Best EVs 2023: Buying Guide

Thinking about making the jump to an EV or deciding whether the tech is right for you? Join Editor Antuan Goodwin and CNET's long-term Kia EV6 to learn what you should consider when choosing an electric car.
Subscribe to CNET: / cnettv
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉 bit.ly/3lO7sOU
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/cnet
0:00 Intro
0:31 Range
1:16 Best Affordable EV
1:49 Efficiency
2:10 Most Efficient
3:05 Charging Speed
3:45 Fast and Furious Charging
4:43 Price and Incentives
5:24 The 800-pound Gorilla
6:11 More Than Just the Specs
6:34 Best Electric Truck
6:56 Most Anticipated EV
Follow us on TikTok: / cnetdotcom
Follow us on Instagram: / cnet
Follow us on Twitter: / cnet
Like us on Facebook: / cnet

[@LoriKeith19]

I've had a Kona Electric for almost 4 years. We absolutely love it. Super low maintenance and charging costs. Fun to drive. Hyundai supports the car very well. Highly recommended.

[@videobiker9131]

You did a really good job on this presentation. I’ve been watching you for a few years Anton and you’ve really matured

[@pooploops]

Mmmm yes I bet you like that dont you

[@Marciap17]

Excellent review, thank you. Made me seriously think about buying one. 😊

[@MattsWorld]

Excited for the EX30 too!!

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Something not mentioned in this video is availability and TRUE purchase price. Many dealerships slap a non-negotiable surcharge onto popular or hard to get EVs just because they can. You go into a dealer thinking you're going to spend $42,000 and find out right before delivery there's an extra $10k charge - take it or leave it. Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales model does not have this problem - the cars are readily available and you know right away what you'll be paying, with no surprises.

[@user-oi8mr9jz2w]

You’re right, range is highly important. My BMW i3 only did a range of 185, (120- 130 real world driving). And that was only 2 years ago!😮 The Volvo EX30 is definitely on my shortlist. It’s a shame not to see the Lexus LBX on here!👀

[@nevco8774]

There is no way Volvo EX30 will have a such low cost. Thus the cost will be much higher. Plus it will be marked up. Only higher, more expensive trims might be available anyways.

[@chiodeguate1]

Our i3S Rex gets around 150 and we love it. Too bad it wasnt extended and upgraded. Now we're on the hunt for a replacement

[@JenoFletter]

I love the 23 Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV. They are best EV on the market for price and feature list

[@SSS-mp8th]

Great job and timely for me. I'm currently looking for an SUV anywhere between as small as a Stelvio to as big as an Explorer. I've looked at a lot of new and used vehicles and most of the mainstream ones don't interest me or are too expensive that do (new). Looking at various luxury brands I came across very good prices on the Audi e-tron (2019-2020) so I started some investigation into EV SUV's. While I love the look and used price of the e-tron the main issue will be range. Real world range new is about 185miles factor in that after 8-10 years you can expect around 30% range degradation in the battery I'd be looking about 145 miles once I owned it for 4-6 years. That took it off my list along with also expecting that the resale on that 8-10 year old car would probably be really bad due to limited range/longevity of the battery. Still no idea on cost of battery replacements for EV's I'm still looking at a number of vehicles and have noticed some EV's are having some significant discounts. You can get $7,500 off an Ioniq5. I love the look and test drove an SEL (only 2k off the limited). While a fun experience it's just too small with a list price of $52k (same as a loaded Palisade so what's the point?). Looking into a Ford Mach E (AWD, extended range battery) as there seem to be big discounts along with low financing and a partial tax credit so they might be an option. I haven't written off EV's for my next purchase but they face a huge uphill battle in the mid-larger size SUV space. The Kia EV9 looks amazing but the top level Telluride is already expensive and commands ADM so how bad is an EV9 SX Prestige going to be? The ID Buzz is my absolute favorite but I just know a top trim is going to be probably around $70k with no tax credit. That is a new Genesis GV70 3.5 with all the fixins.

