10 PRACTICAL ELECTRIC CARS WITH ROCK-SOLID DEPENDABILITY
Practicality is a key fundamental for families looking to buy a new car. This is one of the many reasons why SUVs and crossovers continually rise in popularity, but there are still a few consumers who are looking for a good four-door sedan configuration. With electric cars, these body styles benefit from better interior packaging and cargo capacity figures. While heavier than ICE components, electric drive units, and battery packs take up less space, giving manufacturers the freedom to expand interior room without impacting the car's drag coefficient.
Family cars also need to be reliable and dependable, especially if it's the only car parked in your driveway. Electric cars benefit from being much more reliable than ICEs thanks to their fewer moving parts. Manufacturers also design them to be software-dependent, which has resulted in some usability issues, but these are often promptly corrected via convenient over-the-air updates. You may find stepping into the new electric car market a rather intimidating experience, so we've gathered a list of electric cars that offer the best practicality and reliability to help make your buying experience easier and more informed.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and the NHTSA. We've ranked the models below based on their claimed cargo capacity figures, but excluded models that currently have more than three recalls. We also take Consumer Reports and J.D. Power's reliability ratings into consideration.
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Cargo Capacity: 10 Cubic-Feet
BMW bases the i4 on its 4 Series Gran Coupe range, which benefits from better trunk facilities thanks to its rear catch design. The i4 only features 10 cubic-feet of cargo space, so it's not the most spacious option on this list, but folding the rear 40:20:40 bench down increases this to 45.6 cubic-feet. On the reliability front, the BMW i4 range currently has one recall attached to its name for a high-voltage battery that may overheat, resulting in an increased fire risk. The good news is that it only affects four 2024 model year units, which require battery replacements at BMW's cost.
Performance Specifications
| eDrive35 | eDrive40 | xDrive40 | M50 xDrive | |
| Engine | Single Electrically Excited-Synchronous Motor | Single Electrically Excited-Synchronous Motor | Dual Electrically Excited-Synchronous Motor | Dual Electrically Excited-Synchronous Motor |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 282 HP | 335 HP | 396 HP | 536 HP |
| Torque | 295 LB-FT | 317 LB-FT | 443 LB-FT | 586 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.8 Seconds | 5.4 Seconds | 4.9 Seconds | 3.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 118 MPH | 118 MPH | 124 MPH | 140 MPH |
Consumer Reports gives the 2024 model year a 60/100 predicted reliability rating, while its predicted owner satisfaction sits at 4/5. It also gets a 74/100 quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power. BMW is preparing the 2025 model year for a U.S. launch fairly soon. The 2024 model is still live on the brand's configurator, with prices starting at $52,200 for the base eDrive35. The top-of-the-range M50 costs $69,700, before taxes and incentives.
Genesis G80 Electrified
Cargo Capacity: 10.7 Cubic-Feet
The Genesis G80 Electrified is an underrated option in the premium EV sedan market, but its 10.7 cubic-feet of trunk space may frustrate frequently traveling families. Further limiting its practicality is the fact that you can't fold the rear seats to access more space. Genesis makes up for this by offering a very spacious rear section, accommodating 35.9 inches of legroom and 36.6 inches of headroom. As of right now, the 2024 model year has no active recalls.
Performance Specifications
| Engine | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 365 HP |
| Torque | 516 LB-FT |
| Driveline | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 140 MPH |
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power are yet to conduct reviews and investigations into the Genesis G80 Electrified. For reference, the former gives the ICE model a 44/100 reliability score, while the latter awards it an impressive 85/100 for quality and reliability. Despite being a luxury car, the South Korean brand starts the range off at a fairly competitive $74,375 MSRP.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Cargo Capacity: 11.2 Cubic-Feet
Given its more compact exterior proportions, the Hyundai Ioniq 6's 11.2 cubic-feet is fairly considerable. The 60:40 rear bench folds down, but Hyundai doesn't declare how much this increases the capacity by. The frunk stores an additional 1.6 cubic-feet of space for smaller items. The NHTSA issues two recalls for the Ioniq 6 range, the first being for improperly tightened differential bolts, and the second for a damaged charging unit.
Performance Specifications
| RWD | AWD | |
| Engine | Single Permanent-Magnet Motor | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 225 HP | 320 HP |
| Torque | 258 LB-FT | 446 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 6.0 Seconds | 4.4 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 115 MPH | 115 MPH |
J.D. Power doesn't have any test data on the efficient South Korean option, but Consumer Reports gives it a rather admirable 70/100 predicted reliability and 5/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. Hyundai kicks pricing off at $37,500 for the base SE trim. The flagship Limited starts at $50,150.
