Wheels › AdviceBest Electric Cars For 2021Andrew WendlerForbes StaffUpdated: Sep 17, 2021Forbes Wheels independently tests and reviews cars and automotive accessories. We may earn an aliatecommission from links on our site. The analysis and opinions are our own.2021 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for EVs. Long regarded as novelties with limited range andglacial recharging times, mass-market EVs have finally crossed the tipping point in the value and costequation. Upstarts like Tesla were here early, but when everyone from Chevy to Ford, and Jaguar toPorsche, is fielding EVs, and there’s a proliferation of rapid charging networks to support them, it’s aburgeoning trend. The impressive performance numbers that humble their internal combustioncounterparts are an added bonus. These are the best electrified cars and SUVs for 2021, listed inalphabetical order.Audi e-TronPrice starting from $65,900, EPA-estimated range – 222 miles, 78 MPGeView Deals On The Audi e-TronAudi e-Tron. AudiWhy We Picked ItThe first large-scale production EV to come from VW’s Audi brand, the E-tron flies under the radar in asegment where broadcasting electrification is standard practice. If not for the grille and few pieces ofbrightwork, the EV powertrain within would remain anonymous. Power comes from a pair of electricmotors, one front and one rear, for a total output of 414 pound-feet of torque, or 490 in boost mode,enough to launch it to 60 mph in a claimed 5.5 seconds. A 95.3-kWh battery is said to provide 222miles of range, and 10 minutes on a DC public charger will net 54 miles. As an Audi, quattro all-wheeldrive is standard kit, and the interior displays the brand’s trademark Teutonic style and ergonomics.The EPA pegs the combined mileage at 78 MPGe, which isn’t bad considering its medium- to full-sizefootprint and an interior with space for five fully formed adults.Read full specs.ProsNew lower entry priceStylish exterior of the Sportback blends form and functionSnappy, high-torque EV performanceConsRange is less than some competitorsExpensive considering the size of the battery and driving rangeOnly one powertrain configurationAlso Featured In#12inBest Electric Vehicles For RangeChevrolet BoltStarts at $36,500, EPA-estimated range – 259 miles, 115 MPGeView Deals On The Chevrolet BoltChevrolet Bolt. ChevroletWhy We Picked ItWith high-line and exotic EVs crowding into the electrified space, it might seem a little odd that thehumble Chevrolet Bolt did so well in our rankings, but that’s precisely the point. With an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range, DC fast Charging capability (GM claims 100 miles of range in 30minutes), room for four and 56 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded, it hits thecritical compact vehicle prerequisites at a price the average family can afford.Spend some time with the Bolt, and you’ll that it’s also a blast to drive, many testers reporting zero-to-60 times in the mid-6 second range and sub-16-second quarter-mile runs. While those numbers areaverage, it’s the way the 266 pound-feet come on and launch the Bolt with surprising enthusiasm. Thechassis is tight, and the way it likes to cut and run in urban traffic reminds us of the best hot hatchesof just a few years ago. Still, the exterior can be a bit much for buyers who’d prefer to go through lifewithout drawing attention to themselves.The 2021 Bolt is priced at $37,890 (including the $995 destination fee) before state tax credits–likeTesla, GM passed the 200,000-unit sales so it can’t dangle the potential $7,500 tax credit to buyers.Those willing to wait will be pleased with the $5,000 price adjustment Chevy just made to theforthcoming 2022 version, which costs $31,995 and sports a refreshed interior. It will also go on salealongside the all-new larger Bolt EUV, short for electric utility vehicle (think more legroom, not cargospace). It’s priced to sell at $33,995 and will also wow tech fans as it’s equipped with GM’s SuperCruisesemi-autonomous driver-assistance technology that delivers the same futuristic (and fun!) drivingexperience as Tesla’s AutoPilot.Read full specs.ProsRoomy interior for such a tiny vehicleEntertaining to drive for any vehicle let alone an EVLong driving rangeConsNo native navigation systemBattery update limits usable storage capacity to 90%Standard equipment isn’t as generous as competitive offeringsAlso Featured In#4inForbes Wheels Car Of The Year For 2021#1inBest Small Cars For 2021#7inBest Electric Vehicles For RangeFord Mustang Mach-EStarts at $43,895 EPA-estimated range – 260/270 milesForbes Wheels Rating: 90/100View Deals On The Ford Mustang Mach-EFord Mustang Mach-E. FordWhy We Picked ItA couple of years into the Mach E’s development, Ford observed the segment was filling up fast andknew it had to do something to stand out among a crowd of crossover-shaped EVs. To do so, itleveraged one of the most treasured names in the Ford portfolio and instructed the designers tostretch out that roofline for more of a fastback shape. And though it’s related to the Mustang in namealone, it still offers an engaging driving experience as long as you’re not expecting the rumble of V8to announce your arrival. Various front- and all-wheel-drive models are on offer, providing between210 and 300 miles of range. Range figures for the high-performance Mustang Mach-E GT and Mach-EPerformance Edition are forthcoming. Read our review here.ProsSolid real-world driving rangeSatisfying performanceIntuitive technologyConsMore expensive than gasoline-powered SUVsTesla still wins on driving range, efficiencyPublic charging still lags Tesla’s Supercharger networkAlso Featured In#5inBest Electric Vehicles For RangeHyundai Kona ElectricStarts at $37,390 EPA-estimated range – 258 miles, 120 MPGeView Deals On The Hyundai Kona ElectricHyundai Kona Electric. HyundaiWhy We Picked ItHyundai’s Kona won plenty of fans when it was launched for the 2018 model year for its spunky looksand driving demeanor, and the Kona EV inherits that legacy with the benefit of an EV powertrain.Utilizing a single electric motor and a 64-kWh battery pack, the Kona squeaks out an impressive 258-mile range and earned a combined 120 MPGe from the EPA. It’s still fun to drive, though, thankslargely to the Electric motor’s 291 pound-feet of torque.A near doppelganger of its internal combustion sibling, the Kona EV tones down the
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