PC Magazine
Best Overall: Tesla
Tesla Model 3
Tesla Lineup (Base Model Price and Range)
Tesla Model 3 (PCMag Editors' Choice): $40,240 (before $3,750 federal tax credit), 272-mile range
Tesla Model Y (PCMag Editors' Choice): $47,490 (before $7,500 federal tax credit), 279-mile range
Tesla Model S: $88,490, 405-mile range
Tesla Model X (PCMag Editors' Choice): $98,490, 348-mile range
Upcoming Launches: Cybertruck (TBD launch date, 2024 or 2025)
Even as Tesla faces growing competition, it still leads by a mile in terms of sales. The Model 3 and Model Y made up 62% of total EV sales in Q1 2023, CleanTechnica reports(Opens in a new window), fueled by several price drops, while the Model Y was the best-selling car overall in Q1, the first time an EV has topped a gas-powered vehicle. Both vehicles are a greater value than they used to be, especially considering Tesla's charging network and the cars' relatively high range for the price.
"In my opinion, everyone should buy a Tesla Model 3. It's so much better than the competition in every way," says tech journalist and longtime Tesla owner Myriam Joire, who also gives the Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6 high marks.
S&P Global Mobility estimates(Opens in a new window) there are about 16,822 Tesla Superchargers(Opens in a new window) and Tesla destination chargers(Opens in a new window) in the US. The former are for quick charges, especially on road trips, while the latter are found in hotels and office complexes for those who can plug in for longer periods of time.
Tesla's in-vehicle dash system and mobile app also offer the most high-tech feel of any brand on the list. OTA software updates continuously refresh the technology as well, as this YouTuber shows(Opens in a new window). While you don't get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the in-vehicle maps work similarly to Google Maps and drivers can connect their music via Bluetooth or log into services like Spotify on the dash screen.
Before you put down a deposit for a Tesla, however, there are a few downsides to note. For one, the company's "Full Self-Driving" Autopilot technology costs $15,000. (It can be added after the fact via an OTA update or accessed via a $99- or $199-per-month subscription(Opens in a new window).) A pared-down version is available for $6,000.
But neither makes the car truly autonomous. At best, FSD traffic and stop sign control "identifies stop signs and traffic lights and automatically slows your car to a stop on approach." Otherwise, Teslas come with just a few "autonomous-light" features, like smart cruise control and autosteer.
With the exception of the upcoming Cybertruck, meanwhile, Tesla hasn't really mixed things up in the design department lately. "Tesla is facing more competition than ever before, and the majority of its products have been on the market for years now," says automotive journalist Tim Stevens. "They've had manufacturing improvements and software updates along the way, but for those who already have a Tesla and want another EV, Tesla doesn't have much to offer."
This may be a symptom of CEO Elon Musk's divided attention between Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and other ventures like Neuralink and The Boring Company. That multi-tasking, and Musk's outspoken political stances, have already irked Tesla investors. Will it also dissuade people from buying into the brand, and lead them into the hands of Kia and Hyundai?
Best Non-Tesla Option: Kia/Hyundai Group
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Kia, Hyundai EV Lineup (Base Model Price and Range)
Kia Niro: $39,550, 253-mile range
Kia EV6: $48,700, 310-mile range
Hyundai Kona Electric: $33,550, 258-mile range
Hyundai Ioniq 5 (PCMag Editors' Choice): $41,450, 220-mile range
Hyundai Ioniq 6: $45,500, 240-mile range
Upcoming Launches: 2024 Kia EV9, 2024 Hyundai Kona
Kia, Hyundai, and the upscale Genesis brand may not have Tesla's charging network (though they can use any other public network) and carry slightly higher prices for the range, but some buyers may prefer a Kia or Hyundai over Tesla for a few reasons.
"The brand that's offering the most variety and the most interesting products right now is Hyundai, and that's where I would push buyers first," says Stevens. The PCMag Editors' Choice-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a top-seller in the US.
For one, the sporty design of Kia and Hyundai EVs may appeal over the rounded curves on a Tesla. “The Kia EV6(Opens in a new window) is such a beautiful car, you’re going to get a reaction from people when you’re in it," says PCMag's primary car reviewer, Doug Newcomb, who has tested more than 180 hybrids and EVs.
Similarly, Joire describes the Hyundai Ioniq 6 as "really, really hot." The design of these vehicles certainly stood out when we saw them amongst the hundreds of cars at the New York Auto Show.
The top-of-the-line Kia and Hyundai EVs are powered by the e-GMP battery platform, "my second favorite platform of mass-produced EVs after Tesla," Joire says. "It’s a masterpiece. Up to 800-volt architecture, 350kW charging. It supports the balls-to-the-wall craziness of the EV6 GT down to the more economy, efficiency models that can go far on a relatively small, 77kW battery.” It also supports bi-directional charging.
Standardizing the platform across many vehicles benefits drivers by making it easier for the brand to release frequent software updates. "This is the advantage of a big company that has so many brands and vehicles to test new features," Stevens says. "The more standardization, the more widespread testing and updates at lower cost. It also makes it easier for them to put out new vehicles faster."
The entire lineup is currently available, with two new EVs hitting dealers this fall: the 2024 Kia EV9 seven-seat SUV and refreshed 2024 Hyundai Kona. Keep in mind, however, that no Kia, Hyundai, or Genesis vehicles currently qualify for federal tax credits as they're built overseas. However, the future Kia EV9 will qualify since Kia plans to produce it in Georgia. Genesis vehicles are also only available in 22 US states.
Full story link:
Comments