Once upon a time, the family sedan was a staple of American roadways. The kids were shuttled to school in four-door Chevrolets and Toyotas, while hardworking folks everywhere dreamed of the day they'd move up to a BMW 3 Series, a Mercedes E-Class or an Audi A6. And when car companies talked about their "flagship" offerings, that usually meant something like a Lexus LS.
Those days are long gone. The United States is now primarily a truck, SUV and crossover market, and the humble four-door sedan has been relegated to entry-level first-car status—or worse, just something you rent at the airport on the cheap.
That's especially a shame in the electric vehicle world, because if you want an EV with tons of range, style, efficiency and even performance, a four-door sedan is the way to go. While they're often overshadowed by their SUV and crossover siblings, the best EV sedans on the market can go the distance better than just about any other body style out there.
Here at InsideEVs, we test dozens of EVs per year, all across the world. And we have a real soft spot for the best electric sedans out there. Because they ride lower than SUVs and crossovers, electric sedans are more aerodynamic and quite often lighter; this makes them the unsung range champions of the EV world and often the best EVs for commuting.
If you're interested in the best electric sedans in 2025 to maximize range and performance, here's a list of our favorites.
How We Test
InsideEVs editors have dozens of years of combined experience testing cars. We also spend every day reporting on the ever-changing electric car landscape, ensuring you have the latest information to make an informed decision. Throughout the year, we test dozens of EVs, at first-drive events, during week-long reviews and during our annual Breakthrough Award testing. From the streets of Shanghai to our own driveways, we drive everything so we can give you the best possible information.
All vehicles are evaluated on the basis of two key questions: How good are they as cars, and how good are they as EVs. For the former category, editors focus on how comfortable, easy-to-use and enjoyable they are in day-to-day life. We dive into the infotainment systems, pore over options lists and cover the latest breakthroughs in technology. Then, we evaluate their range, performance, software and efficiency to determine how good each vehicle is as an electric car. The best EVs make ownership hassle-free and fun, with excellent automatic route planning and efficient drivetrains.
For the purposes of this article, we primarily focused on the best electric sedans for the money in the North American car market. For a list of some of our favorite electric sedans available in Europe right now, click here. And to see our list of best EVs in every category, click here.
Still The Gold Standard: 2025 Tesla Model 3
Base Price: $42,490 (Eligible for $7,500 tax credit)
Range: 298-363 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in 25-30 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger
For reasons I won't go into here, it's possible your opinion of Tesla has shifted over the last year or so, to put it diplomatically. That, however, doesn't change the fact that two in particular remain excellent buys in 2025: one is the updated Tesla Model Y. On the sedan front, the Tesla Model 3 remains a consistent go-to choice.
The more expensive and ostensibly luxurious Model S may have effectively given birth to Tesla (the original Roadster was more a proof-of-concept than anything else) but the Model 3 is what truly put the company on the map. Launched in 2018 after a complete overhaul of Tesla's entire production process, the Model 3 swiftly became the world's top-selling EV as new editions and updates drove its price tag down.
The Model 3 was upgraded in 2023 with the new "Highland" version, which brought significant improvements to interior quality, quietness and ride quality, as well as a revised design. While the original Model 3 remains a tremendous deal on the used market, we'd spring for a Highland Model 3 given the choice between the two. Today, the compact sedan remains a class leader in range, efficiency and power; the high-test Model 3 Performance in particular has a penchant for taking down supercars.
Our pick is probably the balanced Long-Range All-Wheel-Drive model, capable of up to 346 miles of EPA-rated range and a brisk zero-to-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds. Keep in mind that many Teslas have been found to have overly optimistic range estimates and your real-world mileage may vary—and some have even exceeded their EPA-stated range. Overall, there's a reason you still see Model 3s everywhere: it's just hard to go wrong with one.
The Best Overall EV Sedan, If You Don’t Want A Tesla: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Base Price: $37,850 (Not eligible for $7,500 tax credit unless leased)
Range: 240-342 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in 20 minutes on a 350 kW DC fast-charger
Hyundai's Ioniq 6 is a perennial office favorite at InsideEVs. It looks like nothing else on the road, it's a solid everyday performer, it's one of the range kings of the generally excellent Hyundai EV lineup, and it's just great to drive. Sadly, it's been a slow seller in the U.S., probably again due to the dominance of SUVs here. But that means buyers in the know can probably score a great deal on one of the best EVs around.
Like the Model 3 (it is a direct competitor, after all) the Ioniq 6 comes in rear- or all-wheel-drive forms. The SE Standard Range comes in at an impressive $37,850, but with only 240 miles of range from its 53 kilowatt-hour battery, it's not how we'd spend our money. That would go to the SE model, which in rear-drive form gets a whopping 342 miles of range (or 316 if you go with dual-motor all-wheel-drive). The SEL offers a better equipment set but drops range to 291 miles and 270 miles, respectively. Still not bad. As an added bonus, the Ioniq 6 offers some of the best fast-charging times around: 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes on a 350-kilowatt charger.
