The early electric cars presented buyers with little choice. Are you either got a compact commuter that screamed "tree hugger" or spent your retirement fund on an expensive luxury model? Over 40 different EV and plug-in hybrid models will be introduced in the U.S. by the end of this 2017.
Models now range from button-cute Smart Fortwo cars to Chrysler Pacifica minivans. So, for the first time, there's real competition in electrification.
And here are the best-of-breed EV and plug-in hybrids, from least to most expensive.
This's a great of automotive designs, the Hyundai Ioniq was conceived from the start as a car that would accommodate several different electrified power trains, with a view to an autonomous future. The Hyundai Ioniq comes in three versions: as a pure electric-only car, as a hybrid (gas with battery assist) and as a forthcoming plug-in hybrid (electric only or gas plus electric).
The Hyundai Ioniq is a versatile hatchback has a range of 124 miles in its pure EV incarnation, gets 59 mpg as a hybrid and is expected to go around 29 miles before the gas engine kicks in on the plug-in hybrid. All versions of the Ioniq Hyundai come with a 7-inch touch screen and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2018 Fiat 500e criticized as a "compliance car" because it built specially to meet California and national CAFE regulations, it loses the company money with every sale — if the CEO is to be believed. Furthermore, the all-electric compact has a range of only 84 miles and costs roughly twice as much as its gas-powered sibling.
With its tiny size, zippy handling, and an EPA range of 84 miles, the Fiat 500e is a fine city car—as long as you don’t need to go anywhere else. The interior is cramped, with an awkward driving position and a rear seat that is best reserved for short people and short distances. On the upside, it is a bit snappier, smoother, and quieter than the gas-powered 500. In our testing, we saw fuel economy of 87 MPGe and went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. The 500e is sold only in California and Oregon.
Fiat 500e feels sportier than the gas original, thanks to all that electric torque, reminding us that being environmentally friendly can also be a blast. Plus, this car includes the excellent and easy-to-use Uconnect in-dash system carried over from Chrysler and Dodge vehicles.
2018 Chevy Volt is the first design to seriously push the idea of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, it eliminated so-called range anxiety (the fear of running out of battery power) by also incorporating a small, four-cylinder gas engine. Chevy calls it a "generator."
It appears that Chevy isn't following its own precedent as the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid enters its third model year.
In the past, the Volt received a battery upgrade every other year that provided it with increasingly more electric range—but that's not the case for the largely unchanged 2018 Volt.
The 2018 Chevy Volt will go for over 50 miles under electric power only — more than enough for daily commuting — and if need be, it can travel around 420 miles before you have to stop for gas. Most owners of 2018 Chevy Volt usually drive for weeks (over 1,000 miles) before they visit a gas station. The Chevrolet tops it all off with a slew of connected services, including MyLink remote access, teen driver limits, and support for Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay.
Tesla Model 3 been plagued by production problems, and the first handful of Model 3 cars that rolled off the line went to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's employees. But Tesla Model 3 has generated more excitement than any other EV or hybrid introduced so far. It has turtleneck sophistication, yet the Model 3 is designed for the masses.
Touted as the affordable electric sports sedan, the Model 3 is Tesla’s eco-friendly gift to the motoring masses. Base rear-wheel-drive cars should travel about 215 miles on a single charge; all-wheel drive will be offered, and larger batteries offering longer ranges are expected. The Model 3 looks to be fast, too: Tesla says it can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Tesla’s Autopilot self-driving feature will be an option. While full details are scarce, prices should start around $35,000. By August 2017, there were 455,000 net reservations, and an average of 1,800 reservations were being added per day.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be the least expensive plug-in hybrid SUV when it comes to market in next year.
While full-size electric SUVs still aren't practical, there is the reasonably priced Outlander plug-in hybrid for rough roads and winter driving. Mitsubishi's crossover uses two electric motors and a 2-liter gas engine for the four-wheel drive system that ably handles dirt tracks. When this vehicle is in pure electric mode, expect to get about 30 miles of range.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses two full-time 60 kW electric motors, one each on the front and rear axles, and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Drivers can choose between six levels of regenerative braking with the column-mounted paddles.
The plug-in hybrid also has an on-board generator, so while it can be charged from a DC fast-charger, level 2 public charger or a standard outlet, it's not necessary.
With the PHEV, you won't have range anxiety, but should you be heading somewhere without electricity, the SUV can run in Battery Charge mode. In this setting, the gas engine literally turns into a charger for the battery. And for those who complain about how built-in nav systems quickly go out of date, the Outlander eschews the added expense in favor of using mapping and navigation only from a connected smartphone.
