The Best-Selling (AKA Most Popular) Electric Cars

The best-selling and, thereby, the most popular electric car is the Tesla Model Y. It balances impressive range and high-tech features while offering a relatively reasonable price. The Model Y is one of many electric vehicles that go on sale yearly, with almost every automaker offering or planning to offer at least one fully electric product in its portfolio. 

With this in mind, here are 10 of the most popular EVs available today. For this list, we started with the top-selling EVs, and while sales data is important, so are things like range, charging availability and more. We wanted our list to reflect various options in different categories and price points. As such, we've also included information from Edmunds' testing, reviews and hands-on experience. You'll also find both EPA-estimated range and the results from the real-world Edmunds EV Range Test, during which our car experts drive each model to see how far it goes on a single charge and how that figure compares to those EPA estimates.

Table of contents

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Tesla Model 3
3. Ford Mustang Mach-E
4. Hyundai Ioniq 5
5. Ford F-150 Lightning
6. Cadillac Lyriq
7. Tesla Model X
8. Volkswagen ID.4
9. Rivian R1S
10. Kia EV6

1. Tesla Model Y

EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range

The best-selling electric vehicle in America is the Tesla Model Y, and it's not even close. The Model Y's annual sales are more than double that of the next vehicle on this list. The Model Y is more affordable than most of the vehicles on this list while still offering a competitive range, plenty of cargo space, and a roomy interior. Access to Tesla's vast Supercharger charging network is a huge plus, too. The Supercharger network is more reliable and offers more stations than competing electric charging networks. We think there are better electric vehicles out there, but the Model Y is one of the best EVs around.

In the real-world Edmunds EV Range Test, we drove a 2021 Tesla Model Y 317 miles on a single charge, slightly lower than the EPA estimate. Close, but no cigar. It should be noted that Teslas regularly fail to meet their EPA estimates in our testing while most other EVs exceed their ratings.

2. Tesla Model 3

EPA-estimated 363 miles of maximum range

The Tesla Model 3 is both Tesla's second-best-selling model and the second-best-selling EV in America. Like the Model Y, the Model 3 offers one of the lowest base prices of any electric car, respectable real-world range and access to Tesla's Supercharger network. It's one of the most popular sedans on the road today, eclipsing many gas-powered cars in its sales numbers. Given the lackluster charging infrastructure outside of those Superchargers, the Tesla is a great option if you do any traveling outside of major metro areas. It's not the most premium EV in its class, and we're still not enamored with the driver aids, but pricing and the charging network can't be overlooked.

The best range we've seen was 345 miles in a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, 8 miles short of that car's 353-mile EPA estimate. EPA estimates have improved since our test.

3. Ford Mustang Mach-E

EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range

There was a big hubbub when Ford decided to put the Mustang badge on the side of an electric SUV, but Mach-E delivers on its promise. It looks great and handles well, traits key to every Mustang. The interior feels decidedly premium, too, and offers great space in both rows as well as a sizable hatch. Great in-car tech and driver aids round out the package.

In Edmunds' testing, we managed to drive 344 miles on a single charge in a 2021 Mustang Mach-E California Route 1, sailing past its 305-mile EPA estimate by nearly 40 miles.

4. Hyundai Ioniq 5

EPA-estimated 303 miles of maximum range

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 features one of the most striking designs you'll find on any new car these days, with agile handling, solid tech and a comfortable interior to back up those looks. Hyundai in-car tech and driver aids impress, as do things like cargo and passenger space. Build quality is excellent, and the design itself is both stylish and functional. The South Korean automaker's impressive warranty factors here too.

A dual-motor 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited traveled 270 miles on a single charge during the Edmunds EV Range Test. That's better than the 256-mile EPA rating but not quite as good as some rivals perform.

5. Ford F-150 Lightning

EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range

The Ford F-150 Lightning is the all-electric version of Ford's best-selling model. It's one of the first electric trucks to hit the market and immediately impressed with solid range, excellent utility and tech. It simply feels like an F-150 with an electric motor and a few trick features, and we mean that as a compliment. Ford is hoping one of the most popular trucks on the road can become one of the most popular EVs out there, too. There are features like available hands-free highway driving and Ford's Pro Power Onboard system, which allows the Lightning to act as a rolling battery for devices, tools or more.

In the Edmunds EV Range Test, we drove 345 miles in a 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat, better than the EPA estimate of 320 miles.

6. Cadillac Lyriq

EPA-estimated 307 miles of maximum range

The Lyriq is a luxury EV and the first all-electric Cadillac to hit the market. Like most of the vehicles on this list, the Lyriq (pronounced "lyric") proved to be fairly popular from the get-go, offering a stylish and quiet interior, impressive in-car tech, and a base price that undercuts much of the competition in the luxury EV market. We think the Lyriq needs a bit of polish when it comes to ride and handling, and we think some rivals offer slightly more premium interiors.

In the Edmunds EV Range Test, a Lyriq beat its 307-mile EPA estimate by 12 miles, driving a full 319 miles on a single charge.

7. Tesla Model X

EPA-estimated 335 miles of maximum range

The Model X is an all-electric SUV that was Tesla's follow-up to the immensely popular Model S sedan. The Model X is starting to feel a bit dated after nearly a decade on the market but, like most Teslas, it still competes on price and range, and access to the Supercharger network is a huge boon for those who want to charge outside of the home. It's also one of the few EVs around that offers three rows of seating.

Edmunds tested a 2020 Tesla Model X Long Range, and it traveled 294 miles on a single charge, falling short of that particular vehicle's 328-mile EPA estimate.

8. Volkswagen ID.4

EPA-estimated 291 miles of maximum range

The ID.4 was the first all-electric vehicle Volkswagen brought to the United States. The ID.4 doesn't excel in any one area, but improvements and updates have improved the tech and increased the range compared to when it launched for the 2021 model year. It's still one of the more reserved vehicles in this segment, but the ID.4 offers good cargo space and a comfortable interior at a reasonable price.

A 2024 ID.4 just exceeded its EPA estimate of 291 miles, driving 299 miles on a single charge in the Edmunds EV Range Test.

9. Rivian R1S

EPA-estimated 410 miles of maximum range

The other three-row EV on this list is the Rivian R1S. Like Tesla, Rivian is a relatively new automaker, though the company's first few products — the R1S SUV and R1T truck — are among Edmunds' favorite electric vehicles on the road. The R1S has proved popular, outselling its truck counterpart as well as most other EVs out there. The Rivian offers a premium and stylish interior, genuine off-road capabilities and excellent real-world electric range. It's not the most affordable electric SUV around, but it is one of Edmunds' top picks.

10. Kia EV6

EPA-estimated 310 miles of maximum range

The Kia EV6 is a corporate sibling to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, so it's no surprise that Kia's version is nearly as popular as Hyundai's. Styling aside, the two cars are quite similar when it comes to range, pricing and performance. The Hyundai offers a bit more cargo area, but the Kia's sleek design helps it achieve a slightly higher EPA range estimate. In testing, we found that Kia and Hyundai models are among the quickest-charging EVs on sale today.

During our testing, the EV6 exceeded its EPA estimate, traveling 323 miles on a single charge on the Edmunds EV Range Test.

Other popular EVs to consider

The number of electric cars on sale is seemingly growing by the day, with these 10 models representing a portion of what's available. There are some excellent models we left off this list like the off-road-oriented Rivian R1T pickup truck, the searingly quick Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan, and models that eked out more than 400 miles of range like the Lucid Air and Mercedes-Benz EQS. The truth is that there's no one best electric car, so check out Edmunds' ratings, reviews and test results to learn more about all of the vehicles on this list and more.