Which Electric Car Makers Offer the Best Vehicles?
Electric car makers are springing up everywhere, as public attitudes toward climate change shift and legislative combustion engine bans loom. But which companies have the best options for consumers?
Volkswagen leads all EV makers in sales, with the Alliance of Renault-Nissan and China’s Geely coming close behind. NIO is a fast-growing player with six cars on the market.
Kia
Kia’s EV lineup ranges from the boxy subcompact Soul to the large three-row Telluride, plus a few smaller SUVs and a minivan. The brand’s EV6 electric car has a relatively long EPA-estimated range of 240 miles, and its plug-in hybrid Sportage and Sorento hybrid vehicles are popular with buyers.
Kia has also added a sleek new interior with an elongated screen that replaces the traditional instrument cluster and infotainment display. This level-2 advanced driver assistance system, called ADAS, can detect pedestrians, stop the vehicle if the driver gets distracted, and alert them when it’s time to exit.
Established automakers like Ford, Toyota and GM are spending hundreds of billions to close the EV gap with Tesla and China’s rapidly expanding Geely-owned Volvo and BYD brands. But these efforts could be hampered by a potential work stoppage in the US, as striking Ford, GM and Stellantis (STLA) workers demand improved wages. Those with high China exposure will face particular pressure from rising local competition, according to analysts. Volkswagen and the Renault-Nissan alliance are expected to sell the most EVs in 2025, followed by Geely.
Volvo
Volvo is one of the established automakers diving headfirst into electric cars. Its 2023 XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is an SUV chinese electric car company that was designed from the ground up for an electric powertrain. As such, it doesn’t suffer from the compromises that can sometimes happen when a car’s petrol and electric DNA are mixed together.
Volvo’s EPA-estimated 223-mile range puts it near the top of its class. The electric drivetrain also offers a smooth ride and responsive acceleration, but it is slightly noisy when driving at high speeds. The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of adjustment.
Like many other automakers, Volvo has a variety of trim levels to choose from. Its S60 and V60 sedans are offered in the Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription trim levels. Its XC40 and V60 SUVs are available with the higher-performance Polestar Engineered variants, which come with a 415-hp plug-in hybrid engine. The latter also comes with raised suspensions and cladding to make it more off-road capable. But if US automakers were to give in to union demands for hefty wage increases and job protection, the EV market would be “dead on arrival,” Dan Ives, a senior analyst at Wedbush Securities, said.
Nissan
Nissan, which has a long history of pioneering electric car technology, is currently working on new battery-powered cars for the global market. Its luxury brand, Infiniti, has already made a few EV models and will have more coming soon. Like all automakers, however, Nissan has its fair share of problems. The company recently had to recall its backup cameras due to safety issues, and some owners have experienced problems with the automatic emergency braking system activating unnecessarily.
Several established automakers are struggling to keep up with Tesla in the EV race. Ford, for example, is losing money on its EVs and may even cease production in 2023. Other companies are finding it difficult to make cost-effective EVs in the US as they struggle with union demands for higher wages.
Toyota is also struggling with a slow transition to full-electric vehicles. Its current offering, a dual-motor, 312-hp bZ4X model with a paltry 230-mile range, doesn’t inspire confidence that the company will compete with the likes of Tesla in the future. Luxury brand Lexus is also late to the EV party but is trying hard to catch up.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is one of the most established car makers in the world. It has a electric car makers long history of innovation, including the introduction of the moving assembly line, which slashed production time and drastically reduced car prices. The company is now facing another seismic shift – the advent of electric cars.
Unlike many of its competitors, VW is taking a cautious approach to the EV market. Its first entry is the ID 4, a small, affordable electric SUV that offers plenty of passenger space. It can travel up to 275 miles on a single charge. It also comes with three years of complimentary DC fast charging at Electrify America stations.
The ID 4 is available in two versions – a rear-wheel drive version with a 62-kWh battery pack and a dual-motor AWD model with an 82-kWh battery pack. The latter has better performance and range numbers but costs more. Both models are a good choice for those looking for an inexpensive, practical EV. They also offer good crash test ratings and standard driver assistance features.
Li Auto
China-based Li Auto Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and sells smart electric vehicles. Its primary products include Li ONE SUVs. The company also offers peripheral products, such as charging stalls and vehicle internet connection services, and extended lifetime warranties. It operates through its subsidiaries and variable interest entities.
Unlike its loss-making rivals Nio and Xpeng, which are betting on pure electric vehicles, Li Auto is taking a more conservative approach to the industry. Its vehicles are branded as extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. Unlike plug-in hybrids, which use both an electric and gas engine to power the car, EREVs have a backup gasoline engine that can charge the battery when necessary.
Founded in 2015, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and counts Chinese tech billionaire Wang Xing of delivery service Meituan among its investors. The firm has a small market share in the crowded EV sector, with a total of 9,500 deliveries last year. It hopes to increase shipments and expand its lineup in 2024. To that end, the company is collaborating with Svolt Energy and Sunwoda to produce its batteries.