The market for best-in-class electric vehicles has never been hotter. Though American demand dipped in 2019 and 2020, 2021 saw a seismic boom. 630,000 new electric vehicles hit U.S. streets in 2021, which was more than 2019 and 2020 combined.1 The demand never slowed down in Europe either, where electric car sales accounted for 17% of Europe’s total overall auto sales in 2021.
Consumers have never had more choices either. What was once a one-company show has evolved into a competitive marketplace for your EV dollar. Edmund’s has been tirelessly guiding car buyers for over 50 years, and they recently shared their top EV’s for 2023 across all categories.2
Today, we’ll share those rankings and highlight a few of our favorite things about each.
Gabriel Nica/ShutterstockTop Electric Car: Chevrolet Bolt EV
You couldn’t ask for a better, or more affordable introduction to that electric vehicle life. Chevrolet has been manufacturing the Bolt since 2016, and the 2023 model exemplifies that experience. It’s spacious, stylish, and capable with an electric motor capable of 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.3 The Chevrolet Bolt EV has an estimated range of 259 miles on a full charge, and includes a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard.
The popular EV starts at $26,595 with the option to upgrade to the 2LT trim package. The upgrade adds heated leather seats, additional driver safety features, and a 360-degree camera, and only costs an additional $3,200. Each 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV sold comes with a limited three year warranty and an eight year powertrain warranty.
Top Electric SUV: Kia Niro EV
Kia redesigned their entire Niro lineup in 2023, and the all-electric Niro EV is all the better for it. In addition to the updated interior and exterior, this latest model has an impressive range of 253 miles. It’s got a 201-hp motor and is capable of reaching 80 percent charged in as little as 45-minutes.4
The baseline Wind trim of the Kia Niro EV can be yours for $40,745. Buyers can opt for the Wave trim for upgraded tech, but both trims boast the same range and power capabilities. The Niro EV comes standard with loads of smart safety features too, including forward collision warning, lane departure, and lane-keeping assist.
Top Electric Truck: Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford builds on their truck-segment dominance with an all-electric F-150 dubbed the lightning. This is an EV workhorse built to tackle most jobs, though towing long-distances could prove problematic. Still, the base model 2023 Lightning has a serviceable towing capacity of 7,700-pounds and a max payload of 2,000 pounds.
The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro starts at $53,769, with upgrade options that include an extended-range battery, adaptive cruise control, in-dash navigation, and an onboard generator.5 It’s an impressive offer from one of the industry’s most important truck manufacturers, and could be coming to a jobsite near you.
Top Luxury Electric Car: Tesla Model 3
The biggest name in electric vehicles continues to dominate the luxury electric car segment with the 2023 Tesla Model 3. Stylish, practical, and exceptionally fun to drive, the Model 3 exceeds its competitors in virtually every way. The Model 3’s cabin boasts one of the best infotainment systems in the game, and that’s before even discussing the optional upgrades.
A baseline rear-wheel drive Model 3 starts at $48,440, with Long Range and Performance trim packages available to those looking to splurge.6 All models come standard with navigation, autopilot, and heated front seats.
Top Luxury Electric SUV: BMW iX
The 2023 iX earned the top spot on Edmund’s top luxury SUV list and a 9 out of 10 from Car and Driver.7 Safe to say the luxurious EV is a favorite amongst the online automotive community. It uses two electric motors sharing one battery capable of 280 miles of driving on a full charge. The spacious interior shares a lot with the BMW X5, boasting lots of cargo space, a large curved touchscreen, and an optional panoramic sunroof.
The base model iX is called the xDrive50 and it starts at $85,095. Buyers can upgrade to the M60 trim for a more powerful engine with a longer range, though the xDrive50 offers enough for most. Both models feature an interior lined with fine materials and BMW’s sleek iDrive infotainment system.
Green Means Go!
Electric vehicles rival their fossil fuel counterparts in more ways than one. Many boast better stock features, improved safety, and a much more modern look and feel. That’s before we even mention how much you stand to save at the gas pump.
EVs are the future of transportation and, looking at the best in each category has us blissfully looking forward. There’s no telling how far electric vehicle innovation will go, but it’s safe to say all of us are more than happy to go along for the ride.