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Cargo Capacity: 14 Cubic-Feet
The Mercedes-Benz EQE may not be the German marque's flagship EV model, but it is still a very prestigious and high-end electric sedan option. The EV sedan features 14 cubic-feet of cargo space, but folding the 40:20:40 seats down increases this figure to 31.6 cubic-feet. You need to be aware of two recalls before considering a new EQE. The first is for a high-voltage battery that may unexpectedly shut down, while the second relates to a bad 80-Amp fuse.
Performance Specifications
| EQE 350+ | EQE 350 4Matic | EQE 500 4Matic | |
| Engine | Single Permanently-Excited Synchronous Motor | Dual Permanently-Excited Synchronous Motors | Dual Permanently-Excited Synchronous Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 288 HP | 288 HP | 402 HP |
| Torque | 417 LB-FT | 564 LB-FT | 633 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 6.2 Seconds | 6.0 Seconds | 4.5 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 130 MPH | 130 MPH | 130 MPH |
Unfortunately for Mercedes-Benz, Consumer Reports issues the model with a rather scathing 23/100 predicted reliability grading and 3/5 owner satisfaction score. J.D. Power's review for the EQE is pending. Pricing starts at $74,900 for the base 350+. If you want the fully-fledged AMG 53 derivative, you'll need to drastically increase your budget to $111,040.
Polestar 2
Cargo Capacity: 14 Cubic-Feet
The Polestar 2 is essentially a high-riding sedan with a fastback hatch, giving it a noteworthy edge in its segment where practicality is concerned. It features 14 cubic-feet of trunk space. The reason why we place this higher than the EQE, is because it has more expandable space. When you fold the rear seats, the capacity increases to 38.7 cubic-feet. The 2024 model also doesn't have any active recalls.
Performance Specifications
| Single-Motor | Dual-Motor | Dual-Motor Performance | |
| Powertrain | Single-Permanent-Magnet Motor | Dual-Permanent-Magnet Motor | Dual-Permanent-Magnet Motor |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 299 HP | 421 HP | 455 HP |
| Torque | 361 LB-FT | 546 LB-FT | 546 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.9 Seconds | 4.3 Seconds | 4.0 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 127 MPH | 127 MPH | 127 MPH |
Despite this good track record and practical dimensions, Consumer Reports slaps the model with an appalling 5/100 predicted reliability rating. J.D. Powers' 64/100 quality and reliability score is better, but still relatively low when compared to the rest of the cars on this list. The Polestar 2 is a costlier option in its segment, with the single-motor model starting at $49,900. The dual-motor upgrade costs $55,300.
Porsche Taycan
Cargo Capacity: 14.3 Cubic-Feet
The Porsche Taycan struggles with smaller interior dimensions because its design balances practicality with performance. Regardless, it features some generous trunk space thanks to its rear hatch design, measuring 14.3 cubic-feet.
There's an additional 2.9 cubic-feet worth of space located beneath the front hood. Folding the rear 40:60 bench down expands the cargo capacity to 42.3 cubic-feet. If you want a bit more space, you can opt for the Sport or Cross Turismo bodystyles, both offering 15.8 cubic-feet of trunk space.
Performance Specifications
| Taycan | Taycan 4S | Taycan GTS | Taycan Turbo | Taycan Turbo S | Taycan Turbo GT | |
| Engine | Single-AC Synchronous Motor | Dual-AC Synchronous Motor | Dual-AC Synchronous Motor | Dual-AC Synchronous Motor | Dual-AC Synchronous Motor | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motors |
| Transmission | Two-Speed Automatic | Two-Speed Automatic | Two-Speed Automatic | Two-Speed Automatic | Two-Speed Automatic | Two-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 402-469 HP | 523-563 HP | 598 HP | 671 HP | 751 HP | 1,019 HP |
| Torque | 54-263 LB-FT | 472-479 LB-FT | 627 LB-FT | 627 LB-FT | 774 LB-FT | 988 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 Seconds | 3.8 Seconds | 3.5 Seconds | 3.0 Seconds | 2.6 Seconds | 2.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 143 MPH | 143 MPH | 155 MPH | 162 MPH | 162 MPH | 180 MPH |
The NHTSA lists two recalls for the model's battery system. Consumer Reports issues the entire range with a 66/100 predicted reliability rating and 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. J.D. Power ranks the EV's quality and reliability at 76/100. The all-new 2025 Taycan range is now available to order, with prices starting at $99,400. $230,000 gets you into the newly introduced Turbo GT derivative.
