In US News & World Report’s ranking of the best electric and hybrid cars for 2024, Hyundai Motor and Volvo Cars took five of the top 10 spots, with Tesla missing out.
Testers for this publication evaluated nearly 100 electric and hybrid vehicles, rating them based on price, mileage, performance and other factors. The best electric cars combine power, speed and fast charging, says Vehicle Testing Senior Editor John Vincent.
“Today, almost every market segment has electric vehicles,” he told CBS MoneyWatch “Electric vehicles are our future. They’re going to come faster than some people think, and they can really solve a lot of problems.”
For now, however, many motorists are skeptical, worried about range, charging speed and reliability. According to Cox Automotive, US electric car sales hit a record 1.2 million last year, equivalent to Slightly less than 8% of the automotive market.According to a 2023 report, electric cars have more problems and are generally less reliable than gas-powered cars, a study from Consumer Reports.
Here are US News’ 10 Best Electric and Hybrid Cars of 2024
Best luxury electric car: Lucid Air
The luxury sedan, which starts at $69,076, has the longest driving range of any electric vehicle, according to US News Reevaluation.
The Lucid Air “is a really cool car,” Vincent said. “It’s incredibly fast, highly efficient, and can go 500 miles on a single charge. It’s a better Tesla Model S than a Tesla Model S.”
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Best luxury electric SUV: Volvo XC40 Recharge
The XC40 Recharge scores highly for safety, thanks to features like lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition, according to US News. The car starts at $52,450 and has a range of 293 miles on a single charge.
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Best Electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Ioniq 5 also scores well in terms of safety, with features like automatic emergency braking at the front and cross-traffic alert at the rear. The car starts at $41,800 and has a range of 220 miles on a single charge
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Best Electric Car: Hyundai Ioniq 6
According to US News, this spacious sedan can seat five people and has a smooth ride. Its standard base model starts at $37,500, while the top-end Limited model starts at $53,650.
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Best Electric Truck: Ford F-150 Lightning
The electric version of Ford’s most popular pickup truck has the roomiest cabin in its class. The base model can tow 5,000 pounds and the upgraded version can tow 7,700 pounds, according to US News.
“You can go from a gasoline-powered F-150 to the F-150 Lightning and not notice a big difference in performance,” says US News’ Vincent.
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Best luxury plug-in hybrid: Volvo S60 Recharge
According to US News, the Volvo S60 offers the fastest battery charging time on the market. The vehicle can be fully charged in approximately 9 hours using a 120-volt outlet and approximately 4 hours using a 240-volt outlet. The S60 is available in five different models, with prices ranging from $51,950 to $58,550.
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Best Plug-in Hybrid: Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
The Sportage plug-in enables the driver to smooth the ride over rough pavement, and the engine zips from 0 to 60 mph in about 7 seconds, according to US News.The car is available in two models: the X-Line, starting at $39,490, or the X-Line. Line Prestige, starting at $43,990.
Best Hybrid Car: Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Camry Hybrid has “advanced driver-assistance features including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.” It comes in five models, ranging in price from $28,855 to $34,295, according to US News.
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Best Hybrid SUV: Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The Tucson has the roomiest interior of any hybrid SUV. According to US News, the car can tow 2,000 pounds and is available in four models, priced from $32,575 to $39,715.
Best Luxury Hybrid: Lexus NX Hybrid
Drivers will notice the luxury car’s leather interior, large touch screen and head-up display. The Lexus NX is available in five models, with prices ranging from $43,465 to $60,005, according to US News.
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Christopher J. Brooks
Christopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He has worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His coverage focuses on the US housing market, sports business and bankruptcy.
