Best Electric Sedans | 2024 EV Sedan Cars Rated

Over the past few years, electric cars have come a long way, and you are no longer restricted to a hatchback or electric sedan. However, the traditional three-box body style remains one of the most efficient and reliable. Sedans are cheap in comparison to SUVs or pickups, and their lower weight means they boast some of the best all-electric ranges. However, with luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW getting serious about their own EV models, this may be the future of performance vehicles, too. Here is our ranking of the best electric sedans of 2024.



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1 Tesla Model S Plaid

The Tesla Model S Plaid was an exciting prospect when it was released in 2021, and continues to shake the EV industry today. Starting at $89,990, it’s expensive—though not the most expensive on this list—and has more than enough power to support the price point. Like most electric vehicles, it’s heavy, but even with the weight of the batteries and three electric motors for all-wheel drive, Tesla claims a zero-to-sixty time of under two seconds and a top speed of 200 miles per hour. The weight of an EV means less when you have 1,020 horsepower and instant torque going to all four wheels.


2 Porsche Taycan Turbo

For nearly double the price of the Model S Plaid, you can invest in the more luxurious and refined Porsche Taycan Turbo. Starting at $160,800, the Taycan comes with every feature you could hope for in a modern Porsche with the added benefit of 616 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a quick zero-to-sixty time of around 2.6 seconds. While slower than the Model S Plaid, it still packs a punch in style. However, one downside to the Taycan Turbo is its range—it has 238 miles of range on a full charge, which is over 100 miles fewer than the Plaid.

3 BMW i5

2024 BMW i5

Base MSRP
$66,800

Horsepower
335 hp

Engine
Electric

Electric Range
240-295 miles

Now that we’ve ticked two of the more expensive models off the list, here’s a somewhat “reasonable” entry point to luxurious electric cars. The 2024 BMW i5 is a respectable purchase with power and range specs similar to most gas cars in its class. There are some more affordable EVs further down the list, but for a base price of $66,800, the BMW i5 eDrive40 gives you 335 horsepower, 317 lb-ft of torque, a 5.7-second zero-to-sixty time, and a handful of luxury features like heated and ventilated front seats, and optional massaging seats.


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Expert Opinion

The i5 enters the fray as both the sensible and silly option in the 5 Series lineup. The eDrive40 is far from the quickest EV we’ve driven, but it delivers ample passing power and slightly more balanced handling as a result of its lower center of gravity. The M60 feels a bit like overkill with a throttle that can decimate your spine on-demand.


4 Audi e-tron GT

2024 Audi e-tron GT

Base MSRP
$106,500

Fuel Economy
85/85 MPG

Horsepower
469 hp

Engine
Electric

Back to the expensive models—the 2024 Audi e-tron GT comes in at a hefty MSRP for $106,500, but once again it does not disappoint in terms of luxury and comfort. Audi has transformed itself into a comfortable luxury brand with class and refinement to compete with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so the introduction of its pure EVs followed suit. The e-tron GT is not as fast as the RS version, but Audi still treats us to 469 horsepower and a respectable zero-to-sixty time of only 3.9 seconds. Sure, it’s the cost of a whole used A4 more than the Tesla Model S Plaid, but you’re getting more car for only a small reduction in speed.

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5 Audi RS e-tron GT

The RS e-tron GT is where Audi steps up to the plate to compete against Porsche’s Taycan Turbo. This version of the e-tron GT is less expensive than the Taycan Turbo—coming in at $147,100, you still get all the modern luxury of a new Audi, slightly better MPGe than the Taycan, and almost as much power. Here you’ll find 590 horsepower, all-wheel-drive, and a 0-60 time of about 3.1 seconds. Overall, the Audi RS e-tron GT is faster and more powerful than the standard e-tron GT, has the same “fuel” efficiency as that model, and still brings modern luxury for less money than the Porsche Taycan Turbo.


