Top 10 Electric Vehicles That Made EVs Cool

The truck that proved EVs could go off-road. Rivian's R1T launched in 2021 as the first electric pickup truck to market — beating Ford, GM, and Tesla. It can wade through 3+ feet of water, has a built-in camp kitchen, and its quad-motor setup delivers 835 horsepower with a tank turn capability. The gear tunnel between the cab and bed is genuinely innovative. Rivian secured an $11.9 billion IPO and a 100,000-van order from Amazon. The R1T proved that electric trucks weren't a compromise — they were an upgrade.

The car that made people say "wait, Hyundai makes THAT?" The Ioniq 5's retro-futuristic design, inspired by Hyundai's 1974 Pony concept, won 2022 World Car of the Year. Its 800-volt architecture enables 10-80% charging in 18 minutes — faster than most competitors. The flat floor and sliding rear seats create interior space that rivals SUVs. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability lets you power appliances directly from the car. Starting around $42,000, it proved Korean automakers could out-design and out-engineer European luxury brands in the EV space.

BMW's flagship electric SUV divided opinions with its massive kidney grille but united them with its driving dynamics. The iX xDrive50 delivers 516 horsepower, 300+ miles of range, and a cabin finished in sustainable materials including FSC-certified wood and recycled ocean plastic. The interior is arguably the most luxurious in any EV. BMW's iDrive 8 system is among the best infotainment experiences in any car. Starting at $87,000, it's not cheap — but it proved that BMW could build an EV worthy of the Ultimate Driving Machine badge.

Putting the Mustang name on an electric SUV was either sacrilege or genius — and sales proved it was genius. The Mach-E 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 in 3.5 seconds with 480 horsepower. Ford's decision to adopt Tesla's NACS charging standard gave buyers access to the Supercharger network. The Mach-E didn't just compete with Tesla — it made Ford relevant in EVs overnight.

The car that proved performance EVs could handle like sports cars, not like heavy battery sleds. The Taycan Turbo S delivers 750 horsepower and hits 0-60 in 2.4 seconds — repeatedly, without the battery-sag that plagues other fast EVs. Its 800-volt architecture was an industry first. Porsche sold over 40,000 Taycans in 2023, outselling the iconic 911. The two-speed rear transmission gives it a top speed feel that single-gear EVs can't match. Starting at $90,000, it's the EV that made petrolheads admit electricity might be better.

Kia's first dedicated EV won 2022 European Car of the Year — the first Korean car to ever do so. Built on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, the EV6 takes a sportier approach with a crossover coupe design. The GT variant delivers 576 horsepower and 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, making it faster than a Lamborghini Urus. The 800-volt ultra-fast charging matches Porsche's system at a fraction of the price. Starting at $42,600, it offered supercar acceleration at family-car prices.

The most affordable long-range EV in America before GM discontinued it to make room for the Ultium platform. After aggressive price cuts in 2023, the Bolt EUV dropped to $27,495 — making it cheaper than most comparable gas cars after the $7,500 federal tax credit. It offered 247 miles of range, Super Cruise hands-free driving (a GM exclusive), and a surprisingly spacious interior. GM sold over 90,000 Bolts in 2023, proving that price — not luxury — is what drives mass EV adoption.

Volvo's electric performance brand launched the Polestar 2 as a direct Tesla Model 3 competitor, and reviewers consistently praised its build quality, interior materials, and driving dynamics over Tesla's. The Google-built infotainment system (Android Automotive OS) set a new standard for in-car software. The Performance Pack with Ohlins dampers offers handling that embarrasses cars twice its price. Polestar sold over 51,000 units of the Polestar 2 in 2022. It's the thinking person's Tesla alternative — less flash, more substance.

The Lucid Air Dream Edition delivered 520 miles of EPA-rated range — more than any production EV in history. Its 1,111-horsepower dual-motor setup hits 0-60 in 1.89 seconds, making it the quickest sedan ever produced. The interior space is remarkable: Lucid's compact drivetrain gives it more rear legroom than a Mercedes S-Class despite being a midsize car. Former Tesla VP of Engineering Peter Rawlinson designed the Air's battery architecture, which is 30% more energy-dense than Tesla's. The Air Grand Touring won MotorTrend Car of the Year 2022.

