Best AWD Electric Cars

With the Kia EV9, the Korean automaker innovates in more ways than one. It’s not only a new vehicle, or even only a new electric vehicle (EV). It also introduces a new business model that allows owners to continue to customize their vehicle long after they’ve left the dealership. And yet, while it breaks new ground, the EV9 manages to provide a refreshingly familiar driving experience.

Verdict: It looks like Kia’s got a winner on its hands. Well-appointed, comfortably sized, and offered at a price point fit to embarrass its luxury-brand rivals, the EV9 is a compelling package. Add to that its intuitive driving feel and its potential for later-term customization, and this just may be the ambassador vehicle it takes to bring the EV-wary over to the green side.

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.

Cadillac’s biggest electric vehicle yet arrives with little direction competition. The new 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ is unrelated to the internal-combustion Escalade full-size SUV, instead sharing underpinnings with the GMC Hummer EV and General Motors’ electric full-size pickup trucks. That leaves an electric luxury SUV unrivaled in size, for now.

Verdict: The Escalade IQ does things no other full-size SUV can, but it’s still hard to justify.

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.

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.

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.

BMW is applying the EV experience to its flagship sedan. As part of a redesign, the 2023 BMW 7 Series gets an all-electric variant for the first time. And in keeping with the naming convention established by the i3 and i4, that new model is the 2023 BMW i7.

While the i7 is a different take on BMW’s traditional flagship, it’s also a different approach to luxury . Most other high-end electric sedans—such as the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS, and Tesla Model S—were designed from the ground up as EVs. But the i7 is an electric version of a gasoline car.

In its launch i7 xDrive60 guise, the electric model is positioned roughly at the same level as the gasoline 7 Series in performance and price. That will change as the 7 Series lineup grows to include, among other things, a cheaper gasoline model and a more powerful M Performance version of the i7. But for now, BMW is essentially offering the same car with gasoline or electric powertrains.

Like Acura with the ZDX, Honda is leveraging the Ultium platform from General Motors to get an EV on the market now rather than waiting to develop its own platform later. The Prologue is offered in three familiar Honda trims–EX, Touring, and Elite–and it treads familiar Honda territory, too.

Verdict: Comfortable, attractive, and carefully avoiding change for change’s sake, the 2024 Honda Prologue is a great choice for anyone who wants to go green without approaching the bleeding edge.

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.

In the past, if you’ve wanted an all-electric Mercedes-Benz sedan, you had your choice of the EQE or EQS. Not only are both these cars on the larger side, the design language is an acquired taste. Not ugly by any stretch of the imagination, but still not the prettiest in the bunch. Oh, and they’re pricey to boot.

But for the 2026 model year, Mercedes is launching the third generation of the compact CLA-Class with an electric powertrain. Officially called the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology, this entry-level fastback sedan (to be joined by a gas-powered version at a later date) offers impressive range and all the tech you’ve ever wanted in a compact luxury car.

Verdict: The new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is an exciting next step in the development of Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles. The base model is not the quickest car in the stable, but it provides comfortable, easy transportation.

If you’ve got your heart set on a mid-size luxury sedan, the pickings these days seem to be a little slim. And with the Germans dominating the class, those pickings can be quite pricey. However, there is a good-looking, feature-rich, well-priced option that you may have overlooked.

We’re talking about the 2025 Genesis G80. Fresh off a mid-cycle refresh, this sedan leans hard on design, technology and features, offering up a sophisticated drive with curb appeal for days. However, it does so at the expense of performance. Granted, that expense might not break the bank, but it’s something to consider if you value a spirited driving character.

Verdict: There is plenty to like about the 2025 Genesis G80 and it certainly represents good value, just don’t expect to be the quickest car in the class.

After a shortened 2023 introduction, the 2024 Lyriq is the first full model year of Cadillac's midsize electric SUV. The Lyriq is the luxury version of the GM Ultium EV platform used in other EV SUVs, including the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Honda Prologue, and Acura ZDX. With ample power, just over 300 miles of range, and a properly upscale interior that finally looks different than a Chevy, the Lyriq is a good contender if you're shopping for a higher-priced, two-row electric SUV. We tested a fully-loaded Lyriq Sport at nearly $80,000.

Verdict: As an EV, the Lyriq is average. As a Cadillac, it’s much better than anything else in the showroom. Traditional brand hallmarks, such as a cavernous back seat and a gentle ride, blend with big screens and significantly improved material quality. But it's still not up to the luxury standard that Cadillac promises.