An updated Ioniq 6 with more range and dramatically restyled looks is coming soon too, although it's due to be made in South Korea, so don't expect EV tax credit help there. We'll update this story when we drive that car, but we're expecting big things from it—especially when it adds a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug.
A Great Electric Performance Sedan: 2025 Polestar 2 Performance
Base Price: $64,800 (Not eligible for $7,500 tax credit unless leased)
Range: 254 miles
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 30-35 minutes
The Polestar 2 barely made the cutoff here before it's relegated to one of our "Best Used EVs" lists. That's because Polestar's first truly mainstream EV is largely being phased out in favor of the company's newer offerings. Besides being a bit long in the tooth, the Polestar 2 is made in China, so tariffs make its price tag untenable long-term. A replacement is expected in the coming years.
In the meantime, the Polestar 2 remains an electric sedan we'll never say no to when someone tries to toss us the keys. The only Polestar 2 available for 2025 is the Long Range, Dual Motor AWD version with the Performance Pack. It boasts 476 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque, and while it makes do with a so-so 254 miles of range, it will do zero to 60 mph in just four seconds. You also get Google's built-in software system, which includes the voice recognition capabilities of Google Assistant, and a lot of Scandinavian style.
It's worth noting that if you're interested in a Polestar 2, a used one may be your best bet; even slightly older models offer similar levels of capability and performance at far lower prices than a 2025 edition. The earliest Polestar 2 sedans came in front- or all-wheel-drive, while later ones switched to rear- or all-wheel-drive. In 2024, for example, a base rear-drive Polestar 2 had 295 hp with a claimed 320 miles of range; its all-wheel-drive variant gets 416 hp and 276 miles of range. That feels like the sweet spot for us.
The Best Affordable Electric Sedan
2026 Kia EV4
Base Price: $39,000 (est.) (Not eligible for $7,500 tax credit unless leased)
Range: 235-330 miles
Drive Type: Front-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes
Okay, this one comes with a bit of an asterisk. That's because the Kia EV4 is brand new for 2026 and we've only driven it once, in its native South Korea. But it's already on sale there and already a big hit. If the EV4 arrives stateside this year with the price tag we hope it will, we think it'll be a similar success on our shores.
The EV4 uses a version of the Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP platform that's built for affordability. That means doing with front- or all-wheel-drive (which is not available at launch) and charging times that won't be as lightning quick as, say, a Hyundai Ioniq 6; that's because it uses an 400-volt electrical architecture instead of an 800-volt one like its siblings.
Now, let's talk about what's good about the EV4, which seems to be everything else. It's a striking and practical design, it's surprisingly fun to drive, it offers way more buttons and physical controls than a Tesla, and will also come our way with a NACS plug. It's also a range king in its own right, with up to 330 miles projected on the larger 81.4-kWh battery. (The base model gets a 58.3-kWh unit.)
All in all, we're excited about the EV4, and impressed enough by what we've seen so far—and this proven platform—to anticipate a spot on this best list.
Read our first drive review here.
The Best Luxury Electric Sedans
2025 Lucid Air
Base Price: $71,400 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 420-512 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 20-25 minutes
Though it should be hailed as the most important car of the 21st century, Tesla's lack of substantial updates to the still-expensive Model S sedan means that we can no longer recommend it as a new purchase. Instead, we recommend its spiritual successor: the Lucid Air.
California startup Lucid Motors' inaugural outing is one of the most impressive EVs on the market, bar none. The lineup includes the longest-range EV in America, the Lucid Air Grand Touring, boasting a thus-far unbeaten 512 miles of EPA-estimated range. The more well-heeled among us (and those who have a good traffic-court lawyer on retainer) could splurge for the $250,000 Lucid Air Sapphire, which packs 1,234 hp, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.89 seconds.
But our choice would be the Lucid Air Pure, a strong contender for last year's Breakthrough Award. For a "base" car, it doesn't feel like one. A $69,900 starting price gets you 420 miles of range (or 384 miles of range with the 20-inch wheels), a cavernous interior, striking looks and 430 hp. If you want the best electric luxury sedan of the moment, this is probably it.
See our Breakthrough Award test of the Lucid Air Pure here.
2025 BMW i4
Base Price: $57,900 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 267-318 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes
BMW is a manufacturer that has made the leap to electric vehicles better than most so-called "legacy" automakers. And make no mistake: the i4 is an electric BMW 3 Series in everything but name. (Yes, a more "official" BMW i3 is coming on the updated Neue Klasse platform, but until it does, don't count out the i4.) It not only offers a 3 Series-like experience in terms of physical controls and technology, but also driving dynamics—which is to say that the i4 is excellent.
The base, single-motor i4 eDrive 40 offers Tesla Model 3 levels of range and driving dynamics with better overall comfort, so it's not to be overlooked. However, we're more partial to the top i4 M50, which boasts 536 hp and up to 267 miles of range.