[@kentuckyking4343]

😂 buy a gasoline powered vehicle. Ev's are overpriced junk. Actually way worse on the environment, more expensive, takes forever to charge and you are personally responsible for kids and families being enslaved to obtain minerals needed. It's a pathetic bc u think you are doing a good thing but u absolutely are not

[@tubzvermeulen]

Thanks for the video

[@BryceLovesTech]

I bought a used 2013 Model S and it’s a dream to drive, it’s still on the original battery and gets 225 miles of range after 160k miles

[@camronrubin8599]

What was the range when you bought it ?

[@camronrubin8599]

@@user-ym1mk5mx9l you clearly are uneducated about EVs . I have an EV and I’ll never go back to gas . EVs are so much cheaper to own

[@camronrubin8599]

@@user-ym1mk5mx9l nah I’ve had a Camry Corolla and Prius and I’ll never buy another gas car. EVs are about to crush gas cars . They already are but nobody will want to buy a gas car in a few years. You are simply uneducated. It’s okay I was just like you a year ago

[@ferddoesweirdthingsinlife1040]

@@user-ym1mk5mx9lliterally no matter what gas car you buy, electricity will always be cheaper than gas prices

[@camronrubin8599]

@@user-ym1mk5mx9l many EVs are indeed expensive right now but that will change in a few years. The advances that have been made in the last 10 years have been pretty staggering

[@Dandre181]

Where's Brian Cooley?

[@jsanch7]

He’s too famous now lol

[@bobthepurpleninja]

3:08 he does a hand cameo. Take it or leave it.

[@angusgrant2342]

Get over it. They can’t keep him forever. Give the other guy a go

[@sexygreeneyez88]

Right where is he or Emmy Hall!!!!

[@angelolewis419]

Emme left, she does her own thing and races now

[@chemjam92]

What about climate? Those of us in the northeast lose lots of range in winter when temps get into single digits.

[@toyotaprius79]

Preheat, heated seats and charge over night is the best remedy. Without preparing for the cold the range loss may seem substantial, but the efficiency loss of internal combustion is far higher. but you won't notice your gas mileage getting worse because we're conditioned not to. And that wasting heat is the whole design of internal combustion.

[@harryaxe5167]

Additional registration, insurance, and in some states, an extra charge on electric cars. Tire ware will be greater

[@beinlikeerrth]

Efficiency is KEY!!

[@rp9674]

Been driving EVs for 5 years, it's nice

[@toby9999]

I would, but I don't want to mortgage my house to do it.

[@rp9674]

Me either, got my Fiat 500e for $8k, 5 yr. maintenance free , except for an alignment

[@daneflanigan]

Great segment - Kia and Hyundai are looking to replace the US Toyota niche

[@PatrickFungsca]

Refreshed Model 3 is MY most anticipated - I know, CNET probably did this video "before" the refreshed revealed.

[@zero11010]

What happened to the CNET Cars KZbin channel? It still exists. You just abandoned it?

[@andyhe3245]

No Rivian?

[@netizencapet]

Ever hear of a road trip - either through many different territories of the same large country or many different countries? The sparcity of charging stations across different jurisdictions makes range a major issue.

[@TheEverydayShopperReview]

Wow. I was really liking this video UNTIL YOU SAID THE FORD F150 lightening was a good choice. The F150 LightSheet is nothing but a Duracell on wheels and there have been more recalls on lightsheets than ever before. Sorry. Need to discredit you

[@harryaxe5167]

Over the last 10 years, the price and weight of electric cars has gone up exponentially!

[@SullenSecret]

Where is the list of cars that qualify for the incentive???

