Oliver Johnson
Cars from Hyundai and Volvo took five of the top 10 spots in US News & World Report’s best electric and hybrid vehicles for 2024, while Tesla is excluded.
The publication’s testers evaluated nearly 100 EVs and hybrids, scoring them based on price, range, performance, safety, reliability, interior and other factors. The best EVs offer a combination of power, speed and fast-charging capabilities, said John Vincent, senior vehicle testing editor.
“Today there is an electric vehicle for almost every market segment,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “Electric cars are our future. They will arrive faster than some people think and will actually solve a lot of problems.”
For now, however, many drivers remain unconvinced, concerned about range, charging speeds and reliability. While a record 1.2 million EVs were sold in the U.S. last year, according to data from Cox Automotive, that represented just under 8% of the automobile market. EVs have more problems and are generally less reliable than gasoline-powered cars, according to a 2023 study to study of Consumer Reports.
The US News list highlights the fierce competition today in electric cars, as Tesla cuts prices on its vehicles to increase sales.
“Tesla continues to be the market leader [in EV sales)]but there are better options out there now,” Vincent said.
Here are US News’ Top 10 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles for 2024.
Best luxury electric car: Lucid Air
This luxury sedan, which starts at $69,076, has the longest driving range of any EV, according to US News analysis.
The Lucid Air “is a really cool car,” Vincent said. “It’s incredibly fast, incredibly efficient, and can drive 500 miles on a single charge. It’s a better Tesla Model S than the Tesla Model S.”
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Best electric luxury SUV: Volvo XC40 Recharge
The XC40 Recharge scores well for safety, in part because it has features like lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition, according to for US news. The vehicle starts at $52,450 and can travel 293 miles on a single charge.
Bloomberg’s Bing Guan via Getty Images
Best electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Ioniq 5 also scores well on safety, with features like front automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert. The vehicle starts at US$41,800 and has a range of 220 miles on a single charge.
Anadolu’s Fatih Aktas via Getty Images
Best electric car: Hyundai Ioniq 6
This spacious sedan seats five people and offers a smooth ride, according to a US News report. analysis. Its standard base model starts at $37,500, while a higher-end model, the Limited, starts at $53,650.
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Best electric truck: Ford F-150 Lightning
The electric version of Ford’s most popular pickup truck has one of the most spacious cabins in its class, according to for US news. The base model can tow 5,000 pounds and the upgraded version can tow 7,700.
“You can go from the gas-powered F-150 to the F-150 Lightning and not notice much of a difference in its performance,” said Vincent of US News.
Bloomberg’s Graham Hughes via Getty Images
Best luxury plug-in hybrid: Volvo S60 Recharge
The Volvo S60 offers some of the fastest battery charging times on the market, according to US News. The vehicle can be fully charged in about nine hours with a 120-volt outlet and in about four hours with a 240-volt outlet. The S60 comes in five different models, with prices ranging from $51,950 to $58,550.
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Best plug-in hybrid: Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
The Sportage Plug-In provides drivers with a smooth ride over rough pavement and the engine revs, accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 7 seconds, according to for US news. The vehicle comes in two models – the X-Line, starting at US$39,490, or the X-Line Prestige, starting at US$43,990.
Best hybrid car: Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Camry Hybrid has a “generous amount of advanced driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.” according to for US news. It comes in five models, with prices ranging from $28,855 to $34,295.
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Best hybrid SUV: Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The Tucson has one of the most spacious interiors of all hybrid SUVs, according to for US news. The vehicle can tow up to 2,000 pounds and comes in four models, ranging in price from $32,575 to $39,715.
Best luxury hybrid: Lexus NX Hybrid
Drivers will notice this luxury vehicle’s leather upholstery, large touchscreen and head-up display, according to for US news. The Lexus NX has five models, with prices ranging from $43,465 to $60,005.
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