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Cargo Capacity: 16.2 Cubic-Feet
The Lucid Air's combination hatch and trunk design gives the EV sedan's body the benefit of both worlds. The rear section holds 16.2 cubic-feet of cargo, while the frunk stores an additional 9.9 cubic-feet, resulting in a combined 22.1-cubic-feet figure. The 2024 Air range is subject to one software-related recall, which the brand has resolved with an over-the-air update.
Performance Specifications
| Pure | Touring | Grand Touring | Sapphire | |
| Engine | Single Permanent-Magnet Motor | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motors | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motors | Triple Permanent-Magnet Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 430 HP | 620 HP | 819 HP | 1,234 HP |
| Torque | 406 LB-FT | 885 LB-FT | 885 LB-FT | 1,430 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.5 Seconds | 3.4 Seconds | 3.0 Seconds | 1.89 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 124 MPH | 140 MPH | 168 MPH | 205 MPH |
Despite being a young brand, Lucid benefits from an impressive reputation. However, Consumer Reports gives it a 31/100 predicted reliability and 3/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. J.D. Power still needs to put this American-built electric car to the test. The Air is a premium electric sedan, with a $69,990 starting price that reflects that. The flagship Sapphire costs $249,000, but this produces hypercar-rivaling performance figures.
Tesla Model 3
Cargo Capacity: 19.8 Cubic-Feet
The Tesla Model 3 benefits from a generous 19.8 cubic-feet of trunk space which expands to 22.9 cubic-feet when folding the rear seats down. You also get a 3.1 cubic-feet frunk facility. The NHTSA confirms one recall for the newly introduced Highland derivative relating to the driver's side airbag.
Performance Specifications
| Rear-Wheel Drive | Long Range | Performance | |
| Engine | Single Permanent-Magnet Motor | Dual Permanent Magnet Motors | Dual Permanent Magnet Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 271 HP | 394 HP | 510 HP |
| Torque | 310 LB-FT | 337 LB-FT | 546 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.8 Seconds | 4.2 Seconds | 2.9 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 125 MPH | 125 MPH | 163 MPH |
Where dependability is concerned, Consumer Reports grades its reliability at 47/100 with a 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. J.D. Power gives it a 74/100 quality and reliability rating. The base rear-wheel drive model costs $38,990, but you'll have to pay $54,990 for the flagship dual-motor Performance model.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Cargo Capacity: 22 Cubic-Feet
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the best sedan that the brand's electric division has to offer. Despite the brand building it on the same platform as the aforementioned EQE, this larger option features 22 cubic-feet of cargo space, which you can extend to 63 cubic-feet if you fold the rear seats down. Being based on the same platform, the EQS sedan range is affected by the same recalls as the EQE.
Performance Specifications
| EQS 450+ | EQS 450 4Matic | EQS 580 4Matic | |
| Engine | Single Permanently- Excited Synchronous Motor | Dual Permanently- Excited Synchronous Motors | Dual Permanently- Excited Synchronous Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 329 HP | 335 HP | 516 HP |
| Torque | 417 LB-FT | 590 LB-FT | 631 LB-FT |
| Driveline | Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.9 Seconds | 5.3 Seconds | 4.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH | 155 MPH | 155 MPH |
Consumer Reports issues this model with an ever harsher 20/100 predicted reliability and 3/5 predicted owner satisfaction classification. J.D. Power holds the luxury EV sedan in a slightly higher regard, with its 74/100 quality and reliability score. These are still surprising figures for a car that starts at $104,400 for the base 450+ trim. If you want the AMG, be prepared to increase your budget to $148,700, before specifying any options.
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Cargo Capacity: 26.6 Cubic-Feet
When looking at cargo capacity, the Tesla Model S more than outshines the competition, with its 26.6 cubic-feet of trunk space. By folding the rear seats down, you can increase the space to 58.1 cubic-feet. The NHTSA declares a recall for the car's seat belt warning system, which Tesla will be resolving via an over-the-air update in July.
Performance Specifications
| Model S | Model S Plaid | |
| Engine | Dual Permanent-Magnet Motor | Triple Permanent-Magnet And AC Induction Motors |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Automatic | Single-Speed Automatic |
| Horsepower | 670 HP | 1,020 HP |
| Torque | 755 LB-FT | 1,050 LB-FT |
| Driveline | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.1 Seconds | 1.99 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 130 MPH | 200 MPH |
The Tesla Model S has a more expansive reputation in the luxury electric car segment, but a series of frequent recalls results in Consumer Reports hitting it with a 30/100 predicted reliability rating. It also hands it a more favorable 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction score. J.D. Power's 75/100 quality and reliability rating is a bit more preferable. Tesla kicks the Model S's pricing off at $72,990, while the Plaid will set you back by $87,990.
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