[@Emma-33]

For real

[@MrOomer]

Good review. Although one thing you forgot out. On the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Genesis GV60 Advanced/Performance (and VW, BMW, Mercedes) come with 2 or 3 years free 30 minutes EA DC fast charging (which you can do unlimited), so you're saving that over gas cars. No gas car comes with free gas 😂😂😂

[@MyNewCadillac]

Too much and too fast for legacy automakers. I have logged tens of thousands of miles on rented EVs from various providers over the last 10 months.Quite often over 1200 miles per week in the very crowded NE corridor. From MD north to VT and west to OH. Lewis and Clark comes to mind you really have to accept the challenges and plan accordingly.

[@crazybeartimba]

My fear is car companies preventing 3rd party mechanics from fixing in the future. It’s very expensive to fix any EV if you’re out of warranty so if they decide to software locks, it’ll suck.

[@chrismv102]

Your report confirmed what I've suspected. Between the much higher cost full EV's aren't there yet. Hybrids or plug-in Hybrids are the way to go.

[@luged]

"The rebates can make these EVs cost about the same as a combustion car" "hur de har, they're way more expensive so they aren't there" It's almost like people don't watch the videos before they comment

[@bw2532]

@@luged ”can” not all people live in locations to get those rebates. California, sure. But not everyone lives in CA to get them.

[@luged]

@bw2532 Many rebates are federal, and many states have additional rebates. Plus, total costs are lower due to reduced maintenance and fuel costs, even without the rebates. Sure you CAN pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for an EV, but you can do that with a combustion engine too. Some EVs are ~30k with similarities ICE cars costing ~25k, which you'd make up just in the first 2 years in fuel and oil change costs.

[@monkeyboy7969]

Before you by and EV by sister lives in Crystal River FL Hurricane Idalia cane thought this last summer> By sister wanted to leave but could not because all she owned was Nissan Leaf with a range of around 200 miles. Now considering everyone else in the area is getting out of dodge before the storm and there are no place to recharge your veh while stuck on 98 North you be screwed. So if you live in FL use also need a second car that runs on gas and just write off your EV every time FL has a hurricane.

[@rpgruli]

what about chinese BYD or Polestar?

[@ogdumplings8196]

Smooth 6th zoo … that slip man..

[@QuentinAnthonyAnderson]

So here's my take after a year with a Tesla: 1. Any non-Tesla EV is almost certainly going to be strictly a "in-city" car. You're not traveling out of town, road tripping, etc in anything else because the high speed charging network infrastructure simply doesn't exist. 2. Even with a Tesla, while you should be able to get most places, superchargers are still eons away from being as available as gas stations. Often, the distance between one and the next closest is so barely within range that if you miss the exit, you're spending the night in whatever town the next exit leads to. It's a lifestyle adjustment. 3. Tesla's are amazing. But the catch is that while they are sold surprisingly cheap, they are ENORMOUSLY expensive to repair, even the most minor of damage. The tech and the unique body build can mean a simple fender bender will render your car totaled because repairs can easily be $20k or more. Conclusion: EVs are the future. They really are. When you drive them, the tech, the efficiency, the clean feeling, the torque, etc. it's great, it feels like the future. Especially if you can get one with some smart features like Autopilot or Supercruise. But due to a lack of fast charging infrastructure, it's just not there yet. If you buy one, have a gas car as a backup/long range option. But to be honest, the best option for today is a hybrid. Something that might get you 50 miles on a battery (good for 85% of your daily needs) and a 12-14 gallon gas tank. That way you get all the daily benefits of a modern EV (namely, the cost savings) but you'll never have range anxiety. At least for 2024, that's the route I'd recommend as a yearlong Tesla owner.

[@mikeshafer]

I'm not buying another EV until they are all on NACS and Supercharger ready. I think 2025 is going to be the real beginning of the S-curve for EV adoption.

[@user-xi8ex5cl6c]

All Stores Please Lower the price of all Military and Local for all Brands of Electric Carz and Production Cost Now That's too much $$ Wirld Now 🙏🙏🙏

[@rp9674]

NO CALIFORNIA REBATE! California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project is over: Effective November 8, 2023, CVRP will no longer be accepting new applications.

