Odds are, anyone with enough money to get a comfortable ride probably wants an electric car. And why not? They are clean and fast, plus there wouldn’t be a better way to impress the neighbors.
The most popular electric car brand in the world right now is Tesla. However, not everyone wants to get a car from Elon Musk’s company, and that’s okay. Several automobile manufacturers are stepping up with new electric car models that can match Tesla’s offerings.
These chrome beasts are catching up in terms of elegance, efficiency, and speed. There’s still work to be done in the charging department, as Tesla’s supercharger network is unrivaled. Regardless, if you’re looking for an electric car that isn’t a Tesla in 2023, nothing else comes close.
5 Best Tesla Alternatives
- Mercedes-AMG EQE53
- Hyundai IONIQ 5
- Kia EV6 GT
- Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Lucid Air Dream
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Mercedes-AMG EQE53
Suggested Retail Price: $122,000
Tuned by the high-performance giant, AMG, the Mercedes-AMG EQE53 boasts an incredible 677 horsepower. It might not win a Tesla Model S in a race, but it wouldn’t lag far behind either. The sedan can accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. It achieves a top speed of 135 mph, but when boosted by an optional AMG Dynamic Plus pack, it climbs to 149 mph. This performance upgrade also sees the EQE tearing gravel at a record of 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds.
Clearly, the EQE53 has something to offer on the racetrack for an electric vehicle. But beyond being an asphalt junkie’s dream, it surpasses Mercedes-Benz’s long-standing benchmark for style and efficiency. Nimble, yet solid and powerful at the same time, the car provides enough braking power to match its often startling speed.
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Hyundai IONIQ 5
Suggested Retail Price: $43,000
Designed to call out to even the most uninterested buyer, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is extremely likable. With its smooth movement and plenty of rear passenger space, it’s the perfect SUV for a family just looking to get into electric vehicles. It certainly doesn’t look like your typical SUV; the futuristic design is combined with retro elements to provide an almost quirky appearance.
The Ioniq 5’s hatchback build gives almost no indication of its speed. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, having its 320-horsepower motor to thank for this feat. The low center of gravity makes it feel very balanced, and you might enter bumps without noticing.
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Kia EV6 GT
Suggested Retail Price: $43,000
The Kia EV6 GT might be your dream electric car. If you’re a fan of athletic SUVs, that is. Sporting 576 horsepower, it’s the most powerful vehicle that Kia has ever built. As far as specs go, it should hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. This wouldn’t make it the fastest SUV ever produced, but it comfortably sits among the faster models.
Big, spacious, and heavy, the EV6 GT doesn’t feel like its size would suggest. The movement and braking are surprisingly intuitive and the steering is quite precise.
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Chevrolet Bolt EV
Considering the cheapest Tesla model is worth close to $47,000, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is a sweet option for electric car lovers that don’t want to break the bank. It’s not the fanciest hatchback out there, but its $27,000 retail price might be more attractive. And it’s not just the price. The Bolt EV is powered by 200 horsepower, making it accelerate quicker than you might expect.
The handling is good as well, not to mention it can provide 259 miles of range on a full charge. A hiccup might be the absence of an all-wheel drive, which becomes obvious as you hit the car’s thresholds.
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Lucid Air Dream
Suggested Retail Price: $90,000
Lucid Air is on this list because what’s a list about electric cars if it doesn’t involve a truly futuristic vehicle? Looking as exciting as its name sounds, its performance follows suit with a magnificent 993 horsepower. Accelerating to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds is no joke, but that’s not even the most astonishing thing about this car.
The Lucid Air Dream Edition Range reaches 520 miles of range, which is the world’s longest electric driving range. It wouldn’t beat the blistering Model S Plaid in a race, but it would drive longer, and you could definitely argue that it looks better.
As an automotive engineer obsessed with the latest auto updates, I’ve tested both electric and gasoline cars. And unless you’re a professional drag racer that lives at the end of his speedometer, I don’t see any reason to dismiss EVs. The new EVs in town are simply perfect for day-to-day driving. They are efficient, they are quick, and they aren’t all Teslas.