And here are the best-of-breed EV and plug-in hybrids, from least to most expensive.
2018 Hyundai Ioniq ($29,500)
The Hyundai Ioniq is a versatile hatchback has a range of 124 miles in its pure EV incarnation, gets 59 mpg as a hybrid and is expected to go around 29 miles before the gas engine kicks in on the plug-in hybrid. All versions of the Ioniq Hyundai come with a 7-inch touch screen and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2018 Nissan Leaf ($29,990)
Nissan is turning over a new Leaf with the 2018 model. The new EV will have a 150-mile range and semi-autonomous features like ProPilot bring this vehicle up to speed with competitors. It's a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
Nissan should have an easy job of improving its BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) market share – aside from the Hyundai Ioniq, smaller Renault Zoe and the Volkswagen e-Golf, it still has remarkably few rivals.
The 2018 Nissan Leaf will also support up-to-date connections like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Last but not least, Alexa support is on the way, Nissan promises.
Here it is, the second-generation Nissan Leaf electric car. It gets a sharp new look and beefier electric motor for 2018, as well as a suite of new tech to tempt the unbelievers into showrooms across the world.
But pity poor Nissan. The world’s media is fast becoming obsessed by the ‘death’ of the internal combustion engine, and at the cutting edge of the BEV alternative is super-sexy Tesla, a beacon for all that is bright in our electrically driven future. But it’s Nissan that’s sold more EVs sold than anyone else – quietly churning out Leafs from Sunderland, getting on with the job of electrifying the world.
2018 Fiat 500e ($32,995)
2018 Fiat 500e criticized as a "compliance car" because it built specially to meet California and national CAFE regulations, it loses the company money with every sale — if the CEO is to be believed. Furthermore, the all-electric compact has a range of only 84 miles and costs roughly twice as much as its gas-powered sibling.
With its tiny size, zippy handling, and an EPA range of 84 miles, the Fiat 500e is a fine city car—as long as you don’t need to go anywhere else. The interior is cramped, with an awkward driving position and a rear seat that is best reserved for short people and short distances. On the upside, it is a bit snappier, smoother, and quieter than the gas-powered 500. In our testing, we saw fuel economy of 87 MPGe and went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. The 500e is sold only in California and Oregon.
Fiat 500e feels sportier than the gas original, thanks to all that electric torque, reminding us that being environmentally friendly can also be a blast. Plus, this car includes the excellent and easy-to-use Uconnect in-dash system carried over from Chrysler and Dodge vehicles.
2018 Chevy Volt ($34,095)
It appears that Chevy isn't following its own precedent as the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid enters its third model year.
In the past, the Volt received a battery upgrade every other year that provided it with increasingly more electric range—but that's not the case for the largely unchanged 2018 Volt.
The 2018 Chevy Volt will go for over 50 miles under electric power only — more than enough for daily commuting — and if need be, it can travel around 420 miles before you have to stop for gas. Most owners of 2018 Chevy Volt usually drive for weeks (over 1,000 miles) before they visit a gas station. The Chevrolet tops it all off with a slew of connected services, including MyLink remote access, teen driver limits, and support for Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay.
Tesla Model 3 ($35,000)
Touted as the affordable electric sports sedan, the Model 3 is Tesla’s eco-friendly gift to the motoring masses. Base rear-wheel-drive cars should travel about 215 miles on a single charge; all-wheel drive will be offered, and larger batteries offering longer ranges are expected. The Model 3 looks to be fast, too: Tesla says it can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Tesla’s Autopilot self-driving feature will be an option. While full details are scarce, prices should start around $35,000. By August 2017, there were 455,000 net reservations, and an average of 1,800 reservations were being added per day.
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ($35,535)
While full-size electric SUVs still aren't practical, there is the reasonably priced Outlander plug-in hybrid for rough roads and winter driving. Mitsubishi's crossover uses two electric motors and a 2-liter gas engine for the four-wheel drive system that ably handles dirt tracks. When this vehicle is in pure electric mode, expect to get about 30 miles of range.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses two full-time 60 kW electric motors, one each on the front and rear axles, and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Drivers can choose between six levels of regenerative braking with the column-mounted paddles.
The plug-in hybrid also has an on-board generator, so while it can be charged from a DC fast-charger, level 2 public charger or a standard outlet, it's not necessary.
With the PHEV, you won't have range anxiety, but should you be heading somewhere without electricity, the SUV can run in Battery Charge mode. In this setting, the gas engine literally turns into a charger for the battery. And for those who complain about how built-in nav systems quickly go out of date, the Outlander eschews the added expense in favor of using mapping and navigation only from a connected smartphone.
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