[@j.tamburello4053]

Even though Hyundai’s don’t qualify, they give you the $7,500 right off the top.

[@Fitforacting]

6:03 are you showing off a 2020 Model 3 talking about the best Ev’s?? 😮

[@toby9999]

Problem is price and an over emphasis on SUVs. I don't like SUVs, and EVs are way too expensive.

[@Wombah-rc6zz]

I'm a fuel cell devotee because refueling with hydrogen takes about the same time as refueling with petrol[gas]. Plus unlike lithium batteries, fuel cells don't wear out & so don't need replacing. So, from where I stand, fuel cell EVs are therefore superior to lithium battery EVs! What do you think?

[@SpottedSharks]

I can refuel my EV at home in my garage in my sleep.

[@mahdinoor7236]

The problem is hydrogen infrastructure! It's non existent

[@parasharkchari]

All the practical advantages of FCVs are defeated by the lack of infrastructure. While there was a possibility of that problem clearing away with suitable investment, the fact remains that electric charging proliferated far sooner and more rapidly. It's no longer a surmountable hurdle. Fuel Cells have a far better future in aircraft and mass transit, I'd say. In mass transit, turnaround times are extremely important to maximize overall throughput. Of course, electric delivered directly is the more efficient option overall, but for buses and local transit, it's an option. For aircraft, batteries can never work at any point because they're just too heavy. Weight is everything for an aircraft.

[@TheOnlyName]

Cybertruck...

[@thesmartguyy]

EV6 and ioniq 6 are sweet, but I can't buy them knowing the Kia Boyz are on the prowl. Even if they can’t actually steal it, the fact that they have a Kia and Hyuandai badge respectfully will make them target to break ins, vandalism, and theft attempts.

[@user-dv5if1hm2w]

It's settled. Don't worry...

[@b286guy]

BMW i4

[@hannibalhector3719]

Now kith

[@gsc512]

There isn't enough lithium to put 130 lbs of it in each vehicle if its not going to cost more then gold. 😅 (Tesla battery est.) around 17-20 million metric tons Estimates of total lithium reserves on Earth vary, but they are generally believed to be around 17-20 million metric tons Cars on earth 1.474 billion cars

[@robby3467]

There's more than enough lithium on this planet and it's also a recyclable material. But let's be honest... it's not just about lithium is it? There are those who oppose EVs for political partisan reasons... people who deny science at every opportunity but love their tech toys.

[@sahhull]

If an EV was a viable alternative form of transport. The government wouldn't need legislation to force people into buying them.

[@-gy2id]

wait til you realize how much money the government has spent to prop up gas powered cars for the last 90 years

[@abigailhubbard1055]

I'm wanting to get an EV, but they are all so boring looking. I love my Juke Nismo because it's unique. I can walk out to a parking lot and find it easily. It stands out in a sea of sedans and crossovers that all look pretty much the same. EV's need more personality.

[@kyleshoemaker351]

As more electric cars come out, I burn more and more garbage, leaves, and plastic in my back yard to make up for the lost pollution.

[@POINDXTRMUSIC]

When you buy an EV, you buy the charging infrastructure. And CCS is spooky these days

[@swjeisj]

for coding and graphic design Which laptop should you buy? HP victus (16GB DDR4, i7 12650h, RTX 3050ti) either Dell G15 (16GB DDR5, Ryzen 7-6800H, RTX 3050Ti) I want quality and long duration. I accept other recommendations

[@toyotaprius79]

They're all damned crossovers No wonder the EU and US are getting nervous, whipping up Yellow Peril. China's market actually have more competent and affordable EVs that aren't pretentious SUVs/Crossovers that relies on excessive luxury and range to seem competitive. Economic collapse is imminent

[@SteveandLizDonaldson]

Musk is really working at making it hard to want a Tesla.

