A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to drive several new electric vehicles on the same day as part of the Midwest Automotive Media Association's Spring Rally. It was a useful chance to compare and contrast EVs from several different automakers to see what each has to offer.
I started with the all-new Volvo EX30, which is due at dealers later this year and currently available for reservation. The Volvo is a four-door hatchback starting at about $35,000. It will have about 268 horsepower in two-wheel drive form, or 422 horsepower in all-wheel drive. Range will be between 209 miles and 296 miles, depending on specific option choices. As you would expect, the Volvo offers an excellent driving experience, with clean Scandinavian design and a useful layout. The hatch and folding rear seats offer plenty of space, while the electric driveline makes any power choice fun to drive.
Next I drove the new Fiat 500e. This is a new implementation compared to prior generations of Fiat's electric subcompact. It's a little less expensive than the Volvo at $32,500, but it's also a smaller, more urban-oriented car. Range is estimated at 162 miles of city driving, or 149 miles on the highway. The Fiat 500e has always been the best of the Fiat lineup, and it's very peppy and enjoyable to drive. It's also a breeze to find parking that simply won't fit any larger car. However, you trade off a bit of utility for that small size. The Fiat is going to be a great choice for someone with a grab-and-go urban lifestyle.
Volkswagen brought their now older ID.4 SUV to the event, and it remains a comfortable, if somewhat sedate option for an EV. Priced starting at $39,735, the ID.4 offers 291 miles of range, but trades off some of the performance you can get with other brands. The ID.4 is oriented towards suburban family use, and is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the highest possible safety rating. If you're looking for a multi-purpose family EV, the Volkswagen ID series is a solid choice.
The Polestar 2 is a consistent favorite of mine, and in fact it's the EV I would buy for myself. Polestar is a premium brand from Volvo, and they are extremely well-made. Buyers can choose from a 300 horsepower two-wheel drive option, or a 400-horsepower all-wheel drive option. The Polestar 2 starts at about $50,540, but lease deals are available starting at $299 per month from Polestar of Portland. The Polestar is everything an EV should be. It's comfortable, fast, sporty, and strikingly good-looking. The technology package is excellent and this is a standout electric vehicle.
Hyundai brought the Ioniq 5 EV to the drive day, and this is another standout EV. The starting MSRP on the Hyundai is $41,800 and for that you'll get 303 miles of range and 320 all-wheel horsepower for excellent performance. The Ioniq is a four-door hatchback, so it provides excellent compact utility, as you would expect from Hyundai.
Also in the suburban family-oriented market segment is the Chevrolet Blazer EV. As a midsize, this EV offers a bit more space than compact options, and starts at $48,800. The Blazer delivers 324 miles of range on a full charge, and has a huge 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. As a larger vehicle, the Blazer is not as nimble as the smaller EVs, but offers more cargo and passenger area. Notably, the Blazer is currently offered with a lease rate of $369 per month, making it an affordable choice.
Similar to the Chevrolet, Cadillac offers the Lyriq EV. The Lyriq returns up to 314 miles on a charge, with up to 500 horsepower in all-wheel drive form. Lyriq starts at $58,590, making it one of the more affordable Cadillac options, along with the new Optiq EV starting at $54,000. Overall, I liked the Lyriq, but I would have liked to see more definitive Cadillac features to differentiate from the Chevy Blazer EV. The two vehicles are similar in size and function, and compete directly with each other.
Overall, I was impressed with the variety and value of the EVs on the market today. Some top brands such as Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz did not have EVs at the event, but of the vehicles we were able to drive there was a remarkable range of sizes and functions. Predictably, the Polestar was my favorite for the driving experience and lease deal, but the Volvo, Fiat, and Hyundai were also very impressive in their own ways. The larger vehicles from Volkswagen, Chevrolet, and Cadillac will also appeal to buyers with family needs. The takeaway from the MAMA Spring Rally is this: there's never been a better time to buy an EV as the market is maturing.
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