6 BMW i4 Gran Coupe

BMW continues to bring the heat with its EVs, but this time it’s even more affordable than the i5 mentioned above. The 2024 BMW i4 is another reasonable EV meant to fit right in next to its gas-powered siblings. There’s no crazy gimmick like some of the others on this list—no insane power figures, no revolutionary new technology, and no insane speed times, but the i4 still provides a well-balanced driving experience, above-average MPGe, and enough power to comfortably get you around town or to work and back in traditional BMW style. In M50 guise, the 536-hp electric BMW is as quick as many M cars.

7 Porsche Taycan

A comfortable entry point into the world of electric Porsche vehicles is the base model Taycan. Don’t let the term “base model” fool you, though, as it’s still a Porsche. The 2024 Taycan starts at $90,900 and still gives the driver a well-rounded EV experience with heightened Porsche luxury and refinement. Despite being around the same price as the Model S Plaid, it only has 321 horsepower in base form. An upside to the Taycan—aside from being a Porsche and everything that comes with that—is a two-speed transmission for instant torque at launch and smooth efficiency at speed.


8 Hyundai Ioniq 6

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Base MSRP
$37,500

Fuel Economy
151/120 MPG

Horsepower
149 hp

Engine
Electric

Electric Range
240 – 361 miles

It’s no surprise the least expensive car on the list is a Hyundai, yet it’s still commendable enough to be in our top ten electric sedans of 2024. The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is one of the best affordable EVs on the market. If you have the budget of most normal Americans and can’t stretch yourself thin enough to step up to a brand-new BMW or higher, the base Ioniq 6 has your back with 149 horsepower, a fair standard range of about 240 miles, and some of the best efficiency of any EV on this list according to the EPA’s estimation. The Ioniq 6’s $37,500 MSRP is more than fair for the accommodations it returns.

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9 Lucid Air

2024 Lucid Air

2024 Lucid Air

Base MSRP
$69,900

Engine
Electric

Horsepower
480

Transmission
Single Speed Automatic

Lucid shook the EV industry when it entered the market and became quite the buzz when new. There has been talk online about Lucid Motors Corp going bankrupt, though we have yet to see if those people are fearmongering or if there’s truth to the claim. Regardless, the 2024 Lucid Air is a solid choice of luxury for someone with a little extra cash in their budget. Starting at $69,900, the Air has a commendable range of between 365 and 516 miles, depending on the trim, making it one of the best EVs to go for if range anxiety is a concern. Additionally, the base model still has 430 hp, which is plenty, so every Lucid Air is quick.


10 Mercedes-AMG EQS Sedan

Taking the number ten spot on our list is the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQS Sedan. It’s right up there with Audi RS e-tron GT in terms of price—the AMG EQS starts at $147,550, just a few hundred dollars more. Even though the Audi is a generous luxury sedan, nothing beats a Mercedes S-Class when it comes to comfort. The EQS comes with about every feature you can think of in an S-Class, plus 649 horsepower and a 0-60 time of only 3.4 seconds. The styling is sleek and smooth for reasonable EV efficiency and an estimated 305 miles of range. It’s everything you’d expect from an AMG sedan, but without the sound and rumble of an engine.

Best Of The Rest

2024 BMW i7

Base MSRP
$105,700

Fuel Economy
87/95 MPG

Horsepower
449 hp

Engine
Electric

2024 Tesla Model S

Base MSRP
$74,990

Fuel Economy
124/115 MPG

Horsepower
670-1,020 hp

Engine
Electric

2024 Polestar 2

Base MSRP
$49,900

Fuel Economy
124/106 MPG

Horsepower
299 hp

Engine
Electric

2024 Lucid Air Sapphire Front Angle

Characteristics Of Electric Sedans

Each type of car has its own inherent qualities that can work for or against its appeal. The best electric sedan should have more strengths than weaknesses, but these are the characteristics you can expect to find when you start looking to buy one.


