Best AWD Electric Cars

The Rivian R1T—Rivian’s first product—continues to impress with great driving dynamics, tech, and practicality. This review is based on the priciest Quad version, but dual-motor and tri-motor versions are also available, along with Standard Pack, Large Pack, and Max Pack options, at lower prices. No version of the R1T is cheap, but the same can be said for most other electric trucks.

Verdict: With an absurd amount of power, pleasing on-road manners, and nearly unstoppable off-road abilities, the 2026 Rivian R1T Quad is easily one of the best vehicles we've driven—but it’s not cheap.

While the Chevrolet Equinox EV may not have the performance or pizzazz of some other electric vehicles, it concentrates on what really matters: price and range. With more than 300 miles on a single charge and a bottom line that competes against non-electric SUVs, it brings EV ownership within reach for many shoppers who were previously left out.

Verdict: The Equinox EV’s combination of an affordable price and generous range makes it a standout value among electric vehicles.

The Lyriq was the first Cadillac EV to reach showrooms, so it’s fitting that it’s also the first electric Cadillac to get a V-Series performance variant. The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V gains more power, sportier chassis tuning, and subtle styling changes to differentiate it from the standard Lyriq, which has been on sale since the 2023 model year and carries into 2026 with updated tech features, including a 23-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos and an augmented reality head-up display that are also available on the V-Series model.

Verdict: The first Cadillac V-Series EV succeeds in making the Lyriq a lot more exciting, without compromising the luxurious feel that makes it one of the best electric SUVs.

Kia’s three-row electric SUV is available in single- or dual-motor configurations with up to 305 miles of range, recharges fast, and is compatible with Tesla Superchargers. Upgrades for 2026 include a longer range, a Nightfall Edition package, fresh colors, and a new Terrain driving mode.

Verdict: The 2026 Kia EV9 offers usable driving range and fast recharging times in a powerful, innovative, and practical midsize three-row electric SUV. Roomy, comfortable, safe, and well-equipped, the 2026 EV9 is a terrific, technologically advanced EV.

The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron and its tapered-rail compatriot, the Q8 e-tron Sportback, prove an electric SUV doesn't need over-the-top style or rocket-like acceleration to impress. If anything, the Q8 e-tron duo are remarkably subtle in their approach to design and even driving dynamics. This could win over car shoppers who are intrigued by an EV, but who are not interested in making a four-wheeled fashion statement everywhere they go.

As the replacement for the Audi e-tron , which first appeared for the 2019 model year, the Q8 e-tron’s most important improvement over its predecessor is its additional driving range. Depending on the chosen bodystyle and trim, this varies from 285 to 300 miles per charge. That compares to the miserly 226 miles the e-tron previously offered.

We recently took the 2024 Q8 e-tron in Launch Edition trim for a test drive on tight, twisty, and often very foggy coastal highways in central California to see how Audi’s newest electric SUV stacks up against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, BMW iX, Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first from Hyundai’s N performance sub-brand. It applies the same formula from gasoline models like the high-performance Elantra N to the Ioniq 5, upping power and adding stickier tires, a track-tuned suspension, and better aerodynamics to improve on-track performance.

Verdict: The Ioniq 5 N is a true track-capable performance car that just happens to be electric.

Three years into its lifecycle, the electric Lucid Air sedan sees drastic price cuts and increases for 2024. A new trim, the Sapphire, is a quarter-million dollars and outperforms every series-production EV in acceleration, handling, and range. Lucid Motors has done a decade and a half's worth of development and hired some of the best mechanical and software engineers in the business. Unlike its rivals, the Air feels like a complete luxury sedan from top to bottom, and with the proper charging station at home, it could replace all need for a gas car.

Verdict: With speed, style, and superior range, the 2024 Lucid Air is a luxury sedan that doesn't need to make excuses as an electric car.

Available in crew-cab pickup truck and five-passenger SUV body styles, the 2024 GMC Hummer EV is an impressive example of what’s possible with electric drive systems and modern technology. Specifically, the SUV we reviewed carries five people and up to 81.8 cubic feet of cargo, travels up to 314 miles on a battery charge, goes farther off-road than most vehicles can, and costs about the same as a loaded Cadillac Escalade.

Verdict: Similar to other purpose-built image vehicles, owning a Hummer EV requires inherent compromises. Knowing what those are and accepting them before driving one home is critical to your satisfaction with your decision. Regardless, there is no denying that the Hummer EV is an impressive showcase for electric vehicles.

