What’s the five-letter word that often stops people from going electric when it comes to vehicles and saving the environment. Nope, not price. Its range. The biggest obstacle, as Ford UK recently found out in a little test they did at Fordwich, UK, with the Mustang Mach-E, is that people are unsure about shorter-range electric vehicles.
The reason is simple. Unlike gas and diesel which are available at stations as commonplace as the grass on sidewalks, electric stations to charge cars are few and far between, especially when it comes to the rural areas. To buy an electric car and to have it run out of juice is every EV-buyer’s nightmare and a stumbling block.
So to put your heart and mind at ease about electric vehicles, here go the longest-range models, brand-new for 2021, and how they stand if compared to the pricing. Which one would you go electric with? And yes, of course, Tesla is on the list.
10 Mini Cooper Electric Hardtop: Little Car, Little Range
So the Mini Cooper SE, the electric hardtop is sure to be a fun car to drive. And it’s a Mini, after all, targeted at people who love zippy style. It's cute, looks great, and makes for a drive sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
But it still comes with a title no electric probably wants, and it’s the EV with the least range on it for 2021, so far. For a base price of $29,900, all you get is 110 miles. Granted they may be fun but still, you cannot let yourself be carried away by the Mini Cooper Electric. Literally. Lest you run out of juice in this EV.
9 BMW i3: Tiny Power Big Price?
At $44,450 base price, the tiny little BMW i3 that first debuted in 2014 does not come cheap, but it does come with a cartload of personality. It's quirky, for instance, to open the rear-hinged back door, you first need to open the front door.
The tires are skinny and can feel a bit less confident on the highway, but then again, with a range of 153 miles, we really doubt you’d be taking this on the highway. Much. On the plus side, the car is spacious if a bit basic on the inside. If you want it, get it quick as it's leaving the US shores…
8 Audi e-Tron: Ho-Hum-Expensive
For a base price of $66,000-plus, the Audi e-Tron does not exactly deliver in range as people expected this luxury German carmaker to. So sure, it's zippy and looks good because Audi managed to pack in plenty of punchy power and inner plush.
But 222 miles sounds pretty meh for an electric car from Audi, and to top that it does not come with single-pedal driving, something most expect from an electric car today. It does have a standard all-wheel drive which makes it all-weather, but if it had another 100 miles to the range, it would have been perfect.
7 Porsche Taycan 4S: Great Performance & Style
The Porsche Taycan is a good performance EV if you like them expensive, starting at $79,900. But if you truly want the full range, you have to get the Performance Battery Plus trim for an added $6,580, making this car cross $85,000 in price. And for that steep price, all you get is 227 miles, although the actual range hovers from 190 to 210.
Of course, it’s a Porsche, so there’s that brand value. Plus because it's Porsche posh, the interiors, as well as the looks of the Taycan, are without a doubt, inspirational.
6 Hyundai Kona EV: Electric Affordability
For less than $40,000, you can have the Kia Niro EV’s mechanical twin, the Hyundai Kona EV, which boasts a better range than the former, a claimed 258 miles on a single charge. That makes this a pretty affordable option if you look at the price and the range offered.
The EV boasts a punchy acceleration and fairly plush interiors, making it a favorite. For 2021, Hyundai also offers the Ioniq Electric as well, now as a fully electric option with a range of 170 miles. That’s okay but the Kona is way better.
5 Chevrolet Bolt: Your Everyday EV
Need a low-fuss, low-price but decent-ranged electric car? Look no further than the Chevrolet Bolt which is just a little less priced than the Kona EV, and wins the range wars by just a single mile, giving 259 miles on a single, full charge.
The drive is fun, playful almost and the Bolt rides on a good suspension. The cabin meanwhile is a bit cheap with plastic, but the Bolt is not meant to be plush. Just economical and electric, and it delivers on both.
4 Polestar 2: Less Luxury, More Practicality
The Polestar 2 is the second model to come from Volvo, the first being Polestar 1, the luxury coupe that was very expensive at $150,000 plus options. The Polestar 2 is more practical and less than half the price, at $60,000.
Its safety conscious, and has a Google-based infotainment system that oh-so-easy to use, and comes with a standard all-wheel-drive. All this and a maximum range of 275 miles makes this one very cool EV to have.
3 Ford Mustang Mach-E California Route 1: 300 Miles+
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has got nothing to do with the Mustang and everything to do with EVs, being Ford’s first electric offering. With the Ford F-150 going electric as well, with the Lightning nameplate, Ford is entering the EV race in a big way.
The standard Mache-E is not very impressive when it comes to the range but get the rear-wheel-drive equipped trim called the California Route 1, and you get 305 miles on a single charge. Plus you get an electrified Mustang of sorts.
2 Tesla Model Y, Long-Range: The Long Distance Champ
You had to know Tesla was going to show up, right? Because with a range of 326 miles and a price of less than $50,000 – the Tesla Model Y is fast becoming everyone’s favorite EV. You can also get the standard model for about $8,000 lesser, but it will only offer you 244 miles on a single charge.
The Long Range Model Y comes with an all-wheel-drive and is zippy quick, with a 0-60 MPH sprint done in 4.8 seconds. And guess what, the next car on our list is also a Tesla. Clearly, Tesla is still the boss of the EV market.
1 Tesla Model S Long Range: Going, Going, Gone For 400 Miles
The Tesla Model S is what kickstarted the entire EV craze and turned naysayers into utter electric fans. And for 2021, the base trim, the Long Range that starts over and above $80,000 goes for an incredible 405 miles on a single charge.
The Tesla Model S Plaid goes for 390 miles, in case it has caught your chequered imagination. The Model S is certainly the king of EVs for now, but it’s a new race for 2021. Instead of horsepower and muscle, it's EV and range. Let’s sit back and reap the benefits.