[@lioneaglegriffin]

I wouldn't mind a Tesla for the price point even though I didn't like the model 3 that much. But i'm at the point i'm willing to pay more to avoid patronizing his business.

[@DJL78]

Antuan is the last person standing covering cars over at CNET. The current ownership gutted and destroyed the brand. It is basically a shell of it’s former self. AI generated content mixed with garbage and stock footage. What a shame.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Is Brian Cooley no longer at CNET?

[@DJL78]

@@TheRealLaughingGravy pretty much. Even though he will eternally be on payroll. The good days are done.

[@toyotaprius79]

Welcome to late stage Capitalism

[@christophresmerowski1824]

HELLO THERE: A new study found that fueling electric vehicles costs roughly $17 per gallon. In its paper "Overcharged Expectations: Unmasking the True Costs of Electric Vehicles," the Texas Public Policy Foundation stipulated that the hidden costs of fueling EVs drastically outweigh its low upfront fueling costs. The hidden costs come from an increased burden on the energy grid exerted by charging stations, and an enormous amount of federal subsidies.

[@SpottedSharks]

Nonsense. Funded by Big Oil.

[@emikomina]

Tesla - 👍 Volkswagen - 👍 Ford - 👍 hyundai - 👎🤢🤢🤮🤮 kia - 👎🤢🤢🤮🤮

[@stevegraboff1990]

This is a kia commercial!! Total BS! I am deleting my cnet app

[@luged]

Bye yo, I'll see you in the comments on the next CNET video I'm sure.

[@SMX815]

Give a Tesla model Y all day long!

[@Ermamerm]

If we have to move to electric cars can they at least not all look identical

[@kwestionariusz1]

So where are chinese EVs🫥

[@Anthony-dj4nd]

Pass

[@camronrubin8599]

Won’t have a choice here soon bub. Especially after EVs are cheaper than gas cars, they already are. If you know how to find it

[@Anthony-dj4nd]

@@camronrubin8599 Working from home I don't need a car.... I ride my bike locally. Much better for the environment and I get exercise 😏

[@deebee4575]

EVs run on remote combustion engines.

[@zulubob5824]

Not enough range......pass

[@Hello.people.575]

EV Vehicles are Not cost effective. You can Not go long distance with needing a recharge The repairs are too expensive. ** They'll are a Big Rip off. You must have money to burn to own and or drive any EV Vehicle. If you travel to a remote area , then your chances of are Zero to fine a charge station. Plus compare to a gasoline vehicle ev are only good around town. Plus your electric bill in different areas will kill you on the cost a time consuming. ** Stick to a gasoline vehicle .

[@SpottedSharks]

None of this is true.

[@JamalJohnson-se4mz]

Which of this vehicles can the government not control? If they make another plandemic would they be able to disabled the vehicle?

[@samoylov1973]

Unfair and biased. OK there are Korean and US car makers in this promo. Where are Chineese EVs? And mind you, no interior of a car is shown. Just a wheel of a KIA for a brief moment. That's becauses the EVs in the video are all plastic inside. And they are overpriced. You can't easily fool people on the era of Internet ;-)

[@knoxxgrim_6678]

Electric cars is the dumbest idea i ever seen and people that buy them are just throwing away there money cause it not gonna last why? Cause in some states like California there telling people not to charge your car at home over night cause it put a lot of stress on the power grid, please use a power station....So imagine when more than half the country have Electric Vehicles what do you think is going to happen? even though i don't think it will make it that far but just imagine......The power grid will be in trouble.....the biggest waste of money in American History

[@Steve-racer]

Friends don’t let friends buy electric cars!!!!!

[@luged]

Friends don't let drunk friends post on KZbin. But I'm guessing you don't have many friends.

