Top 10 Electric Vehicles That Made EVs Cool

BMW's flagship electric SUV divided opinions with its massive kidney grille but united them with driving dynamics. Its cabin includes FSC-certified wood and recycled ocean plastic, with iDrive 8 infotainment, arguably the most luxurious in any EV. At $87,000, it’s 50% more expensive than the average EV, but it proved BMW could build an EV worthy of the Ultimate Driving Machine badge.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E proved that putting a legendary pony car name on an SUV could electrify a brand overnight. It sold over 150,000 units in its first two years, making it Ford’s second-best-selling EV behind the F-150 Lightning. The GT Performance Edition hits 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds with 480 horsepower, offering genuine Mustang thrills. This blend of heritage, performance, and infrastructure made the Mach-E a volume leader, outselling the Porsche Taycan’s 40,000-unit 2023 sales by more than three to one.

The Porsche Taycan proved that performance EVs could handle like true sports cars, not heavy battery sleds, with its Turbo S variant delivering 750 horsepower and hitting 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds repeatedly—without the battery sag that plagues rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. Porsche sold over 40,000 Taycans in 2023, outselling the iconic 911, with prices starting at $90,000. The two-speed rear transmission gives it a top-speed feel that single-gear EVs can’t match, making petrolheads admit electricity might be superior.

The Kia EV6 became the first Korean car to win 2022 European Car of the Year, setting a benchmark for affordable performance and fast charging. Built on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, its GT variant delivers 576 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, outpacing the Chevrolet Bolt EUV by nearly 3 seconds and even beating a Lamborghini Urus. Starting at $42,600, it offers supercar acceleration at family-car prices, with a sportier crossover coupe design that stands out from more utilitarian rivals.

It offered 247 miles of range, Super Cruise hands-free driving as a GM exclusive, and a surprisingly spacious interior for its compact size. GM sold over 90,000 Bolts in 2023, proving that price—not luxury—drives mass adoption; this volume was more than double the Porsche Taycan’s 40,000-unit sales and 30% lighter on the wallet than the typical EV rival. The Bolt demonstrated that affordability, not hype, makes EVs cool for the mainstream.

The Polestar 2 delivers a build quality that outperforms Lucid Air, with materials and fitment that rival vehicles costing twice its price. Its Google-built infotainment system (Android Automotive OS) processes commands 40% faster than the average EV interface, setting a new standard for responsiveness. The Performance Pack’s Ohlins dampers provide handling that embarrasses cars in a higher tier, with a chassis rigidity 15% greater than the typical rival. Polestar sold over 51,000 units in 2022, proving its appeal as the thinking person's Tesla alternative—less flash, more substance.

Its 1,111-horsepower dual-motor setup hits 0-60 in 1.89 seconds, making it 0.5 seconds quicker than the average sports sedan. The compact drivetrain yields more rear legroom than a Mercedes S-Class despite a midsize footprint, earning MotorTrend Car of the Year 2022 for its unparalleled efficiency and speed.