Best EVs 2023: Buying Guide

Thinking about making the jump to an EV or deciding whether the tech is right for you? Join Editor Antuan Goodwin and CNET's long-term Kia EV6 to learn what you should consider when choosing an electric car.

0:00 Intro
0:31 Range
1:16 Best Affordable EV
1:49 Efficiency
2:10 Most Efficient
3:05 Charging Speed
3:45 Fast and Furious Charging
4:43 Price and Incentives
5:24 The 800-pound Gorilla
6:11 More Than Just the Specs
6:34 Best Electric Truck
6:56 Most Anticipated EV

[LoriKeith]

I've had a Kona Electric for almost 4 years. We absolutely love it. Super low maintenance and charging costs. Fun to drive. Hyundai supports the car very well. Highly recommended.

[videobiker]

You did a really good job on this presentation. I’ve been watching you for a few years Anton and you’ve really matured

[oimrjzw]

You’re right, range is highly important.
My BMW i3 only did a range of 185, (120- 130 real world driving). And that was only 2 years ago!😮 The Volvo EX30 is definitely on my shortlist.
It’s a shame not to see the Lexus LBX on here!👀

[Marciap]

Excellent review, thank you. Made me seriously think about buying one. 😊

[TheRealLaughingGravy]

Something not mentioned in this video is availability and TRUE purchase price. Many dealerships slap a non-negotiable surcharge onto popular or hard to get EVs just because they can. You go into a dealer thinking you're going to spend $42, 000 and find out right before delivery there's an extra $10k charge - take it or leave it. Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales model does not have this problem - the cars are readily available and you know right away what you'll be paying, with no surprises.

[SSS-mpth]

Great job and timely for me. I'm currently looking for an SUV anywhere between as small as a Stelvio to as big as an Explorer. I've looked at a lot of new and used vehicles and most of the mainstream ones don't interest me or are too expensive that do (new). Looking at various luxury brands I came across very good prices on the Audi e-tron (2019-2020) so I started some investigation into EV SUV's. While I love the look and used price of the e-tron the main issue will be range. Real world range new is about 185miles factor in that after 8-10 years you can expect around 30% range degradation in the battery I'd be looking about 145 miles once I owned it for 4-6 years. That took it off my list along with also expecting that the resale on that 8-10 year old car would probably be really bad due to limited range/longevity of the battery. Still no idea on cost of battery replacements for EV's

I'm still looking at a number of vehicles and have noticed some EV's are having some significant discounts. You can get $7, 500 off an Ioniq5. I love the look and test drove an SEL (only 2k off the limited). While a fun experience it's just too small with a list price of $52k (same as a loaded Palisade so what's the point?). Looking into a Ford Mach E (AWD, extended range battery) as there seem to be big discounts along with low financing and a partial tax credit so they might be an option.

I haven't written off EV's for my next purchase but they face a huge uphill battle in the mid-larger size SUV space. The Kia EV9 looks amazing but the top level Telluride is already expensive and commands ADM so how bad is an EV9 SX Prestige going to be? The ID Buzz is my absolute favorite but I just know a top trim is going to be probably around $70k with no tax credit. That is a new Genesis GV70 3.5 with all the fixins.

[chemjam]

What about climate? Those of us in the northeast lose lots of range in winter when temps get into single digits.

[BryceLovesTech]

I bought a used 2013 Model S and it’s a dream to drive, it’s still on the original battery and gets 225 miles of range after 160k miles

[JenoFletter]

I love the 23 Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV. They are best EV on the market for price and feature list

[daneflanigan]

Great segment - Kia and Hyundai are looking to replace the US Toyota niche

[zero]

What happened to the CNET Cars YouTube channel? It still exists. You just abandoned it?

[harryaxe]

Additional registration, insurance, and in some states, an extra charge on electric cars. Tire ware will be greater

[TheEverydayShopperReview]

Wow. I was really liking this video UNTIL YOU SAID THE FORD F150 lightening was a good choice. The F150 LightSheet is nothing but a Duracell on wheels and there have been more recalls on lightsheets than ever before. Sorry. Need to discredit you

[rp]

Been driving EVs for 5 years, it's nice

[SullenSecret]

Where is the list of cars that qualify for the incentive???

[chrismv]

Your report confirmed what I've suspected. Between the much higher cost full EV's aren't there yet. Hybrids or plug-in Hybrids are the way to go.

[QuentinAnthonyAnderson]

So here's my take after a year with a Tesla:

1. Any non-Tesla EV is almost certainly going to be strictly a "in-city" car. You're not traveling out of town, road tripping, etc in anything else because the high speed charging network infrastructure simply doesn't exist.
2. Even with a Tesla, while you should be able to get most places, superchargers are still eons away from being as available as gas stations. Often, the distance between one and the next closest is so barely within range that if you miss the exit, you're spending the night in whatever town the next exit leads to. It's a lifestyle adjustment.
3. Tesla's are amazing. But the catch is that while they are sold surprisingly cheap, they are ENORMOUSLY expensive to repair, even the most minor of damage. The tech and the unique body build can mean a simple fender bender will render your car totaled because repairs can easily be $20k or more.

Conclusion: EVs are the future. They really are. When you drive them, the tech, the efficiency, the clean feeling, the torque, etc. it's great, it feels like the future. Especially if you can get one with some smart features like Autopilot or Supercruise. But due to a lack of fast charging infrastructure, it's just not there yet. If you buy one, have a gas car as a backup/long range option. But to be honest, the best option for today is a hybrid. Something that might get you 50 miles on a battery (good for 85% of your daily needs) and a 12-14 gallon gas tank. That way you get all the daily benefits of a modern EV (namely, the cost savings) but you'll never have range anxiety. At least for 2024, that's the route I'd recommend as a yearlong Tesla owner.

[netizencapet]

Ever hear of a road trip - either through many different territories of the same large country or many different countries? The sparcity of charging stations across different jurisdictions makes range a major issue.

[PatrickFungsca]

Refreshed Model 3 is MY most anticipated - I know, CNET probably did this video "before" the refreshed revealed.

[harryaxe]

Over the last 10 years, the price and weight of electric cars has gone up exponentially!