The electric vehicle (EV) boom is about to go into overdrive as auto manufacturers increasingly prioritize the electrification of their vehicle fleets and shoppers express their openness to making the switch.
In fact, as many as 30% of consumers indicate they are more likely to consider purchasing an EV in 2021.
Faced with an ever-growing number of EV choices, there are several factors for first-time electric car buyers to consider in their journey of going green, including costs, incentives, battery life and driving range.
With this in mind, Autotrader recently named the 10 Best Electric Cars for 2021.
“While EVs historically are more expensive than traditional gas-powered vehicles, the rapid advances in battery technology and increased manufacturer efforts to roll out new models are making EVs more accessible to purchase—and more fun to drive—than ever before,” said Brian Moody, Executive Editor for Autotrader.
Autotrader editors selected the 10 Best Electric Cars based on a range of criteria that included the following: vehicles must be priced under $75,000; the car must have a plug or a way to run on electricity only for fifteen miles or more, and the car must be available for sale to the public within the next six months.
Autotrader’s 10 Best Electric Cars for 2021 (in alphabetical order)
- 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
The redesign of the Chevrolet Bolt brought with it a compact crossover variant. It’s mechanically the same as the updated Bolt EV electric car but it has a more rugged, SUV-like appearance and more back-seat space. The Bolt EUV is the first Chevrolet model available with the Super Cruise semi-autonomous hands-free driving tech.
- 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford’s first all-electric crossover SUV has a range of up to 300 miles. It also helps that it’s functional as a practical, everyday driver with space for people and cargo.
- 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover. The EV variant has a range of up to 258 miles.
- 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
The Hyundai lineup is the all-electric version of the Ioniq. The electric Ioniq has a 133 combined MPGe rating. However, its range is limited to 170 miles.
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring
The Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring is a plug-in hybrid midsize luxury SUV. It has a PHEV powertrain, making 494 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque.
- 2021 Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf was the original mass-market electric car. Now in its second generation. The base model has a 150-mile range, and the Leaf Plus achieves up to 226 miles of range.
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
The Japanese brand has come out with a plug-in hybrid version of its most popular SUV. It includes features like AWD, and it has an all-electric range of 42 miles.
- 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is an all-electric version of the XC40 subcompact SUV. The XC40 Recharge has an electric range of 200 miles.
- 2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge
The Volvo XC60 Recharge is the plug-in hybrid variant of the Swedish brand’s compact SUV. It benefits from a 57 combined MPGe rating, up to 19 miles of all-electric range, and electric all-wheel drive.
- 2021 Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 has a new design and its electric range goes up to 250-miles.
To learn more about the 2021 Best Electric Vehicles list from Autotrader, including photos, detailed vehicle information and available inventory, visit https://www.autotrader.com/best-cars/best-electric-cars.