Fast Facts | Best EVs of 2025
🧾 Big Shift: Federal EV incentives ended in late September, reshaping deals and pricing
🔌 Charging Trend: More models now use the SAE J3400 (NACS / Tesla-style) charge port
💸 Budget MVP: 2026 Nissan Leaf S+ starts at $31,485 delivered and reaches up to 303 miles of range
⚡ Fast-Charge Sweet Spot: Ioniq 5 and EV6 can hit over 250 kW and charge 10–80% in about 20 minutes
👨👩👧👦 Family Haulers: Ioniq 9 and EV9 bring 3-row space with quick charging and 300+ mile range options
🏎️ Luxury Punch: Polestar 4 Performance hits 60 mph in 3.7 seconds with 544 hp
🛰️ Range King: Lucid Gravity can reach 378–450 miles depending on configuration
🛻 Work-Truck EV: Silverado EV offers up to 12,500 lbs towing and up to 10.2 kW export power
2025 hasn't been the easiest year for EVs in North America. Federal tax incentives disappeared at the end of September, and unsurprisingly, sales have taken a hit over the last couple of months. But it's not all bad news.
There are some great battery-powered vehicles available right now, and some of them are reaching price parity with their gas-fueled equivalents. After the incentives ended, some manufacturers, most notably Hyundai, have responded by cutting the sticker price on some popular EVs. Plus, more automakers are adopting the SAE J3400 charge port (you might know it as the NACS or Tesla port), which means you can use Tesla Superchargers without an adapter.
For those still interested in ditching the gas pump for a plug, here’s a look at some EVs that went on sale this year well worth considering.
Most Affordable: Nissan Leaf
When the original Nissan Leaf debuted in late 2010, it was the first affordable, modern EV. Its 73-mile range was pretty modest, but it was a practical size. Fast-forward to the 2026 model year, and there's an all-new Leaf that looks more like a crossover, but it’s still about the same size, which makes it easy for commuting around town and parking in urban areas. The most important thing: Nissan has leveraged 15 years of advancements in battery, electronics, and motor technology to increase the range to as much as 303 miles in the S+ trim.
The 2026 Nissan Leaf S+ goes for just $31,485, including delivery charges, making this brand-new car about the same price as the average three-year-old used car these days. Next spring, Nissan is adding a base S trim with a slightly smaller battery that should still deliver over 250 miles on a charge and will likely cost around $28,000.
The new Leaf is really fun to drive, with good steering and handling. There's plenty of room for four adults and cargo, and Nissan adopted the J3400 port for DC fast charging while keeping the older J1772 port for Level 2.
Mainstream Midsize: Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6
Compact to midsize crossovers are where most people shop, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are two of the best options in this space. They ride on the same platform (along with their luxury sibling, the Genesis GV60) and share motors, batteries, electronics, and suspensions, but each has its own unique look. My wife and I opted for the sleeker, wagon-like EV6, but it really comes down to personal preference.
Both got a mid-cycle update this year with slightly revised design details, larger batteries, and J3400 charge ports. The standard-range Ioniq 5 goes 245 miles on a charge, while the extended-range single-motor goes 318 miles. Even the 225-hp single-motor offers lively performance, though a more powerful 320-hp dual-motor is available on both.
The Hyundai Motor Group EVs also offer very fast charging, topping 250 kilowatts, and will go from 10 to 80 percent charge in about 20 minutes, just long enough to go to the bathroom, get a snack, and resume a road trip. After the tax incentives ended, Hyundai slashed the prices by an average of $9,155, with the standard-range Ioniq 5 now starting at $36,600 delivered, with the extended-range just $2,500 more. Similar deals are available on the EV6.
Mainstream Large SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9
If you need room for seven, Hyundai and Kia offer a pair of large, three-row SUVs built on the same e-GMP architecture as their smaller siblings, which means they get the same exceptional charging capabilities and good range, just with more space. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 are pretty similar, using the same motors and electronics, but the Hyundai gets a slightly larger 110-kilowatt-hour battery that delivers up to 320 miles on a charge with dual-motor all-wheel drive or 335 miles with single-motor rear-drive.
