10 Car Brands That Build The Best Electric Cars
As the automotive world heads further into EV development, here are our top picks of automakers who are nailing it in the electrification segment.
If you prefer driving gas-guzzlers and believed that the electric car craze was only a short-lived fad, you are in for a rude awakening because electric cars are prevalent and here to stay. In 2022, EV sales made up 5.8 percent of all new cars sold in the US, up from 3.1 percent in 2021, according to InsideEVs. Meanwhile, Cox Automotive cites Kelley Blue Book data that demonstrates EV sales have increased despite a slowdown in the U.S. car industry. The total new-vehicle sales in the U.S. decreased from 15 million units in 2021 to 13.8 million units in 2022. However, automakers sold more than 800,000 EVs during the past year, which represents a 65 percent increase compared to 2021.
Given the high demand for electric cars, it is understandable that more automakers have entered the market. More recently, the media announced that Nissan will invest $250 million on its US plant to boost powertrain production.
“The Japanese automaker plans to start manufacturing four electric vehicle models in 2026 at its Canton plant in the state of Mississippi. To supply components for those EVs, Nissan will expand production of motors and other powertrain parts at the Decherd plant in Tennessee by that year,” says Nikkei Asia.
To be fair, it’s not just Nissan that is eyeing a more aggressive electrification strategy. In fact, even European, American, Korean and Chinese automakers are on the same path. Yet, with practically every automaker now producing electric vehicles, it might be challenging to decide which EV to buy or which is the best electric car. So, these are the car brands that build the best electric cars.
10. Nissan
The Japanese automaker is already globally famous for the Nissan Leaf. Even though the entry of competitors on the EV market has impacted sales in recent years, the Nissan Leaf remains a favorite among EV aficionados. Gearheads began reading about the Nissan Leaf’s sales records as early as 2013, and a decade later, this affordable, compact five-door hatchback is still a fan favorite.
Apart from the Leaf, Nissan has released the electric crossover, Ariya, which speeds up from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds and can run for 304 miles on a single full charge. In the past, Nissan also offered some hybrid models that are now discontinued, like the Rogue hybrid, the Altima hybrid, the Murano hybrid and the Pathfinder hybrid.
9. Hyundai
KBB placed the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq5 in the top position of its ranking of Electric SUVs. “Ioniq 5 is our Best Electric Vehicle and Best New Model of 2023,” says KBB. Meanwhile, Edmunds also gives the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq5 a rating of 8.3/10 while naming it first out of four all-wheel drive electric SUVs. Elsewhere, the 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric also gets a lot of love from industry experts and gearheads.
Edmunds ranks the 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric, first out of six Electric SUVs, while KBB compliments the 258 miles full electric driving range, affordable pricing and standard features. Hyundai also offers the Ioniq6, which is set to reach dealerships in early 2023.
8. Tesla
Evidently, Tesla doesn’t need an introduction. Elon Musk’s company dominates EV sales in the US despite controversies and consumer scandals. Tesla even made the cut, being listed among the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the United States in 2022.
“It’s no surprise that Tesla ranks that high,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Cox Automotive. “The brand, despite all the news and stuff, still dominates the EV market, and it dominates the luxury market. A lot of that strength comes from the Model Y.”
The Model Y even became a best-selling vehicle in Europe, proving that Tesla is on the path to global domination. According to CNN, Tesla delivered 1.3 million vehicles in the past year, up 40 percent from 2021.
7. Chevrolet
Edmunds awarded the Chevrolet Bolt with the prize of the best electric car for 2023, arguing that this cute EV “zips past competitors with affordability, range and roomy seating.” With an impressive Edmunds rating of 8.0 out of 10.0 and an EV driving range of 278 miles, this subcompact is an electric car that many more American households will consider in the future. KBB also ranked the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV as the first in its ranking of electric cars. But Chevrolet didn’t stop at breaking the market with the Bolt and presented even the 2023 Chevy Equinox EV and the electric compact wagon Chevrolet Menlo, which was released exclusively for the Chinese market.
6. Kia
KBB placed the 2023 Kia EV6 on the top spot in its ranking of luxury electric SUVs. It’s worth noting that the South Korean car company builds additional must-have EVs, like the subcompact SUV Kia Niro and the hybrid and plug-in hybrid Sorento and Sportage. According to Torque News, December 2022 electrified vehicle sales for Kia were up 142 percent year-over-year.
5. Porsche
If you are searching for the best luxury sports car, look no further than the 2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The German supercar even beat the Tesla Model S Plaid’s Nürburgring Record. And if speed and performance are not your cup of tea, then probably the build quality of these German vehicles will impress you. In the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Porsche outperformed Tesla partly due to Porsche customers experiencing an average of 86 problems per 100 vehicles, which is lower than the industry average of 121. Conversely, Tesla experiences 176 issues on average for every 100 vehicles.
4. Lucid Group
Gearheads know the Lucid Group as the automaker that designs and builds some of the best electric cars. Last year, U.S. News and World Report named the Lucid Air “best luxury electric car” of 2022. And although the Lucid Air won’t triumph in the rivalry among EVs that give the best value for the money, it will undoubtedly score higher marks for driving range, comfort, and ride quality.
3. Volkswagen
The highly popular Volkswagen ID.4 has proved to the world that the German automaker has gotten its electrification strategy right. Apart from the ID.4, VW also released the super-cute ID. Buzz, the ID.3 and the ID.6, which is exclusive for the Chinese market. Additionally, the automaker will release the ID.7 this summer, the ID.1 and the ID.2 in 2025.
2. Polestar
Edmunds gives the Polestar 2 a score of 7.8 out of 10, while on KBB, it gets an Expert score of 4.2 out of 5.0.
“The Polestar 2 is a smart pick for a small, upscale EV. It’s comfortable and fun to drive around turns. It also has a generous amount of cargo space,” says Edmunds.
Apart from the Polestar 2, the Swedish automaker released the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1 and the electric SUV Polestar 3, and is set to release the Polestar 4 in 2024. It’s worth noting that thus far, Volvo’s electric car brand only sells the Polestar 2 in the U.S.
1. BMW
The German automaker doesn’t need introduction as it is already a big presence in the EV world. Since 2013, when it launched the BMW i3, the car manufacturer has expanded its electric fleet with the release of several models, including the BMW i4, BMW i7, and the BMW iX. Additionally, BMW has a quite impressive hybrid fleet.
Sources: KBB, Edmunds, CNN, Electrek, Observer, Porsche, Torque News, CNBC, Nikkei Asia, Clean Technica, InsideEVs, and Cox Automotive.
Source : hotcars.com