  • Pricing: In the past, going electric was prohibitive due to the high price of EV technology. However, that is no longer the insurmountable hurdle it once was. That said, they are still more expensive than their ICE counterparts, and this becomes very apparent on performance or luxury vehicles.
  • Efficiency: The strongest selling point for any electric car, sedan or otherwise, is the huge savings you get on your traveling costs over the period of ownership. Since they run purely on electricity, you will never need to pay the high price of gas again. And, when it comes to smaller cars, such as sedans or hatches, the savings are amplified by their light weight.
  • Practicality: While most sedans still supply a decent amount of room in their back seats, they seldom win any favor when it comes to the trunk. Luckily, engineers have found more creative ways to store the larger batteries needed to power these cars, so they don’t need to sacrifice any additional rear seat or trunk space. However, even without this, a sedan will never come close to competing with a pickup or crossover when it comes to how much it can stow in the back.
  • Charging and range: Few other body styles can match the impressive maximum range of an electric sedan and, in the USA, the number of charging stations available is equally astounding. Nevertheless, there are still not enough, especially in less urban areas, and it will still be some time before EVs can surpass gasoline-powered cars in terms of range to a “full tank.” This will likely only be a problem for particularly long trips, but having to wait for up to 45 minutes at a fast-charging station is still a hassle.


What To Consider Before Buying An Electric Sedan

Though there may be a wide range of electric sedans in 2024, many shoppers will still hesitate to buy them over a traditional ICE car or even a hybrid. This is because it takes several years to realize true savings on your monthly fuel fill over the higher initial price. Here are the pros and cons of buying/owning an electric sedan so that you can see if it’s the right choice for you right now.

Pros

  • They offer exceptional efficiency figures, which lead to huge savings in terms of cost of ownership
  • They are becoming increasingly affordable as the technology becomes more widely accepted and utilized
  • They are more aesthetically appealing than the traditional hatchback EVs we have been stuck with in the past
  • Many models offer rapid acceleration


Cons

  • Though they may be more affordable than an electric SUV or sports car, they are still expensive in comparison to an ICE sedan
  • Charging takes a lot longer than refueling a gas tank, and getting the requisite equipment for home charging can increase the overall cost
  • The maximum range of EVs may be improving, with some manufacturers claiming more than 500 miles to a charge, but you can still travel further on gas
  • Not every area has the necessary public infrastructure to support the large-scale adoption of EV technology

Related

Best Electric Hatchbacks Of 2024

There are only three fully electric hatchbacks on sale for the 2024 model year.

Is an electric sedan really worth it?

While EVs are becoming more affordable, they are still significantly more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts. That said, they are definitely worth it if you have the money. This is especially true if you take frequent short trips around town and have time to recharge in-between. Even a relatively cheap electric vehicle should have a range of around 300 miles to a full charge, while expensive models like the Lucid Air can approach or exceed 500 miles Over the course of their life, though, they will save you a great deal in fuel costs.


What is the most reliable EV sedan?

Although EVs have fewer mechanical parts, their abundance of technology can often affect reliability. Even Porsche, renowned for reliability, achieved only an average 75 out of 100 quality and reliability rating for the 2024 Taycan, according to J.D. Power – this study assesses initial reliability. The 2024 Tesla Model S achieved 73/100, and we’ve seen many examples of this sedan last well beyond 200,000 miles, although some required battery replacements. As many of these sedans are relatively new, more time is required to determine which electric sedan is the most reliable.

Is an electric sedan safer?

In the general sense of safety, EVs are no different from internal combustion vehicles. They are built in much the same way, which means structural integrity is almost identical. They may even be safer since they are often a little heavier than a regular car. This added weight leads to less internal force in the event of a crash. The fact that most electric vehicles get a veritable slew of advanced driver assists, even in their base configurations, is just an added bonus.

Sources: Tesla, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Lucid

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