What Is The Best Electric Car On The Market?

Petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles headed the automotive industry for a prolonged time despite the presence of electric cars that were somewhat inconvenient and beyond the reach of even well-to-do families. But those days are gone now, and electric cars are now available with extremely attractive models that are developed by the big names in the automotive industry. This is leading more and more car buyers to replace the pump with the plug. All the issues with earlier electric cars have been resolved in these modern models. From large range of traveling to tumbled recharging time to lighter and smaller batteries to addition of exceptional features – everything has been taken care of to give the non-electric counterparts a significant edge.  

While the associated low running costs and lack of detrimental emissions are certainly key benefits of owning an electric car, it also boasts of notable advantages over its petro- or diesel-powered peers. Key one among these is the packaging benefits that come in conjunction with the absence of a bulky engine. Despite all the advantages, not everyone can afford an electric car as they’re still expensive than traditional cars and take a significant amount of time to recharge.

When it comes to finding the best electric cars available in the market, there’re some strong contenders. Here, we’ve created a comprehensive list of some of the strongest contenders to help you have a smooth transition from a traditional car to an electric one.

Hyundai Kona Electric

What would you like to see in your electric car? Excellent value or futuristic looks or incredibly high mileage? With Hyundai Kona Electric, you don’t have to choose one among these as you’ll get all of them. Some experts call it a game changer in the automotive industry as it offers a whooping 300 miles on a full charge (if you go for the biggest 64kWh battery). Before its arrival, you had to pay around double its price to get that range. For starters, no electric car gets close to its fashionable looks at that price. When it comes to Kona’s performance, 0-62mph in 7.6-second is on the cards. Though the 300-mile range will come down to 200 miles if you use the cheaper 39kWh battery, it won’t matter compared to Kona’s practicality, refinement, and smoothness.

Volkswagen e-Golf hatchback

If you’re looking for a brand that can ensure you’re in safe hands during your transition to electric motoring, go for VW. Similar to its conventional sibling, the e-Golf variant comes with the same high-quality, together with the brand’s proven and straightforward appeal. One of the key differences the electric version has from its regular counterpart is the presence of a 24.2kW battery which gives it a speedier acceleration. With this sturdy mid-range electric car, you’ll get 100-118 miles of range on a full charge together with top-notch internal goodies.

Mercedes EQC

It’s the first in the all-electric range coming out from Mercedes. With this built-for-purpose electric car, you can expect to get a whooping range of 280 miles on a full charge, and its battery can be charged from empty to 80% in only 40 minutes. Presence of two electric motors (for both front and rear wheels) lets it do 0-60mph in only 5.2 seconds. This super-luxurious car isn’t only speedy but also has a futuristic model to boats of. Though it’s pricier than the Hyundai Kona Electric, you’ll get added value through its speech recognition software and two integrated Mercedes infotainment screens. If you’re ready to bear the expensive price tag, Mercedes EQC should be in your shortlist.

Tesla Model 3

If you want to experience brilliant technology and surprising fun during your drive together with innovative convenience, just go for the Tesla Model 3 that offers all of them. With this car, the startup automaker has made the automotive industry realize how to develop a compelling product. This futuristic, stunning, and reasonably priced car can do 0-62mph in only 4.4 seconds, and offers an incredible range of up to 350 miles on a full charge. And the best thing is that Model 3 is improving always and you’ll be able to get it reconfigured according to your needs even after you have purchased the car.

Tesla Model S 

It mayn’t be the most futuristically styled electric car but it’s an extremely attractive option among electric car enthusiasts across the globe. Despite its prices exceeding the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 5 series, this premium-priced product has already gained lots of loyal followers and a very favorable image. Depending on the model you go for, your Model S can come with the revolutionary “Autopilot” technology, which allows it to drive itself under certain conditions effectively. The P100D version boasts of a Ludicrous Mode that allows the car to have a 0-62mph run in just 2.5 seconds with the entry-level version doing it in under 5 seconds.

Tesla Model X

One of the most successfully adopted electric cars of Elon Musk, Tesla Model X offers some wow factors like the falcon wing doors that surely give the car a futuristic feel. This super-quiet car can reach 0-60mph in just 5.2 seconds. Though Model X has been around since 2015, still it’s considered a strong competitor to other high-tech electric cars like the Audi E-Tron Quattro, Jaguar I-Pace, and Tesla’s own Model 3. When it comes to range, Tesla Model X offers a great one of 250-350 miles on a full charge.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

The unique proposition of Hyundai Ioniq is that it’s the only car that comes with 3 different electrified powertrains – the electric, the plug-in hybrid, and the hybrid. The impressively nippy electric version can do 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and can give a range of around 174 miles on a full charge, which puts the Ioniq ahead of key competitors like the Kia Soul EV and Nissan Leaf. 350 liters of boot space (can be expanded to 1410 liters when the rear seats are folded down) can be a good feature for buyers with large items to lug.

Audi E-Tron Quattro

If you want to do your transition to electric motoring in the best stylish way possible, the Audi E-Tron Quattro has to feature in your shortlist. Being one of the strongest competitors of Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace, it offers a real-world range of 248 miles. It certainly seems a little under what the Model X offers but you should consider that E-Tron takes less than 30 minutes to recharge on 150kW. With a top speed of 124mph, it can manage 0-62mph in below 6 seconds. Its Range Mode lets you reduce the electricity consumption while allowing you to travel further by taking away power from things like the air conditioning. Overall, the first ever Audi electric is full of tech and exceptionally nippy, especially for an SUV of this weight and size.

Nissan Leaf 

In its 2^nd generation, the Nissan Leaf has become even more impressive than its predecessor with a more toned-down design. Though reasonably priced, it offers better performance and a longer range. Its innovative e-Pedal feature helps to transform the driving experience, eliminating the need of using the brakes in a majority of normal driving situations. With this spacious family hatchback, you’ll get attractive features like the Charge package that adds a 6.6kW onboard charger, which is designed for ultra-fast charging, 5-inch display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and steel wheels, among others.

Jaguar I-Pace SUV

Perhaps the relatively high price of Jaguar I-Pace is the only factor that prevents the car from being purchased by a huge number of buyers. If you shell out the money, the Jaguar I-Pace is probably the best fully electric car available in the market. It’s fast and can complete 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. But it’s the handling that actually impresses a lot of buyers. The I-Pace comes with a sense of control and poise that is virtually unexpected in an electric car. It has got everything that buyers usually look for in a luxury electric SUV – from luxurious interior to smart looks to a sizeable range to low running costs to a fine dose of practicality.

Final note

These were some of the most popular electric cars that are taking the automotive industry by storm. However, before you zero in on one of these cars that we’ve discussed above, it’s important to chalk out your needs first as they’ll play a crucial role in deciding your best electric car. Focus on things like real-world driving range, charging options etc and your personal preferences like the ability to check charging status, autonomous cruise control, keyless entry, start and stop, autonomous parking features, and over-the-air software updates, among others.

It’s also important to decide whether you need a fully electric car or a plug-in hybrid. The latter should be considered if you usually make long journeys each day, or you don’t have dependable and easy access to a charging point, or you need the extra peace of mind that you won’t be running out of charge if you forget to charge your car, or need to cover an unexpectedly long distance, among others.