Like the smaller crossovers, these have an 800-volt electrical architecture and excellent battery cooling that enables fast charging at over 220 kW, getting the battery from 10 to 80 percent charge in about 24 minutes through a J3400 charging port. The Kia has a sharper-edged, more technical look, while the Hyundai goes with a more rounded appearance that incorporates the brand’s pixel lighting design. Both are roomy and very usable for families. The Ioniq 9 starts at $60,555 delivered, the Kia at $56,495.
Luxury Midsize: Polestar 4
Polestar is part of the larger Geely Group, along with its fellow Swedish brand Volvo, and positions itself as a premium electric performance brand. The Polestar 4 (PS4) certainly looks the part, sitting just below the Polestar 3 in the lineup in terms of size and price. Polestar calls it a crossover, but I think of it more as a hatchback coupe.
The rear deck slopes so steeply that Polestar ditched the rear window entirely, deciding it would largely be useless since it's basically a mail slot with almost no visibility. Instead, you get a digital rearview camera mirror, which makes it a non-issue. The PS4 is available with either one or two motors, each putting out 272 horsepower. The single-motor model goes 310 miles on a charge, while the dual-motor will cover up to 280 miles. With the Performance package, the 544-hp dual-motor will hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Not sure which EV belongs on your shortlist (range, price, charging speed, size, and more)? Use the GreenCars EV Buyer’s Guide
The only downside to the PS4 is Polestar’s decision to control the air vents through the infotainment touchscreen, which is annoying. Otherwise, it’s really a joy to drive. At the time of writing, the Polestar 4 has a $10,000 discount, bringing the single-motor version to $47,800 delivered, while the dual-motor starts at $54,300.
Luxury Large: Lucid Gravity
For luxury buyers looking for something a bit larger, the new Lucid Gravity is definitely worth consideration. The second model in Lucid’s lineup, the Gravity is a three-row SUV with some distinctive proportions. It’s not as tall as many large SUVs and has a relatively short front end, but it’s very sleek and aerodynamic. There’s plenty of room in all three rows, and like the Air sedan, the overall packaging is outstanding.
Lucid has always focused on energy efficiency, and the Gravity is no exception. The Grand Touring has 828 horsepower and will sprint to 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds. Depending on which wheel and tire package you select, the EPA-estimated range is anywhere from 378 to 450 miles, and you can add 200 miles of range in under 11 minutes.
Lucid recently added a lower-cost Touring trim with a slightly smaller battery that still delivers 337 miles of range, starting at $81,550, including destination. The Grand Touring starts at $96,550.
Truck: Chevrolet Silverado EV
While electric trucks haven’t taken off the way automakers hoped, the Chevrolet Silverado EV is a particular standout among the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck. It offers the broadest lineup, from the $57,990 base model with 286 miles of range up to versions with the 205-kWh 24-module battery that delivers 493 miles on a charge.
Those big batteries mean that the Silverado can actually make reasonable use of its towing capacity of up to 12,500 pounds, going well over 200 miles between charges even with a large, heavy trailer. It's also available with GM’s unique mid-gate system that lets you fold down the barrier between the cab and bed to carry cargo up to nearly 11 feet long. Like the Lightning and Cybertruck, the Chevy also has export power capabilities that can put out up to 10.2 kW through multiple 120-volt and one 240-volt outlet. The Silverado EV isn't inexpensive, but it's remarkably capable.
Coming Soon
While many automakers have delayed the introduction of new EVs due to slowing sales, there are still quite a few interesting new models coming in 2026 and beyond. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, which will have a new lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and modernized motors and electronics from GM’s latest EVs, will have a starting price of $28,995 delivered. The new BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA are coming with new architectures that support much faster charging and longer ranges. Toward the end of 2026, Ford is expected to start production of the first of its next-generation EVs, a compact truck about the size of the Maverick with a new LFP battery and a starting price of just $30,000.
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