Overview:
Electric Vehicles are a key part of our tomorrow and how we get there. If we can get all the fossil fuel vehicles off our roads, out of our seas and out of our skies, we'll have a much better environment. This community is where we discuss the various different vehicles and news stories regarding electric transportation.
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I don't really think so, it's still going to be personal taste. I've heard great things about the ioniq 5/5n, fast charging, quick car, has some good driver-centric features.
I only really have experience with my polestar 2, but is also a blast. Its not the fastest ev, but it is fast as far as cars go, and handles really well too. There's things I don't like about it, but so far it's my favorite car that I've owned.
For sure, just like the Miata is still down to personal taste in spite of widespread acclaim. I just wondered if there was a sort of 'insider' favorite that one might not necessarily expect.
I've heard literally nothing bad about the ioniq 5 since it came out, just rave reviews on all sides in every category, including fun.
They have an issue with something called the ICCU, which causes the 12V accessory battery to die, sometimes while driving. There is a recall on affected cars.
That said, I am leasing a 2024 and it really is a great car. I had the recall performed, but I also never experienced the failure. I have noticed an uptick since then in the car recharging the 12V (identified by the bright amber lamp illuminated on the dash while the car is off), so maybe it’s working. Though, my issue with the car is no rear wiper. It should have had a wiper. The 2025s do, but Hyundai incorrectly thought the first years needed them.
For fun to drive, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N won Car and Driver's EV of the Year but it starts at $68K in the US. A lot of other EVs have scored highly as well, but offer different form factors, e.g. Rivian, ID.Buzz, etc.
Consumer Reports (CR) is frustratingly short on full ratings for EVs.
It's like EV buyers aren't CR subscribers or something.
CR is really down on reliability for most EV models, assigning most of them straight-in-the-middle average for predicted reliability. And quite often lower.
The one exception seems to be the 2025 BMW i4, which earns the best ratings for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
Suspiciously so.
Sometimes when CR's data patterns appear like that, it's a mirage due to some other factor. Particularly when the manufacturer's other models don't join them.
For example, the 2025 BMW i5 has a more typical bang average predicted reliability rating.
In terms of incomplete ratings, they seem to like the 2025 Toyota Mirai, and 2026 Lexus ES, but those are likely to come back down to average as the results come in.
p.s. CR is in the US, and for US consumers, so they don't get to rate Chinese EVs like BYD, etc.
I don't think that there are many categories of things were you can objectively define one 'best'. There are so many different attributes and people tend to have totally different requirements when it comes to a buying decision.
E.g. in terms of EVs it could be range, charging speed, form factor of the car, price, infotainment, warranty conditions, ability to tow trailers, efficiency, ethical factors etc.
Personally, I drive a used Hyundai Ioniq 6 and think it's a pretty solid car overall which doesn't make it the perfect choice for everyone.
Specifically looking for 'affordable blast to drive' - does that change your answer at all?
That's like asking if there's a consensus on which ICE car is best.
Of course there isn't, it obviously depends heavily on both budget and use profile.
Well as I said in the post, I'm looking for fun/affordable for non-commute drives and outings.
are there models of electric cars that are universally lauded?
You also wrote that, so my point stands.
As others said, it depends on the use case. We have a leased Kia EV6 and we like it well enough that we ordered a new one for when the contract ends in autumn.
My biggest criticisms are that it is too big and that the turning radius is terrible. We would have ordered the EV4 hatchback but unfortunately it is not yet available.
Ah well I wouldn't be going for big/bad turning then. Like I said, looking for fun/affordable,.
Get a Taycan.
Ha well if I had that kind of money all of these sort of questions would be a lot easier to answer
Next up would be a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. https://www.roadandtrack.com/rankings/g63103585/fun-to-drive-evs/
I’m partial to the BMW i4.
In the US? Unfortunately, probably the Model 3. The US doesn't really do small inexpensive EVs.
Even ignoring giving money to a literal fascist, Tesla build quality is awful and the service experience is a nightmare.
Chevy bolt EV is great. Decent range too, I regularly have 320 miles when I top it off
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
KIA EV6 GT
Polestar 2
Abarth 500e
Mini Cooper SE
Mini Cooper might be the closest thing to what I'm looking for so far