10 Best Electric Cars for 2025

2025 has been a year of uncertainty in the automotive industry, especially in the electric vehicle marketplace. Manufacturers, dealers, and consumers have been bombarded with news about on-again-off-again-on-again tariffs, disappearing government incentives, uncertain interest rates, and other disruptions. Still, as we compiled this list of Autotrader’s Best Electric Vehicles of 2025, we realized we are dealing with a rapidly maturing marketplace. Six of the 10 EVs on our list repeat from last year, and five of those six were on our 2023 list.

The Autotrader editorial team has driven and lived with the 2025 model-year electric cars. We’ve explored them inside and out, compared and contrasted, poked and prodded, and applied four of our five senses (we did not taste these EVs) to find the best of the best.

The 10 vehicles on our list received the most endorsements from our team. We only considered pure EVs – no hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. All electric cars, SUVs, and trucks on this list must be generally available to the public in at least 15 states at publication and have a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) below $100,000, including destination fees.

Whenever we compile a list of EVs and don’t include an entry from Tesla Motors, we hear from Tesla fans and owners in the comments. We appreciate your passion for the brand. We go out of our way to drive and consider qualified Tesla models. No current Tesla model made our top 10 this year. While we welcome your respectful comments and feedback, we stand behind our evaluations and opinions.

Here are Autotrader’s picks for the 10 best electric vehicles of 2025, listed alphabetically by brand.

1. 2025 BMW i4

BMW’s early stabs at building EVs were the futuristic i3 and i8, radical departures from the rest of the BMW automobile lineup. The 2025 BMW i4 takes a different approach, more in keeping with BMW tradition. The i4 eDrive40 looks like a 4 Series Gran Coupe, and with its rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup, it feels like a BMW on the road. The i4 xDrive40 and i4M50 get all-wheel drive (AWD) for enhanced sportiness. Autotrader Director and Principal Editor Jason Allan succinctly says, “The i4 is a good and proper BMW. No asterisk needed.” Senior Editor Eric Brandt amplifies. “It’s familiar in all the right ways, but without demands for premium gas.”

See 2025 BMW i4 inventory available

2. 2025 Cadillac Optiq

As impressive as the Cadillac Escalade IQ is, a full-size luxury SUV isn’t for everybody. The new 2025 Cadillac Optiq is right-sized for EV buyers who don’t need three rows of seats but still want a roomy SUV interior. Cadillac didn’t skimp on luxury features on the Optiq, bringing a sumptuous interior loaded with standard and optional tech, and a classy exterior that fits right into the Caddy EV family. Lead Editor Sean Tucker was impressed with the attention to detail. “You see interesting textures everywhere, and they work,” he says. “The Cadillac Mondrian logo has influenced everything – even the stitching in the seats and the light pattern under the vents. Someone put real artistic effort into the space.” Senior Editor Nelson Ireson places the Optiq in context, saying, “This is essentially a luxury version of the Equinox EV, meaning all of that vehicle’s strengths are part of the Optiq’s toolkit, too, with the addition of a fantastic interior, even more equipment and features, and more dramatic exterior style.”

See 2025 Cadillac Optiq inventory available

3. 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Mention the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, and it appears here on our list. Out on the streets, you’ll see more and more of this compact electric SUV as shoppers discover its virtues. This stylish, roomy SUV brings up to 319 miles of all-electric range to the party at a very reasonable price. “The Chevy Equinox EV is perhaps my favorite normal car, electric or otherwise,” says Brandt. “It excels where some other entry-level electric SUVs fall short when it comes to offering a pleasant drive, good interior space, and useful range, all in a package that’s truly affordable. Also, I love that the Super Cruise hands-free system is available at this price point.” Ireson agrees, saying, “The Equinox EV is one of my favorites. Overall, it’s one of the most well-rounded EVs you can buy.” “Not long ago, the closest thing Americans had to an affordable mainstream electric SUV that would suit almost any was the Tesla Model Y,” says Tucker. “Now, there’s an alternative with dealerships everywhere for easy service, more of the controls you’re used to, and that upsets no one. It’s a slightly better car in every way I can think of, too.”

See 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV inventory available

4. 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-Series line of full-size pickup trucks has dominated the top of the sales charts for four decades. The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is more than just an electrified F-150 – it’s an actual work truck, a capable family car, and a handy backup generator (when properly equipped). “So well thought out. So many compelling features,” says Executive Editor Brian Moody. “The perimeter lighting, built-in C-clamp cutouts, comfortable interior, and the fact that it looks and feels just like an F-150 make this a go-to EV for anyone who prefers driving a pickup over a sedan or SUV.” “The most truck-like of the current crop of EV trucks, the Lightning looks and performs similarly to the combustion F-150 that for decades has been setting the benchmark for full-size trucks,” says Senior Editor Matt Degen. “Now we have the benchmark for an electric truck.”

