If the front yard is correct, our best buys list once again focuses on the cars you actually buy or seem to want to buy.
Over the next three weeks, we’ll bring you the best electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, SUVs and crossovers on the market in 2023.
We’ll even list the best buys for 2023. We hope this helps, but I doubt you’ll agree with all of our decisions.
Little is left of the Zoe for this world – in 2024 it will be replaced by a car that we are already childishly excited about – the new Renault 5 EV in retro style. Until then, it remains the best option for a small electric car, although not the cheapest. Zoe prices have climbed above 30,000 euros, but this is offset by an impressive range of 395 km on a single charge, a spacious interior and a reasonable driving experience. (The ride is a little rough, but that’s the only major issue.) The 22kW AC charging is excellent, allowing you to charge quickly from roadside charging points. Add it to Aconite Metallic Purple additional color for best results. Read our original review here.
The E-208 looks great and handles great. It lacks the instant muffled thud of some electric vehicles, but it has sharp steering, good body control and a sense of agility, though it weighs significantly more than the base petrol model. A long range model of 400 km is under development. Read our original review here.
Fiat has been promising us an all-electric modification of the utility Panda for some time now, but now it’s definitely taking the form of the quirky Centoventi concept. You’ll have to wait until 2024, but with a potential range of 400 km and a spacious cabin, it’s worth the wait.
Once upon a time, the Kia Niro EV was a fully functional electric car, but almost completely devoid of style both inside and out. Well, that’s changed now as the new Niro EV continues Kia’s ascent to the top of the EV pyramid with exterior and interior styling that surpasses the best of them. The exterior is chunky and slightly boxy, with sharply dropped brake lights, and the interior owes a lot to the superb EV6 electric car. Kia claims a range of 460 kilometers on a single charge, which is actually a realistic goal for hybrid driving. It’s also the most practical version of the Niro’s boot, with 100 liters more than the plug-in hybrid Niro and even 22 liters more boot space in the nose. It’s not the most exciting car, but it’s refined and easy to drive, which is exactly what you want from an electric car. Read our original review here.
Opel used the same recipe as the Peugeot e-2008, except for that odd C-pillar line, stylish and more attractive than the old, dying Mokka. It’s also nimble to handle, with precise steering and a well-balanced chassis. The cabins are a bit spartan, but you can’t have everything. The current 50kWh battery means a slightly shorter range of 324km, but an updated model with a 400km range is coming soon. Read our original review here.
An electric version of the popular Puma will kick-start Ford’s major EV offensive as Blue Oval hopes to introduce seven new all-electric models by the end of 2024. Technical details about the EV Puma are scarce at the moment, but it’s expected to have a range of around 400 kilometers and there are rumors of major interior upgrades to justify the higher price. If it was as fun to drive as a standard Puma, it would be a gem.
The Chinese-owned MG has been thriving for some time now, producing well-designed electric and hybrid models that are high-priced but a little out of style. MG 4 runs all these processes at a very, very high speed. This is a high roof hatchback similar to the VW ID.3. It comes with a choice of small or large batteries, giving it a range of 310 to 450 km, just like the Volkswagen ID.3. It is roomy, like a VW ID.3. It starts at €27,495 and it’s like… no, wait, wait. The cheapest VW ID.3 currently costs a hefty €40,862 (although the ID.3 line has been reduced to this single model due to chip shortages), so the MG has an impressive price advantage. What are the disadvantages? rare. The cabin is a little cheap in places and the infotainment system is rather clunky, but so is the VW. The MG 4 is even quite frisky and fun to drive, as a MG should be. Remember someone said Chinese cars would take over? Well, it’s happening…read our original review here.
Born is the first all-electric model from Seat’s subsidiary Cupra. In fact, starting from scratch – given that Cupra is quickly becoming a more important focus for the VW Group than Seat – we can no longer call it a spin-off. Underneath, it is mechanically identical to the VW ID.3, but looks sharper on the outside and better on the inside. It rides exactly the same, and despite Cupra’s sporting protests, it’s also more affordable than the Vee-Dub, so that’s in its favor. Read our original review here.