[@CombatLegsVIDS]

Best EV advice I've ever heard: Don't buy an EV

[@luged]

Best advice I've heard is ignore people with VIDS in their user name

[@CombatLegsVIDS]

@@luged I'm not a people I'm a person

[@luged]

@CombatLegsVIDS and you're the only person who could have VIDS in your name? That's cool, I guess you have it trademarked around the world? That's cool, how'd you get the trademark?

[@CombatLegsVIDS]

@@luged No, but I keep it that name because I love getting people's reactions to it. I want to tell you the backstory even though I don't care if you care. I made this account like 10+ years ago when the free online game Combat Arms was popular. I was a little kid who figured out how to screen record the gameplay and wanted to post some highlights to show friends. Posted a couple videos, got bored then took the videos down. I remembered my account password years later and realized my name was funny without context and kept it. Glad that you got triggered, buddy 😆

[@luged]

@CombatLegsVIDS you.... aren't very bright huh? Your name didn't "trigger" me, I used it as a joke on your stupid statement about EVs.

[@monkeymenso]

Don't buy ev cars. If you need to repair them, there are a few mechanics that can fix them. And all of them work for the company, so they are going to charge you very high. The infrastructure is horrible. There are a few chargers, some of them don't work properly, and they say you can charge your car in around 20 minutes, but what if there are cars in front of the line. That could take hours. They're expensive compared with regular cars. In other words, it is the beginning of this technology, and you want to be used as guinea pigs. Wait 10 more years.

[@jonathanbulkheed338]

Any repairs required are going to be covered under warranty typically within the first 8 to 10 years or 100K miles. - Most people don't have long distance traveling requirements daily, therefore are going to be charging at home. - The typical cost of a decent reliable EV is still significantly less than the cost of the average new vehicle in America which is $48K.

[@nevco8774]

I would say today it might be the perfect time to buy a commuter EV who really needs a newer car, has the ability to charge it at home, the range can easily cover the commute even in the coldest days of the winter, has a different primary car in the family. The fear of new technology brings those rumors that it is going to be difficult to fix an EV. It reminds me the same nonsensical fear promoted towards me when I bought my first car - a HEV in 2005. I still own the same HEV. No big repairs were needed during those years. However I spent lots of money to repair my ICE car which I should have gotten rid of but still keep it since my wife loves it. That written a BEV has considerably less moving parts vs a HEV. That means a BEV should be even more reliable vs HEV. Finally the maintenance of a BEV is much less than for a HEV.

[@carollwilliams1911]

😂😂what? You obviously don't own one. I've had my mach e since 2021... spent less than 200 dollars on maintenance. Ev charging could be faster but the price I pay compared to gas cars is muchhhhhhh lower. The longest I've waited for a charge was 15 min then another 30 for charging

[@monkeymenso]

@carollwilliams1911 have you used your car for traveling?

[@OfficialGrandAdmiralThrawn]

Ehhh yes and no to a few of your points. Most of the points can be answered simply as "it depends on where you live" or "how many miles your daily commute is". The city where I work used to only have maybe 10 chargers in the entire city 5 years ago. Now; there are hundreds. I've been to cities that don't have a single EV charger, even at car dealerships. That's not uncommon either. But again,that depends on where you live. We also have 2 separate EV specific mechanics that are not tied directly to any manufacturer within a 25 mile radius. Home charging is definitely the way to go, as not only is it intuitive, but also significantly cheaper. It used to cost me over $50 a week for my daily commute to work every week. Not including weekend trips around town. Now, it's around $9-$11 a week, depending on weekend trips. They historically have been much more expensive, however, they are now much cheaper, some even cheaper than gas options. The Bolt EUV with the 7,500 tax credit(that now applies as cash down at purchase) makes it only about $21,000 for a brand new car. Also, Chevrolet offers to cover the installation of a home charger with that purchase, so you only pay between $250-$1200 depending on model of charging unit you want and you've added home charging. The worst part is indeed the batteries, and it's what everyone worries about. However, most major manufacturers have atleast an 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty for the battery and some go beyond even that.