Nice Drives: EVs Go Solo

Now that federal support for electric vehicles is being withdrawn, it’s time to take stock of which ones hold their own against gasoline and hybrid vehicles, on their own merits.

Here are some of the best new and refreshed models that stand tall without the need for subsidies.

Volvo EX30

Volvo’s smallest is a chunky little monkey that’s really fast and good-looking. It is also refined and rides really well over broken pavement. With muscular proportions and an interior that’s an exemplar of how to properly rethink material usage, it shows Volvo is really thinking things through. Its control minimalism extends a bit too far (having to push a separate button to roll down the rear windows and having no built-in sunblind for the full-length glass roof are demerits) but the EX30 is superb as an urban slot racer.

Kia EV6 GT-Line

A near-twin of the Hyundai Ioniq5 — the gold standard of affordable electronics — the EV6 looks sportier and drives with more athleticism. Thanks to an updated battery and software, it has more real-world range than anything in the class (including a Tesla Model Y) and much better build quality. EV6 styling was smartly updated inside and out for 2025, too, though it lacks the hard buttons that make navigating menus in the Hyundai so intuitive and fast. The EV6 is fun, fast, well-built and doesn’t require owners to relearn how to interact with a car.

Audi Q6 e-tron

Sharing a platform with the Porsche Macan EV means there’s real engineering in Audi’s midsize EV. Good range, refined dynamics and a dramatic interior all hew to Audi’s traditional strengths. The Q6 is sized right too for most folks’ use, with a commodious backseat and cargo area. It also charges fast thanks to its 800-volt architecture and looks properly upscale. Better than the equivalent Benz and less obnoxious-looking than BMW’s take, it’s a strong contender in its segment.

Rivian R1T

The first electric pickup still has many genuinely compelling attributes, including compact exterior dimensions that make it much better off-road than recent entries from Ford and GM, a gorgeous interior and really cool features like the Gear Tunnel between the bed and cab. Short on range compared to the Chevy and GMC, the R1T is much faster and more maneuverable in the real world. A tech tie-up with VW Group (expect the new Scout EVs to use much of Rivian’s know-how) should help the startup survive in this newly competitive market.

Lucid Gravity

Most range? Fastest? Of course. What else does one expect from Lucid, the world-leader in EV genius? The Gravity has more room inside (and is more comfortable in the back) than the much larger and heavier Cadillac Escalade EV, and is much more of a hoot to drive. A refined, restrained exterior design could be considered audacious in this age of showing off, and inside the Gravity is a stunner, as well as being the best driving, fastest electric SUV there is.