A few trends stand out. New EV drivers want cars with solid range, easy charging, and affordable prices. Especially for younger drivers, affordability is a priority and motivation for going electric. Predictable, low cost ownership is a draw for all EV drivers.

There are many great makes and models on the market these days, but new EV drivers gravitated toward a few choice picks:

Tesla Model 3 & Model Y

"I just did a NYC to DC to NYC to Niagara then back to JFK over a span of 10 days… It’s quiet. It’s powerful. Fun to drive. So much more convenient than a gas car."

New Price: Starting at $36,990 for Model 3 Standard and $39,990 for Model Y Standard

Used Price (3-5 year old cars): $24,000 for Model 3, $28,850 for Model Y

Range: 240 - 321 mi, depending on year and trim

DC Charging Speeds: 13.7 minutes to add 100 miles

What Drivers Love: Teslas have become iconic, and remain the most popular EV on the road today, even as legacy OEMs start to catch up. 

Ask a Tesla driver what they love about their car, one of the first things they’ll say is that it’s fun to drive. 

With lightning fast acceleration and smooth, responsive handling, even a basic Tesla drives like a sports car. Robust autopilot features can help control the car, maintaining speed, managing turns, and keeping a safe distance from the car ahead of you. Teslas are also comfortable, with spacious interiors and plenty of storage space. Most of the car’s features are controlled by the central touchscreen, giving the car a sleek, minimalistic feel. Everything is high-tech, and, thanks to over-the-air updates, there is a constant stream of new features. Teslas drivers get seamless access to the Tesla supercharger network with the most charging stations in the country.

What Could Be Better: 

• Virtually all the amenities are controlled by the touchscreen, even opening the glovebox or changing the wiper speed. 
• While the car may be agile, its suspension is lacking and can give drivers a rough and bumpy ride. 
• While all electric cars make little noise, Teslas don’t insulate sound well, so highway driving can get pretty loud. 
• Some drivers have complaints about rear visibility, and the finishes are lower quality and less durable than drivers expected for the price. 
• The expected range for most Teslas tends to be less than the advertised, EPA range, but in more recent model years, this is being corrected.

"Only big complaint is the road noise. If the road is smooth then the car is silent as the night, but any bumps are loud, even with the 18” wheels.”

Chevy Bolt EV & EUV

“Great daily/city driving car. … If you can charge every night it’s excellent.”

“$0 in maintenance so far, obviously no oil changes or gas.

New Price: Starting at $28,595

Used Price (3 -5 year cars): $15,000 - $18,000

Range: 2027 Bolt - 255 miles EPA, older Bolts 220 - 250 miles Recurrent Expected Range

DC Charging Speeds: 55 kW for older models (which means 40+ min to add 100 miles!!), up to 150 kW for 2027 models

What Drivers Love: The Chevy Bolt EV is the most affordable electric car on the market in the U.S., making it more accessible to the widest pool of drivers. And, there’s a lot of value for that price. Bolts aren’t the fastest of all EVs, but they still boast a perky acceleration and are a pleasure to drive. The cars are comfortable and quiet, and some drivers appreciate the physical knobs complementing the infotainment touchscreen. All drivers will appreciate the over-the-air updates that allow the Bolt to keep up with the latest technology.

What Could Be Better (V1 Bolts): 

• The Bolt gives a rough ride on a bumpy road. We haven't tested out the V2 yet.
• The seats could be more comfortable and there’s not much difference between the EV and the EUV in terms of storage space and backseat legroom. 
• V1 Bolts have one of the slowest charge times of EVs on the market. This should be better with the new Bolts.

“One thing I would comment is the brakes are terrible when car is close to fully charged because no regen and the brakes are like tiny undersized discs…”

Volkswagen ID.4

"Smooth, quiet, comfortable ride. Instant torque. …”

“The good: overall build quality has been spot on, spacious, fits my needs, easy to drive, AWD.”

New Price: Starting at $45,095

Used Price: around $22,500

Range: 296 mi Recurrent Expected Range

DC Charging Speeds: 21.5 minutes to add 100 miles

What Drivers Love: The ID.4 offers a smooth and quiet ride with a tight turn radius. The car has a roomy, comfortable interior, foregoing the high-tech, minimalistic style for a more classic look that will be familiar to gas car drivers. While not the flashiest or sportiest EV on the market, the ID.4 has a competitive range and a focus on practicality and safety, with one driver noting “perfect vehicle for day to day… very affordable.” Overall it’s regarded as a solid choice for mainstream EV buyers.