Transforming an icon of internal-combustion muscle into an electric vehicle isn’t easy, especially when doing so pushes the price into luxury-car territory. Yet the Dodge Charger Daytona EV has successfully replicated the retro style and rippling muscle of its predecessor, drifting the car into the modern age. For 2026, Dodge introduces a new four-door model to the lineup, adding an extra dose of practicality to its extraordinary performance. A non-Daytona variant with a gasoline inline-six powertrain dubbed the Sixpack, also arrives for 2026. But we’ll focus on the EV for now.

Verdict: It might not sound like a traditional Charger, especially in Stealth mode, but if raw performance is what you want, the Daytona supplies a stunning amount of it. All it needs is better interior quality to help justify its high price tag.

Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) understands that some people don’t want an SUV, or a cold, technical, German sports sedan. That’s why HMG’s Genesis brand still offers three sizes of luxury sedans, with the G80 serving as the midsize model. Available with a turbocharged four- or six-cylinder engine in several trim levels, the 2026 G80 reeks of old-school elegance in the very best way.

Verdict: Quick, confident, and calming, the Genesis G80 is a refreshingly authentic luxury car that’s not trying to be something else. It lacks a badge that conveys success, but buyers can let the opulent styling and sumptuous interior do all the talking.

After a couple of false starts, Mercedes-Benz is finally getting serious about electric cars for the United States market. And it’s starting from the top.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan is billed by the German automaker as the electric equivalent of its flagship S-Class sedan. The EQS will itself become the flagship for a line of EQ-badged electric vehicles, which will include an EQS SUV, an EQE sedan and SUV, and a smaller EQB model. For now, the EQS sets the tone for the Mercedes EV lineup.

With sleek, aerodynamic styling and an elaborate infotainment system, the Mercedes EQS certainly makes a strong first impression. It also feels more luxurious than other similarly priced electric sedans such as the Audi e-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, and Tesla Model S. The Lucid Air is shaping up to be a potential rival as well, but it’s only just starting production.

At launch, the 2022 EQS lineup includes the base, single-motor EQS 450+ and the dual-motor EQS 580 4MATIC, both of which are available in Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle trim levels. We got to try out a mix of EQS models over two days of driving in EV-friendly California.

Toyota’s quirkiest model returns as a fully electric compact crossover that shares its platform and battery with the bZ Woodland but trades practicality for personality. With 338 horsepower, standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and a starting price of $38,450 (including destination), the 2026 Toyota C-HR offers an entertaining drive at a reasonable price.

Verdict: The 2026 Toyota C-HR won’t be the right fit for buyers who need lots of space, but it’s a genuinely fun electric crossover that doesn’t cost a fortune. If you’re an EV shopper who values driving enjoyment more than cargo capacity, the C-HR belongs on your shortlist.

Thanks to a new, more powerful rear-drive motor, increased driving range to nearly 300 miles, a next-generation infotainment system with substantial user-experience improvements, and a handful of comfort and convenience upgrades, the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 is a better than before. However, it no longer includes complimentary DC fast charging for three years. Instead, you get up to 500 kWh of free charging, after which you’ll pay to play.

Verdict: While the downgrade in free charging is a bummer, the updated 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 is not. With the technology better sorted, improved comfort, an impressive sound system, and more power, performance, and range, VeeDub’s electric SUV need not make apologies.

Many automakers have had a tough time launching electric vehicles, as teething problems have resulted in build-quality issues, gremlins, and production delays. Hyundai, however, got it right from the start with the Ioniq 5. Not only did this compact crossover nail the basics, it has also struck a chord for its stylish looks, fast charging capability, good range, and practicality.

Verdict: Five years into its run, the Ioniq 5 is still the electric vehicle we would recommend to most EV buyers. A drive around Hyundai’s factory in Savannah, Georgia, only reinforced our position.

Don’t let BMW’s “Gran Coupe” designation fool you. This four-door sportback provides (admittedly snug) room for four adults and surprising utility thanks to its rear hatch. Top-notch reliability, impressive technology, and an enjoyable driving character are 2025 BMW i4 hallmarks, and BMW offers attractive lease programs for this four-door electric vehicle. The 2025 model year brings subtle design updates inside and out, a new infotainment system, and Plug & Charge convenience, increasing the i4’s already-considerable appeal.

Verdict: If anything is standing in the i4’s path to success, it’s the hubris of its twin-kidney nose screaming “This is a BMW!” Whether you love it or hate it, there is no denying it is distinctive, but excessive. Look past this styling feature, and you’ll discover an outstanding EV.