2025 BMW i5
Base Price: $67,100 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 239-310 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes
Everything I wrote above also applies to the BMW i5, the i4's bigger brother. It takes everything that's made the 5 Series sedan such a success over decades now and improves on it with battery-powered performance. We think the i5 is a worthy competitor to both the Tesla Model S and the aforementioned Lucid Air, and while it can't match either on range, it's as good or better on driving dynamics—and offers more buttons, if that's your jam.
Our pick would be the balanced choice: the i5 xDrive40, with 389 hp and up to 278 miles of range.
2025 Porsche Taycan
Base Price: $100,300 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 252-318 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 5% to 80% in about 23 minutes
We'll admit it: the Porsche Taycan is expensive enough to fall into "treat yourself" territory. And the coupe-like profile means that trunk space and rear headroom and legroom aren't exactly ideal for hauling lots of people and gear. But the Taycan hauls something else extremely well, and let's just say I'm not talking about bags of gravel here.
The Taycan range is an expansive one, spanning the base Taycan with 402 hp and a zero to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds to the ferocious Taycan Turbo GT with 1,019 hp (no, that's not a typo) that does the same dash in 2.2 seconds (ditto.) It is one of the most devastatingly fast performance cars for sale today, agnostic of powertrain. (The Taycan also comes in Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo bodystyles if you need more room.)
But the Taycan also performs extremely well in other ways, like range and charging. It may take some cautious driving, but much of the range should deliver well over 300 miles, easily. Porsche's own internal testing put the mighty Taycan Turbo at 345 miles. And it's a fast-charging champion: on a 350-kW charger, we saw one Taycan go from 8% to 80% in just 16 minutes. It, along with the Lucid Air, are among the quickest-charging EVs you can buy in America today.
Our dollars, if we had them, would probably go to the Taycan 4S. That "Goldilocks" model gives you dual-motor all-wheel-drive, 536 hp and a zero to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. After that, expect big jumps in price that may not be up your alley.
Read our range and charging test here.
2025 Audi E-Tron GT
Base Price: $125,500 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 278-300 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 5% to 80% in about 23 minutes
This is Audi's take on the same hardware as the Porsche Taycan. Similar as they are, Audi's design, software and tuning gives the E-Tron GT its own unique identity. The lineup is also much simpler than what Porsche offers: for 2025, the car can be had as the "base" S E-Tron GT, with 300 miles of range and 670 hp, or the RS E-Tron GT, with 278 miles of range and 818 hp. And that shoots up to 912 hp when Boost Mode is engaged.
While the RS E-Tron GT is expensive—the last one we tested came in close to $200,000—you will be hard-pressed to find a better performance machine anywhere. (Except maybe an equivalent Taycan, obviously.) Add in the same class-leading charging specs as its Porsche cousin and you have an EV that will make you forget all about gas cars.
Upcoming Electric Sedans
2026 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron/S6 Sportback E-Tron
Base Price: $65,900 (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 324-392 miles
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: 10% to 80% in about 21 minutes
We've been consistently impressed with Audi's newest crop of electric SUVs, the Q6 E-Tron and SQ6 E-Tron. That's why we're especially excited for their sedan equivalents: the A6 Sportback E-Tron and S6 Sportback E-Tron. Similar next-generation hardware, but with even more range because they're smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic overall.
The specs speak for themselves. A rear-wheel-drive A6 Sportback E-Tron delivers an EPA-estimated 392 miles of range, and given how many Volkswagen Group EVs overperform those numbers in our own testing lately, we expect it to be a 400-mile EV, easily. This will be the long-distance runner of the Audi electric family. And with 543 hp, the S6 Sportback E-Tron should live up to the S6's reputation for high-performance—all while delivering an EPA-estimated range of 324 miles.
We'll update this list when we drive the new Audi EV sedans, but we're very excited about both of them.
2026 Volvo ES90
Base Price: Unknown. €70,000 - €90,000 in Europe. (Only eligible for $7,500 credit if leased)
Range: 372 miles (Estimated)
Drive Type: Rear or all-wheel drive
DC Fast Charging Time: Adds 186 miles of range in 10 minutes on a 350-kW fast-charger
Volvo may be making its bones on SUVs these days, but we're extremely glad it's not abandoning the sedan game, either. The all-new Volvo ES90 is slated to arrive in the U.S. in late 2025 or early 2026. It's built on the same platform as the impressive Volvo EX90, though we hope its debut won't come with those cars' teething issues.
In some key ways, it's actually better, too. The ES90 drops the EX90’s 400-volt architecture for an 800-volt one, which enables it to recharge much faster at a potent enough DC fast charger. Here, Volvo claims almost 200 miles in a mere 10 minutes; not a bad rest stop at all. On top of that, it's said to boast up to 670 hp. We're excited to see where Volvo goes with this one, but with a WLTP range rating of 435 miles in Europe, it too should be quite impressive for long-distance driving.
Conclusion
Don't count out sedans when shopping for EVs. As we've explained above, their smaller size and lower overall ride height make them the best for longer drives without having to stop for more electrons. And because sedans are generally not as popular as SUVs in America, you may be able to snag a new or used one at a significant discount. On top of that, they all boast better driving dynamics than your average SUV and possibly easier parking as well.
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Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
