Other than a Tesla
I like my Tesla Model Y and I often recommend them to a lot of people. But today I want to talk about a few other brands and vehicles I think are also worth considering.
Hyundai and Kia - Each of these brands have a handful of EVs with some really great features- specifically, good value and great charging performance. The E-GMP platform is shared by both of them so you can choose between two different interior and exterior styles while staying with a great vehicle platform. I believe these are worth alternatives to Tesla with some trade-offs. The Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ionic 9 are each real 3-row crossover SUVs, seating 6/7 passengers, at a more affordable price than a Rivian R1S or the Tesla Model X. The Kia EV6 and Hyundia Ionic 5 are 5 passenger, hatchback style cars that might be considered comparable to a Tesla Model Y. And then there is the Hyundai Ionic 6 that is a sedan type of 5 passenger car that is comparable to a Tesla Model 3. Some of the pros of Kia and Hyundai vehicles is that their charging curve holds higher power input for a greater amount of the battery charging time, so they charge more power in a shorter amount of time on some Level 3 chargers. Some of these vehicles are also pretty good, if not better, than a Tesla on efficiency. Some of the cons are the technology and navigation systems are generally regarded as inferior to Tesla. I think these cars are good to consider for a lease and for buying new, but I don’t have much data regarding long term reliability which is particularly important for getting one used. Anyways, have a look at them and see what you think.
Nissan Leaf- For a barebones, A to B transportation, at lowest cost, its hard to beat a Nissan Leaf. They aren’t sexy or cool but they are the ‘cockroach of EVs’ as Kyle from Out Of Spec likes to put it. The Leaf was basically the original full electric vehicle that was mass produced and significantly used across the US. The leaf went on sale starting in 2010 and still sold today, mostly the same with some updates. The reason Kyle calls the cockroaches is because statistically they are very reliable and just keep on going year after year. They are not fragile they way other EVs can be. One of the biggest downsides to them is charging. The battery packs are smaller and they don’t really have fast charging abilities and what little they do have can make battery thermal problems. Leafs are regarded to be good in-town only EVs where you charge them at home and the just plain go. They are so bad at road tripping that they literally don’t come with route planning navigation software from Nissan. So, great price, does A to B transportation in town effectively, but lacking features most modern EVs have. Its a compromise but a tight budget or right use case these can be great. I have a friend who has one and its so good for such a low price. These can be picked up used for as low as $5,000 and still be great commuter cars.
Chevy Bolt- Similar to a Nissan Leaf but better in ways, the Chevy Bolt can be an excellent EV. Again, it’s simple and doesn’t have a lot of the frills of modern EVs. But, these are very affordable and they have exceptional range and decent charging all things considered. They can be excellent in-town but also can do road trips occasionally making them good all around vehicles for the budget conscious, practical guy. These are no longer produced so you will have to buy it used but for a good price these can be awesome. Chevy did have a scary recall on them but one that was fixed or came after the recall correction would be on my short list. I was really tempted to get one before they sold out of new ones over a year ago. There are videos where the Bolt out performed a Tesla Model 3, and two other “better” vehicles. I don’t know about long term reliability, that’s some research to look into. Maybe, no news is good news?
ID Buzz- I know of only one mini-van type of EV for sale right now and that is the new VW ID Buzz. I like the look of them and the romanticized idea in my head about cruising in one, but the specs and reviews I am seeing aren’t very good for road trips or for price / value. But if you just want a minivan type of EV, or love teh VW retro microbus look, this is your one and only option. While the charging and range stats are subpar, if its mostly a in-town commuter, it won’t really matter and you may love it.
So, there you go. Some thoughts on a few other EVs. I will add some more in the future.
Cheers!
Dustin