Type Small station wagon
Base price $36,500
Range 259 miles
Recharge time 9.3 hours
The smartly functional shape of the Chevrolet Bolt sticks to the proven formula of small runabouts: tall with lots of glass to make the interior airy, yet reasonably short and narrow to create an easy-to-maneuver package. The Bolt stood apart in having those traits, along with an attractive price, at its 2016 debut, but competitors are catching up quickly. Still, its 200 horsepower makes zipping around town effortless.
Type Small crossover
Base price $42,895
Range 211 to 305 miles
Recharge time 8.5 to 11.4 hours
Ford Motor’s bold entrance to the market of mass-appeal E. V.s piggybacks on the popularity of its much-loved Mustang. The Mach-E, a four-door crossover, trades heavily on the heritage of that venerable Ford, right down to the galloping horse logos and the design. It’s available with either rear-drive or all-wheel drive, and Ford offers a version fitted with a larger battery to allow a range of 305 miles.
Type Small S.U.V.
Base price $37,390 (not available in all states)
Range 258 miles
Recharge time 9.6 hours
Hyundai’s approach differs from previous entries in that its Kona and Ioniq E. V.s are also available with gasoline power. Usually, automakers build a unique electric-only structure, but Hyundai has been successful with this method. The Kona Electric’s regenerative braking system, which recharges the battery when slowing down, is calibrated to allow what is known as one-pedal driving, where the driver can also release the accelerator to slow the car instead of using the brake, unlike some models.
Type Midsize car (not available in all states)
Base price $33,245
Range 170 miles
Recharge time 6.1 hours
Like the Kona, the Ioniq shares its body with siblings that have gasoline engines. The Ionic Electric, as a result, is nearly indistinguishable from those cars, aside from its blanked-off grille area. The benefits of the shared architecture include an attractive price.
Type Subcompact car
Base price $29,900
Range 110 miles
Recharge time 4 hours
BMW’s Mini brand has dabbled in electric power in recent years, and its latest effort reflects both the brand’s engaging driving dynamics and the limitations imposed by the car’s small size. With its range, the Mini is not ideal for drivers who regularly make long trips. But with 181 horsepower and a weight of about 3,100 pounds, it’s lively on the road.
Type Midsize car
Base price $31,620
Range 149 to 226 miles
Recharge time 8 to 11 hours
As a global best seller, the Leaf has done much to expose drivers to E.V.s. Its conservative specifications and timid styling pushed it out of the limelight, but a redesign for 2018 brought it back to mainstream relevance.
Type Midsize car
Base price $59,900
Range 233 miles
Recharge time 8 hours
Polestar is the brand that answers the question of “Why didn’t Volvo make an electric car until recently?” Polestar and Volvo are owned by the Chinese automaker Geely, and Polestar’s first fully electric model, the Polestar 2, is a four-door competitor to the likes of the Tesla Model 3. With 402 horsepower on a sport-tuned chassis, it lives up to the Polestar aspiration as a performance brand.