What Could Be Better: 

• The ID.4 just doesn’t have the same zing many popular EVs have. The acceleration is fine, but nothing to brag about. 
• What’s more, it lacks one-pedal driving, a feature many EV drivers love. 
• Some drivers have had issues with the software and infotainment screen.
• Drivers looking for an easy road trip car can be frustrated by the planning required.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

“Quiet, powerful, easy to drive, cheap to charge if you charge at home … what sold me however was the POWER. Passing power, uphill power, snap your neck from 0-60 power, just smoooooth driving power…”

“It’s so pleasant to drive. I absolutely love the acceleration, and it handles reasonably well… I’ve become a big fan of the i-Pedal feature.”

New Price: Starting at $35,000

Used Price: From $23,000 to $27,500

Range:  333 miles average Recurrent Expected Range

DC Charging Speeds: 8.4 minutes to add 100 miles -- industry leading

What Drivers Love: The Ioniq 5 has style. Drivers love its bold, futuristic design. The look of the cabin is more classic than futuristic, but it boasts plenty of room for drivers and passengers. The interior is open and spacious, built for comfort, even incorporating foot rests to use while the vehicle is charging. Not that you’ll have much time to sit back and relax. The Ioniq 5 has one of the fastest DC charging speeds on the market, capable of getting you back on the road in a matter of minutes.

What Could Be Better: 

• Be careful backing up in the parking lot. The Ioniq 5 has thick rear roof pillars that create large blind spots and the lack of rear wipers makes driving in the rain particularly challenging. 
• The car has a pretty wide turning radius, too. 
• Some early adopters had complaints about the Blue Link mobile app and the lack of wireless connectivity options, but this seems to have been resolved as Hyundai continues to invest in the platform. 

"Turning radius is too wide. … I just find that when parking I need to do more adjusts.”

Chevrolet Equinox

"The Equinox EV is a well-rounded, stylish, and surprisingly affordable BEV… ride quality is outstanding, with a smooth, quiet cabin… The interior is spacious and thoughtfully designed…"

"Stylish, head-turning design. Smooth, quiet ride quality. Affordable lease pricing for a fully-loaded EV."

New Price: Starting at $33,600

Used Price: $28,500

Range: 334 miles average Recurrent Expected Range

DC Charging Speeds: 17.5 minutes to add 100 miles

What Drivers Love: Owners consistently praise the Equinox EV for its value proposition, and it comes in at the lowest cost per range mile as per Recurrent. It has a comfortable ride and user-friendly technology. One reviewer described it as “incredibly accessible." Another driver highlighted access to the Tesla Supercharger network and the intuitive Google Built-in infotainment "… the stress of finding a plug is gone.” Finally, many reviewers appreciate the roomy cargo space and ride quality, calling the driving experience “smooth, quiet” and “just right” for daily use.

What Could Be Better: 

• The lack of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support is a major drawback for certain shoppers
• Despite a low base price, add-on packages and optional features can drive costs up quickly
• The charging architecture uses a 288-volt system, which can be seen as limiting charging speeds when compared to cars like Hyundais and Kias which use 800-volts.
• In certain markets, difficulty getting timely support, lack of availability of qualified EV-service technicians, and challenges with rental or loaner vehicle support during repairs.

"The slow charging speed.…99% of the time it won’t matter, but if you do some road trips, it may be a bit of an annoyance."

"No response AT ALL in messaging app. Absolutely no way to get anyone on the phone."

Ford Mustang Mach-E

“My four-year review … I have no regrets. I will be keeping this car for at least another three years.”

“I think it’s a fantastic car, it’s nice inside, it’s practical and drives great. … I’ve camped in mine and driven cross-country.”

New Price: Starting at $37,995

Used Price: $24,400 - $31,400

Range: 211 to 314 miles

DC Charging Speeds: 25.5 minutes to add 100 miles

What Drivers Love: The Mach-E gets strong marks for interior quality, comfort, driving experience, and value -- especially for long time ownership. One reviewer said that even the base Select RWD “is more powerful than you could possibly need.” Owners appreciate the ample range on larger battery packs and easy day-to-day usability. The Mustang Mach-E scored well on Recurrent's cost-per-range-mile calculation.

What Could Be Better: 

• With earlier models, there were concerns about software and fit & finish
• One driver  had a leaky trunk or several others had water getting into the rear latch
• Ford is notoriously cautious with third-party access to Mach-E data, including with apps that connect with utility companies and charging optimization
• In trying to balance its sports car lineage with an SUV body, the Mach-E can be less comfortable on poorly surfaced roads, especially compared to more traditional SUVs.

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Have you purchased your first electric vehicle recently? Let us know what you got -- and why -- and we will update this article!