See 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning inventory available

5. 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E

I’m sure that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can relate to the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman wears the same name as his nine-time All-Star father, with just a suffix to distinguish them. While Vlady Jr. and his dad share many traits and 50% of their DNA, the two are as different as they are alike, just like the Ford Mustang coupe and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The original pony car is famous for rip-snorting performance and sports car style. The Mach-E shares some styling cues, but it is a 2-row SUV, not a sports car. It does deliver rip-snorting performance, though. “The Mustang Mach-E offers genuine excitement behind the wheel and a Rally trim that makes me yearn to channel my inner Ken Block,” says Senior Editor Rob Nestora. “If you’re still scandalized by the name and logos on this EV, try to judge it on its merits,” says Brandt. “The Ford Mustang Mach-E is on the sporty side of practical EVs, especially in its exciting GT variants.”

See 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E inventory available

6. 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Among the young crop of EVs, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a decorated veteran. This right-sized compact SUV hits the mark in exterior design, interior layout, powertrain, and overall utility. “I recently spent a week in the Ioniq 5 and can confirm it’s still every bit as fresh and recommendable as when it debuted,” says Allan. “I can also verify that a mountain bike will fit in back.” “My personal favorite compact EV SUV, I’ve been drawn to the Ioniq 5 since it debuted for the 2022 model year,” says Degen. “It looks like nothing else on the outside, has a vast and practical inside, and offers lots of choices, from a long-range rear-wheel-drive model, to the dirt-ready XRT, and the howling fun Ioniq 5 N with up to 641 horsepower.”

“I’ve driven a few dozen EVs now, and this is the most well-balanced of the bunch,” says Tucker. “It’s becoming a common sight in some states, but still has just enough style to stand out, too. I love the subtle retro-80’s pixelated lighting throughout.”

See 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 inventory available

7. 2025 Kia EV6

The 2025 Kia EV6 brings a design-forward approach to the EV. Sharing engineering and technical details with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the EV6 goes its own way with a fastback sedan style plucked from the future. Moody agrees, saying, “It looks like a car from the future. And isn’t that really what you want in an electric car? An EV that looks like just another car isn’t as fun or rewarding to own. If a Lucid is out of your price range, check out the EV6.” “It’s hard not to love the EV6’s edgy, attractive appearance, inside and out,” says Nestora. “Even my rich relatives think it’s cool, a feat unto itself. And the GT model absolutely rips.” “The EV6 is dressed in its own classy and distinctive design,” says Degen. “This one looks more SUV than hot hatch, while boasting its own wide range of trims and performance variants.”

See 2025 Kia EV6 inventory available

8. 2025 Kia EV9

Kia’s Telluride is a much-admired mainstream 3-row crossover SUV. Kia reimagined the form with the all-electric 2025 EV9, which some editors think is a better choice for some families. “With perhaps the best ride quality in a new EV, the Kia EV9 feels more luxurious and well-equipped than its nameplate or price tag would suggest,” says Ireson. “It’s also delightfully high-tech and futuristic inside and out.” “The Kia EV9 is still one of the only EVs of its kind; a midsize 3-row SUV with a third row you can actually use,” says Brandt. “It’s stylish, premium, and high-tech while boasting interior space and family hauling abilities comparable to the Telluride.” “It’s smooth, spacious, and absolutely awesome,” says Nestora.

See 2025 Kia EV9 inventory available

9. 2025 Nissan Ariya

2025 has not been a great year for Nissan Motor on the business side, but that doesn’t diminish the 2025 Nissan Ariya. The compact EV SUV learned lessons from Nissan’s pioneering EV effort, the Leaf, and delivers greater range (up to 289 miles per charge, according to the EPA), brisker acceleration (as quick as zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds), and greater horsepower (up to 389) in an attractive, near-luxury package. “The Ariya has many compelling and unique features,” says Moody. “The sliding armrest, the phone cable keeper, and the flush buttons on the dash all make the Ariya feel special. But in everyday use, it just functions like a midsize crossover SUV.” Tucker agrees. “The Ariya’s cabin is a delight,” he says. “EVs don’t have transmissions, so they don’t require a transmission tunnel down the center of the car. Not every automaker has figured out how to use the extra space, but Nissan has built a midsize SUV cabin that feels more spacious than almost any other.” Brandt sums it up, saying, “It’s everything a compact Nissan electric SUV needs to be.”

See 2025 Nissan Ariya inventory available

10. 2025 Volvo EX30

We’ve spent much of the past decade watching Volvo ascend the ladder from mainstream to near-luxury to luxury, so the affordable 2025 Volvo EX30 is a bit of a surprise. Volvo took inspiration from its climb and applied the design sense to the subcompact EX30, imbuing it with Scandinavian aesthetics that elevate the interior. Volvo had already been building pure EVs, and the EX30 benefits from that experience, too. “I love how responsive the EX30 is, even for an electric car,” says Moody. “The EX30 is reasonably priced, well below the average transaction price for a new EV, and the SUV is just the right size for urban and suburban duties.” “Volvo’s tiny electric compact SUV is a wonderful series of contradictions,” says Degen. “Though small and affordable, it’s the fastest Volvo ever made — zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds — yet is practical and sharp-looking. The new EX30 Cross Country variant dresses it all in hiking boots for a more rugged variant.”

See 2025 Volvo EX30 inventory available

Autotrader’s Best Electric Vehicles of 2025

1. 2025 BMW i4
2. 2025 Cadillac Optiq
3. 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
4. 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning
5. 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E
6. 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5
7. 2025 Kia EV6
8. 2025 Kia EV9
9. 2025 Nissan Ariya
10. 2025 Volvo EX30