Top 5: Electric cars that are ready for primetime
it wasnÃ?Â?t too long ago that if you owned an electric car, you probably lived in
Florida, golfed a lot and no longer worked.
My how things have changed.
I am
Brian Cooley with a Top 5 I probably couldnÃ?Â?t have done even a year ago.
Top 5
electric cars from major manufacturers that are all ready for prime time.
WeÃ?Â?re gonnaÃ?Â? rank these by my impressions, having driven 4 of the 5, and IÃ?Â?ll give
you their range on a charge, MPGe (thatÃ?Â?s miles per gallon equivalent) and weÃ?Â?ll
also tell you where they fit on the price scale.
LetÃ?Â?s go.
#5 The oddly named Mitsubishi iMIEV.
Range: 62 | MPGe: 112.
(MSRP: $29,975)
This one barely makes the cut because I donÃ?Â?t know that American consumers
will ever embrace the looks of this electric easter egg.
ItÃ?Â?s also feels
uncomfortably close to a golf cart inside.
But it is fun to drive, like youÃ?Â?re
perennially approach the 18th hole, and costs under $30 grand.
And your rabbit
will never complain about the headroom.
#4 Smart electric drive.
Range 87 | MPGe: 100 (MSRP: $25,000 est.)
This is the newest car on the list, and will also be the cheapest with an MSRP of
about $25,000.
But IÃ?Â?m mostly excited about it as a sort of redemption: The
Smart ForTwo should have always been an electric car: With the current a gas
engine its one of the truly awful driving experiences in the world.
This conversion
may absolve many sins.
#3 Nissan Leaf.
Range: 73 | MPGe: 99 (MSRP: $35,200)
The Leaf is the Prius of EVÃ?Â?s.
Not in sales, certainly, but in its charmingly odd
look, urban nature and strong execution.
YouÃ?Â?ll be surprised by its luxurious drive
manners, cool cabin tech and smartphone app.
But I slot it at #3 because its
looks are just too Barney and it lacks the fast charger we find in our #2 car...
#2 which is the Ford Focus EV, #2 by a whisker ahead of the Leaf.
Range: 76 | MPGe: 105 (MSRP: $39,200)
Pushing 40 grand, it makes one say Ã?Â?For a Focus?Ã?Â? but the car looks great,
leverages the underpinnings of a great compact car, has a sportier demeanor
than the Leaf, and has a fast charge technology that can do full charge in 3-4
hours on a 240V outlet, that can mean hours less than its competitors.
Before I get to #1, I can tell you it wonÃ?Â?t be the Chevy Volt or Fisker Karma.
Those are not electric cars in the pure sense, they are range extender cars that
use a combination of electricity and gasoline.
IÃ?Â?d say thatÃ?Â?s separate list for
another time, but there arenÃ?Â?t even 5 to rank.
#1 Tesla Model S.
Range: 140 | MPGe: 89 (MSRP: 57,400)
And the first EV to win Car of the Year.
It looks hot, goes like hell, has great
range and can be optioned for 265 miles on a charge, and its 17Ã?Â? central cabin
screen rewrites the rules of cabin tech.
On the other hand, the Model S starts
around $60 grand and if you want the 265 miler, thatÃ?Â?s about $80.
And up.
Still,
this is the car that doesnÃ?Â?t just accomplish an electric conversion, but sets a new
bar.
Up Next
Crash Testing New Electric Cars Proves They're Typically Safer
Up Next
Crash Testing New Electric Cars Proves They're Typically Safer
See What Makes the Best Tire for Your Electric Car
See What Makes the Best Tire for Your Electric Car
Why Are So Many Electric Cars, Scooters and Bikes Burning?
Why Are So Many Electric Cars, Scooters and Bikes Burning?
Seen the New 2023 Prius? Here's Why It's Turning Heads
Seen the New 2023 Prius? Here's Why It's Turning Heads
The Bestselling EVs of 2022
The Bestselling EVs of 2022
Best Dash Cams: A Buying Guide
Best Dash Cams: A Buying Guide
GM's Electric Pickups Head On: Comparing the Sierra EV to the Silverado EV
GM's Electric Pickups Head On: Comparing the Sierra EV to the Silverado EV
Meet a Mind-Bending Hybrid: The Sono Sion Solar-Grid EV
Meet a Mind-Bending Hybrid: The Sono Sion Solar-Grid EV
These Are the Cars That Qualify Now for the New Tax Credit
These Are the Cars That Qualify Now for the New Tax Credit
Don't Buy an EV Until You See the Most Important Ones Coming in 2023
Don't Buy an EV Until You See the Most Important Ones Coming in 2023
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Latest How To All how to videos
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro