As Bob Dylan once said, The Times They Are A-Changin', and it rings true for the automobile industry more than one might think. Whether we like it or not, the future seems to hold predominantly electric cars for us. The depletion of non-renewable energy sources like petroleum and the rise of climate change will force us to let go of the gas guzzlers we hold near and dear to us.
But the advent of electric cars also brought problems with them, notably reliability and long-term ownership expenses. Take a look at Volkswagen for example; they once used to make supremely reliable cars, but their reliability standards have taken a hit lately, and shifting to EVs seems to keep it that way for a while.
Leading EV manufacturer Tesla is also notorious for making cars that tend to break down or even blow up. But it's not all bad news, as there are some durable EVs that point to a bright future. Let's check out some of the most reliable EVs we got so far.
10 Volkswagen ID.4
You know we're kinda scraping the bottom of the reliable-EV-barrel when the VW ID.4 makes the cut, it just goes to show that we are a long way to go before we get to Mercedes W123 and W124 levels of reliability in the EV segment.
But the ID.4 is not the worst by a long shot. It's a fun-to-drive, relatively affordable electric car from a brand as big as VW, and it gives you about 3 years of free charging, so we'd get it if someone decides to buy it. We're not sure if it would definitely reach 250,000 miles without much problem, but here's hoping VW delivered.
9 Nissan Leaf
While it's not the most reliable brand out there, Nissan is a proud Japanese manufacturer that can claim to deliver good build quality without raising many speculations. Take the 2017 Leaf for example, it's an awesome little electric city commuter with good reliability scores and affordability as well as low range and power.
After Tesla's awesome but expensive Roadster, Model S, and X, the arrival of an economy EV like the Nissan Leaf allowed even more people to experience the fuel of the future without breaking the bank. And just like most other Nissans, this one can keep going strong for a long time with proper maintenance.
8 Tesla Model S
You can find the Tesla Model S in lists that include unreliable EVs as well, it's really a hit-or-miss situation when it comes to this one. When it comes to performance, the Model S leaves most other EVs in the dust, there are tons of Model S Plaid drag races to solidify its status as a performance powerhouse.
But things get a bit sketchy when it comes to reliability. Nevertheless, the Model S holds value for a long time after exiting the showroom and entering the driveway without making a noise. Also, there are a lot more positive reviews and happy owners of the Model S even after several years of ownership, so Tesla must be doing something right.
7 Kia Niro EV
Kia can sometimes come up with a vehicle that screams too good to be true when we learn about it. The Kia Niro EV received multiple awards over the world and is a stylish, but relatively costly family crossover. The 201 hp power rating and a range of 253 miles are pretty decent for its price as well.
Kia may have a dodgy way of handling its cars in foreign markets, but its cars have solid build quality and reliability in the US, and the Niro EV is no exception. The Niro EV is a hatchback that thinks it's a small SUV, and the price reflects that, but overall, you get your money's worth in this package.
6 BMW i3
BMW has been on a roll lately regarding the reliability of their cars. The 2015 i3, for example, received an impressive 4.7 out of 5 rating for its reliability. What's even more impressive is that about 93% of its owners recommended the car, saying that it's a perfect entry-level car that's also friendly to the polar bears up North.
Since the i3's primary purpose was city touring, BMW didn't have to compromise anything to accommodate a high power output or massive driving range. As a result, we got a nice little car that's one of the weirdest Bimmers ever, but serves as a great way to enter the world of EVs without spending too much money.
5 Chevrolet Bolt
We are still in the early stages of the transition towards electric or some other fuel sources, so there are bound to be hurdles. The Chevy Bolt faced battery defects and issues with the electric system during its early stages. But the Bolt is a Chevrolet above all, and it features decent build quality.
The Bolt is an underrated entry-level electric car that comes in a hatchback or crossover form, and it offers a surprising amount of interior space and most optional features you'll find in any modern car. The Bolt features a simple enough body design that allows owners to take care of it easily and keep it running for a long time.
4 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Like we mentioned with the Kia above, the parent company, Hyundai also makes reliable and value-for-money cars when it means business. The Ioniq 5 has made waves in the market through its retro-modern looks and, more importantly, an impressive list of standard features for its price.
But then again, that's always been the Korean brand's thing, providing more than the rivals for about the same money. The Ioniq 5 is still new to the market, but if history has taught us one thing, we can wager that the Ioniq 5 will stay strong for a long time if it gets good care.
3 Ford Mustang Mach-E
We get why muscle car enthusiasts and purists do not approve of the Mustang nameplate for an electric SUV. However, no one can deny that the Mustang Mach-E is a phenomenal eSUV after they take an objective look at it. The Mach-E gets 68 to 88 kWh battery capacity, and up to 247-mile range.
Ford initially started to make an electric Focus, but changed it into a bigger crossover SUV and named it the Mustang. But the good news is that the Mach-E shares a lot of components with other Ford makes, so you won't need anything extra or special to keep it going on the road. These reasons might just be enough for people to consider the Mustang Mach-E over a Tesla.
2 Ford F-150 Lightning
The F-150 is as popular as they come in the world of pickup trucks. Now, it seems that Ford intends to do the same in the electric pickup truck segment as well. To achieve that, Ford built the F-150 lightning with a primary focus on practicality and more value for less price compared to rivals.
What we get is a 320-mile electric truck with a gigantic 131 kWh battery, or a 230-mile, 98 kWh variant that's even cheaper. Thankfully, the F-150 Lightning is not too different from its gasoline counterpart, so most of the reliability and durability from the standard F-150 carries over to its silent sibling.
1 Kia EV6
Kia recently made even more noise with the reveal of the EV9 three-row electric SUV. But it will not overshadow the awesome EV6 at all. That's because the EV6 is a highly recommended electric SUV that will hold its value for multiple years in the market. Also, it's a beast when it comes to performance.
The EV6 comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty for most of its parts, and Kia will cover the battery for eight years! The EV6 gets a 77.51 kWh battery that's good for 230 miles on a single charge, and delivers 577 hp for pure driving thrills. Of all the EVs in the market today, the EV6 takes the cake for being the safest choice right now.
Sources: Consumer Reports, JDPower, LeafScore, RepairPal, Edmunds.