most of the SUV’s qualities. Nevertheless, it’s cheaper and extra versatile, with a 54-inch mattress within the again.
You’ll pay $69,900 for an R1T Journey Twin Commonplace with 270 miles of vary and a 4.5-second 0 to 60 mph time, whereas the 850-hp R1T Ascend Tri Max with a 2.9-second dash time and 371 miles of vary will price you $99,900.
Though the R1T is barely smaller than the F-150 and Silverado EV, it’s rated to tow extra, with an higher restrict of 11,000 lbs. Its payload capability within the mattress is 1,700 lbs.
GM is difficult the Ford F-150 Lightning with a down-to-earth electrical pickup within the type of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which could have a beginning worth of round $60,000, and the costliest variations will price round $100,000. It should have battery packs bigger than all its opponents, with the biggest one anticipated to have a capability of 205 kWh, offering over 450 miles of vary in probably the most frugal mannequin variants.
It might probably tow as much as 10,000 lbs, though GM has mentioned that it plans to finally launch a model that may double that. The utmost payload capability is 1,440 lbs.
The GMC Sierra EV would be the extra luxurious different to the Silverado EV, however each vans are anticipated to be nearly an identical mechanically. The launch version, the Denali Version 1, prices nearly $100,000, has 754 hp and a claimed vary of 440 miles.