The truck that proved EVs could go off-road. Rivian's R1T launched in 2021 as the first electric pickup truck to market — beating Ford, GM, and Tesla. It can wade through 3+ feet of water, has a built-in camp kitchen, and its quad-motor setup delivers 835 horsepower with a tank turn capability. The gear tunnel between the cab and bed is genuinely innovative. Rivian secured an $11.9 billion IPO and a 100,000-van order from Amazon. The R1T proved that electric trucks weren't a compromise — they were an upgrade.

The car that made people say "wait, Hyundai makes THAT?" The Ioniq 5's retro-futuristic design, inspired by Hyundai's 1974 Pony concept, won 2022 World Car of the Year. Its 800-volt architecture enables 10-80% charging in 18 minutes — faster than most competitors. The flat floor and sliding rear seats create interior space that rivals SUVs. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability lets you power appliances directly from the car. Starting around $42,000, it proved Korean automakers could out-design and out-engineer European luxury brands in the EV space.

BMW's flagship electric SUV divided opinions with its massive kidney grille but united them with its driving dynamics. The iX xDrive50 delivers 516 horsepower, 300+ miles of range, and a cabin finished in sustainable materials including FSC-certified wood and recycled ocean plastic. The interior is arguably the most luxurious in any EV. BMW's iDrive 8 system is among the best infotainment experiences in any car. Starting at $87,000, it's not cheap — but it proved that BMW could build an EV worthy of the Ultimate Driving Machine badge.

Putting the Mustang name on an electric SUV was either sacrilege or genius — and sales proved it was genius. The Mach-E 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 in 3.5 seconds with 480 horsepower. Ford's decision to adopt Tesla's NACS charging standard gave buyers access to the Supercharger network. The Mach-E didn't just compete with Tesla — it made Ford relevant in EVs overnight.

The car that proved performance EVs could handle like sports cars, not like heavy battery sleds. The Taycan Turbo S delivers 750 horsepower and hits 0-60 in 2.4 seconds — repeatedly, without the battery-sag that plagues other fast EVs. Its 800-volt architecture was an industry first. Porsche sold over 40,000 Taycans in 2023, outselling the iconic 911. The two-speed rear transmission gives it a top speed feel that single-gear EVs can't match. Starting at $90,000, it's the EV that made petrolheads admit electricity might be better.

Kia's first dedicated EV won 2022 European Car of the Year — the first Korean car to ever do so. Built on the same E-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, the EV6 takes a sportier approach with a crossover coupe design. The GT variant delivers 576 horsepower and 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, making it faster than a Lamborghini Urus. The 800-volt ultra-fast charging matches Porsche's system at a fraction of the price. Starting at $42,600, it offered supercar acceleration at family-car prices.

The most affordable long-range EV in America before GM discontinued it to make room for the Ultium platform. After aggressive price cuts in 2023, the Bolt EUV dropped to $27,495 — making it cheaper than most comparable gas cars after the $7,500 federal tax credit. It offered 247 miles of range, Super Cruise hands-free driving (a GM exclusive), and a surprisingly spacious interior. GM sold over 90,000 Bolts in 2023, proving that price — not luxury — is what drives mass EV adoption.

Volvo's electric performance brand launched the Polestar 2 as a direct Tesla Model 3 competitor, and reviewers consistently praised its build quality, interior materials, and driving dynamics over Tesla's. The Google-built infotainment system (Android Automotive OS) set a new standard for in-car software. The Performance Pack with Ohlins dampers offers handling that embarrasses cars twice its price. Polestar sold over 51,000 units of the Polestar 2 in 2022. It's the thinking person's Tesla alternative — less flash, more substance.

The Lucid Air Dream Edition delivered 520 miles of EPA-rated range — more than any production EV in history. Its 1,111-horsepower dual-motor setup hits 0-60 in 1.89 seconds, making it the quickest sedan ever produced. The interior space is remarkable: Lucid's compact drivetrain gives it more rear legroom than a Mercedes S-Class despite being a midsize car. Former Tesla VP of Engineering Peter Rawlinson designed the Air's battery architecture, which is 30% more energy-dense than Tesla's. The Air Grand Touring won MotorTrend Car of the Year 2022.