The strange name and outlandish looks are a cross between a 2002 Nissan Micra and a 1955 Porsche 356 – but with premium car quality and a very high starting price of €31,995. Small and large battery versions are available with a maximum range of up to 420 km. An interesting left field option (the cars are actually made by China’s Great Wall Motors), but a dealer network is more inevitable than it exists, so actually getting one can be tricky.
The BMW i4 shares a platform with petrol-powered models like the 3 Series and 4 Series, so it’s a little low key but still one of the most impressive electric vehicles ever made. The standard i4 eDrive40 is what you need. You get rear-wheel drive, 340 horsepower and a potential range of up to 590 kilometers. Well, sort of, and that’s where the compromises come in, as the actual usable range is more like 450km, but it’s still not bad. Even better is solid performance (430Nm of torque doesn’t sound like much, but it does a good job of moving the i4) and snappy handling.
The i4 is a heavy car – 2.1 tons at the curb – but its steering and chassis balance make it feel light as you aim for corners. Rear space is a little cramped, but the trunk is functional, and the all-glass cockpit is stylish, if a little awkward to use at times. The i4 M50 high-performance twin-engine model has an unfortunate name in Irish, but it’s very fast. Ironically, it’s not as fun to drive as the base i4, and the extra power and all-wheel drive hurt range. Read our original review here.
Polestar, the high-performance all-electric brand created by Volvo, is still finding its footing. It’s safe to say that we won’t see the actual Polestar branding until next year when the all-new Polestar 3 SUV is priced at €100,000. The 2, meanwhile, is a small hybrid that fuses Volvo’s platform and styling with modern electric vehicle technology and slightly slick Scandinavian styling. 2 is a pleasure to drive, especially on the raucous 400bhp Performance model, but it’s underperforming on long journeys and the ride quality is harsh. Nevertheless, an interesting choice. Read our original review here.
Hyundai shines with the big, impressive Ioniq 5 electric car, which is either a crossover or a “big hatchback” depending on how you look at it. The upcoming Ioniq 6 is less androgynous, sharing the same electric platform as the 5 and adding a low, sleek, streamlined body that looks almost art deco from some angles. When it arrives at the end of 2023, it will have a range of more than 600 kilometers and a great interior.
Speaking of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, we named the Ioniq 5 the best electric crossover. While its crossover character is controversial, in the end, despite being tall and bulky, its styling is essentially a modern homage to the original Pony hatchback that started modern automotive history. So, really, this is a big hatch, and not a crossover at all. Either way, it doesn’t matter – this is an amazing car to look at both inside and out.
The look hasn’t changed a day since its launch, and the minimalistic dual-screen interior design combined with the huge space creates a truly relaxing atmosphere. You can pay big money for a big 77kWh battery and a range of over 500km. On the other hand, you can save a ton of money, spend €39,995 (correct at the time of publication…) and get a 58kWh version that will still do 385km and not be much more expensive than the significantly smaller Renault Megane E- Tech. Despite its size, the Ioniq 5 is also great for responsive driving. The only disappointment is the active lane-keeping steering, which is an unnecessary intervention but can be turned off. Or you can buy the mechanically identical Kia EV6, which has lower overhangs and slightly less room, but is very good to drive. See our original review here.
Skoda’s big electric car makes the most of common sense. You can buy all the same platforms, batteries, motors, etc. with a VW or Audi badge, but the Skoda costs less and works the same way. It’s also arguably the prettiest of the three powerful electric crossovers, and it certainly has the prettiest interior of the three, looking and feeling even more elegant than an Audi. The Skoda Enyaq has the largest trunk. The 77 kWh long-range model can travel 500 km on a single charge, while the 80x all-wheel drive model and 299 hp. The RS offer extra performance, but it’s no more fun to drive than the standard model. There is also a sloping-roof coupe version, which is actually sleeker and more practical than it sounds. Still, it’s better to stick to practicality, huh? Read our original review here.
