As sales of electric vehicles have exploded over the past decade, manufacturers have rushed to fill every niche in the market. New sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs (of four different size classes), and even vans have all been released with fully-electric power plants.Luxury vehicles are of course no exception to this rule. Manufacturers like Audi, Porsche, and Jaguar have developed electric power plants and released brand new vehicles. Many more luxury manufacturers are set to follow suit in the 2020s.With the rapid progression of battery technology, modern EVs have more range than ever before. An EV is now a practical option for nearly any consumer, and luxury EVs give you that extra bit of comfort and feeling of quality. What’s not to like?
JAGUAR I-PACE
The Jaguar I-Pace released in 2018 to rave reviews, receiving 62 international awards and becoming one of the most highly-awarded production vehicles ever. Within a year, the I-Pace had cemented its place in the luxury EV world.Although its rated range of 234 miles may be optimistic, this compact SUV won its many awards for other merits. A unique design (both in terms of its interior and exterior) and surprisingly engaging driving dynamics make this another solid choice for a luxury EV.
MERCEDES-BENZ EQC
Yet another entry in the packed electric SUV market comes in the form of the Mercedes-Benz EQC compact SUV, the first entry in Mercedes’ new EQ family of electric vehicles. We will see many more EQ models in the coming years—Mercedes plans to introduce 10 by 2022.For now, the EQC serves as the lonely representative of the EQ family. So how does it perform? While it offers a refined ride and luxurious cabin (as one would expect from Mercedes), its 220 miles of range slightly lags behind some of its competitors.
AUDI E-TRON
The automotive giant that is Volkswagen Group (the second largest automobile manufacturer in the world, behind only Toyota) has quantifiably invested in the world of EVs. Development of its MEB modular platform for electric vehicles will cost an estimated 80 billion euros in total.Despite that the Audi e-tron was not developed on this new platform, it still represents one of Volkswagen Group’s first forays into the EV market. While 204 miles of range may seem a little low, this mid-size SUV makes up for it in terms of supreme ride quality and comfort.
PORSCHE TAYCAN
Volkswagen Group encompasses not just Volkswagen and Audi, but many different brands ranging from Bentley and Bugatti to Lamborghini and Ducati. Porsche—manufacturer of the world-class 911—is just another major marque under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.Although the new Porsche Taycan models (available as sedans and wagons) don’t use the MEB platform either, VW’s enormous resources have still been utilized. This has resulted in the Taycan models: incredible driving dynamics, quick charging, and Tesla-rivaling 0-60 times.
TESLA MODEL S
Now nearly a decade old, the Tesla Model S still continues to be the inevitable performance benchmark that some new EVs (such as the Taycan models) are compared to. Despite years of technological progression, Teslas still offer some of the best range and acceleration figures.One can make the argument that the Model S is in fact not a luxury vehicle due in equal parts to a budget interior and inconsistent build quality. However, at present, no other EVs quite match the Model S in range or acceleration although the Taycan comes exceptionally close.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
BMW has also notably invested in electric vehicles, with its hybrid i8 sports car and hybrid-optional i3 hatchback. This isn’t the full extent of BMW’s electric investment, as the German brand plans to release two more EVs in the coming years: the i4 and iX3.The iX3 won’t be a completely new design, instead being an electrified version of the existing X3 compact SUV and in fact sharing a platform with it. Similarly, the i4 sedan will share a factory, platform, and design resemblance with BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe.Lastly, the upcoming Tesla Model Y will join the already saturated electric SUV market; itself the second SUV in Tesla’s lineup after the Model X mid-size SUV. Tesla plans to begin deliveries of this compact SUV in March 2020.With such a rapid pace in technological innovation, there has been a commensurate increase in the number of new electric vehicles introduced into the market. With so many options already available and yet many more to come, which would be your pick? Comment away!