Toyota’s first full-fledged all-electric model should be out by now, but it has been delayed due to a global recall to address an issue that caused the wheels to fall off. When it’s completed, you can expect it to be a resounding success – it has the usual Toyota quality, has a range of over 500km, and is surprisingly nimble and enjoyable to drive.
Nissan did kick off the electric revolution with the original Leaf, but since then – of course since the original Leaf was replaced by the current model – things have gotten a bit quieter on the EV front. Aria really should have been with us years ago, guess why she got delayed and blocked? However, it was worth the wait. The Ariya takes some styling cues from the current Qashqai, but brings everything back, smoothes everything out, and ends up being one of the most beautiful SUVs in the world. Change it to white with black trim and it looks more like an evolution of the Space Shuttle. It’s even better inside, with fancy tactile buttons on a soft surface, and it’s really high quality. Not entirely sure we’ll need an electric glove box, but it’s a nice touch nonetheless. When it comes to driving, the Ariya has the best of the best – sharp steering, enthusiastic responses and, if you opt for the biggest 87kWh battery, a range of 532km. Read our original review here.
Despite not having a brand new car released for three years (don’t start with the Cybertruck), Tesla has maintained its appeal as the most advanced electric vehicle maker. The Model Y — actually a Model 3 sedan with a higher roof and hatchback-style trunk — is the ultimate all-rounder, combining great range and performance (even the standard version can cram you into the seat like a sports car) and roomy interior. However, quality issues can still be seen and come at a cost. Read our original review here.
When it comes to electric vehicles, the BMW iX1 looks rather understated, in the same style as regular petrol or diesel models. However, inside it impresses with a solid range of 440 km, hot hatch performance from a 64 kWh battery and a sleek interior. Read our original review here.
You could make a good argument that the bigger, bigger, bigger EQS should lift the trophy here. But that’s the beauty of the EQE – it can do everything the EQS can do, but for less money and more dynamic handling. Where the EQS seems distant and aloof, the EQE can actually be a joy to drive. The two machines basically share the same cockpit, including a huge “HyperScreen” dashboard, but we prefer the simpler dual-screen setup.
Comfort and sophistication, of course, come first. If the EQE loses out to the EQS in terms of ride comfort, the gap can be made up by equipping the EQE with air suspension. Either way, the EQE is easier to control because its regenerative braking feels more natural. There’s plenty of room in the cabin (although it’s a little cramped in the back), but the trunk is a little small – unfortunately, there are no plans for an EQE station wagon. What’s really impressive is the range. Mercedes claims the EQE can go 640 kilometers on a single charge, which is actually pretty realistic. Even at 90 percent highway mileage, we managed to get the EQE test car to go 500 kilometers on a single charge. Mileage anxiety? what it is? Read our original review here.
If the EQE and EQS represent the luxurious, comfortable and roomy part of the electric vehicle lineup, then the e-Tron GT is on the other end where the sport offerings are. Its interior is almost compact enough to be considered cramped, but you don’t care because this thing behaves incredible. Opt for the powerful RS version and blood will run from your feet every time you step on the pedal. It’s not all straight lines. Despite weighing just over two tons, the e-tron GT feels light and nimble around corners. The quality is very good, the only fly in the ointment is that it is technically possible to buy a mechanically identical Porsche Taycan for less, even though at that price the Porsche is only a rear wheel drive model. Audi is just a quattro with all-wheel drive. Read our original review here.
As with the EQE, you might disagree with the inclusion of the next generation A6 here, as it’s more of an executive car than a luxury car. However, it is hair splitting. If the production version bears any resemblance to a concept car, the distinction between luxury and executive will be purely semantic. Besides, isn’t a 700-kilometer range the ultimate luxury?
Post time: Mar-14-2023