EVs have dawned upon us and have become competent mainstream alternatives to cars with internal combustion engines in the last few years. While their performance was never in doubt, available range has led to some pretty extreme anxiety. The range was one of the major reasons why most folks were skeptical about switching to green cars. But, things are quite different now. Technology is getting better every single day and automakers are able to improve the range of cars like never before. Gone are the days when achieving even 400 miles of range was a distant dream. Today, cars like Lucid Air offer more than 500 miles of range and Tesla more than 400 miles. Concept cars like the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX claim to offer over 600 miles of range. It won’t be too long before that becomes a reality, too. For now, here is a list of EVs that offer the best range in 2022.

Lucid Air – 520 miles

White Lucid Air
Lucid Motors

The Lucid Air broke cover a couple of years back and it felt like we finally have a true-blue competitor to Tesla in a lot of aspects, especially range. The fact that the brains behind the product, Peter Rawlinson, was also the man responsible for the Tesla Model S made an even more compelling case for the Lucid Air to be the ultimate Tesla Model S-killer. The car’s EPA rating was revealed in 2021 and it stood at a staggering 520 miles, courtesy of a 118-kWh battery pack. The top-spec Lucid Air Dream Edition Range is the model that offers this EPA-estimated range and is currently the production EV that offers the best range. Although this was a limited-edition model of sorts and isn’t up for sale anymore, there is the ‘Grand Touring’ trim that offers 516 miles of range on a full charge, which is a negligible loss when compared to the former’s range numbers. Here is how much range the Lucid Air trims offer:

- Air Dream Edition Range – 520 miles ($169,000 – not available anymore)

- Air Grand Touring – 516 miles ($154,000)

- Air Dream Edition Performance – 471 miles ($169,000 – not available anymore)

- Air Touring – 406 miles ($107,400)

- Air Pure – 406 miles ($87,400)

Tesla Model S – 405 miles

2021 Tesla Model S
Tesla

The Tesla Model S became the first vehicle to attain an EPA-estimated range of over 400 miles, courtesy of a 100 kWh battery pack. While its happiness was short-lived because Lucid soon surpassed it as the EV that offers the best range in the world, the Tesla Model S Long Range is still a pretty efficient car. With a range of 405 miles, it manages to clinch onto the second spot for now. At the time of writing, the Model S Long Range is not available for booking. But, you’ve got other trims – the dual-motor version and the Plaid – that can be purchased. Here’s how efficient they are:

- Model S Dual-Motor AWD – 375 miles ($99,990)

- Model S Plaid – 348 miles ($135,990)

Mercedes-Benz EQS – 350 miles

The Mercedes-Benz EQS was launched in 2021 as the German automaker’s first luxury sedan. Built on an all-new platform, the EQS came with a ton of mouth-watering specs and an eye-watering price tag. At that time, Mercedes only revealed the WLTP-estimated range, which was pretty impressive at 478 miles. However, the EPA rating came out a few months later at 350 miles. It was definitely not as impressive as the WLTP estimated range, but it is still one of the cars that offer the best range today. 350 miles is the range offered by the 450+ single-motor model. If you are a potential customer and the range is a deal-breaker, we’ve got some good news for you. Edmunds tested the EQS and it managed to cover 422 miles on a single charge, beating the EPA estimations by a whopping 72 miles – or over 20-percent, if that makes you feel better! Even if we take the much lower EPA estimations into consideration, the EQS has managed to find a spot in this list of top 10 most efficient EVs on sale today.

- EQS 450+ - 350 miles ($102,310)

- EQS 580 4MATIC – N/A ($125,900)

Tesla Model 3 – 334 miles

Red Tesla Model 3
Tesla

The Model 3 took over the EV market by storm when it was launched. It was – and still is – a practical choice that comes with a good mix of performance, technology, and most importantly, range. In the Long Range trim, it offers a range of 334 miles. Although it isn’t the $35,000-car that it used to be – costs $55,990 for this trim now – it still offers the best range at the price point. The Model 3 is offered in three trims, and here’s how much range each one offers:

- Model 3 Long Range – 334 miles ($49,390)

- Model 3 RWD – 267 miles ($46,990)

- Model 3 Performance – 315 miles ($62,990)

Tesla Model X – 330 miles

White Tesla Model X
Tesla 

The entire Tesla range that’s currently available has found a spot on this list. The Model X is the SUV that the automaker offers, and it comes with a lot of things that you can like about it. This seven-seater is capable of sprinting to 60 mph from rest in just 3.8 seconds. Mind you, this is in its slowest avatar! It offers a range of 330 miles while at it, which is rather impressive. Opt for the performance-based Model X Plaid and you’ll be able to drive for 311 miles before you’ll have to plug it in.

- Model X AWD – 330 miles ($114,990)

- Model X Plaid – 311 miles ($138,990)

GMC Hummer EV – 329 miles

The last place you’d find a ‘Hummer’ is on the most efficient cars list. A moniker known to be a gas-guzzler has transformed its image completely to find a spot on this list. GMC reincarnated the Hummer badge for its electric ‘supertruck’ and took everyone by surprise. Although it retained the mighty physical stature of the yesteryear Hummer, it was the exact opposite when it came to its diet. Switching to electric motors and batteries for energy didn’t exactly make it an efficient vehicle. This massive beast weighs over 9,000 pounds and comes with some insane specs and features. A big part of that 9,000-pound weight is the 200 kWh battery pack. If you do the math, 329 miles from a 200 kWh pack is actually quite poor. But hey, the bottom line is it can travel 329 miles on a single charge. Can your much-lighter Nissan Leaf do that?

- Hummer EV2 – 250+ miles est. ($79,995)

- Hummer EV2X – 300+ miles est. ($89,995)

- Hummer EV3X – 300+ miles est. ($99,995)

- Hummer EV Edition 1 – 329 miles est. ($110,295 - not available anymore)

BMW iX – 324 miles

Grey 2022 BMW iX parked
Credit: BMW

The BMW iX is BMW’s peak into the future of electric SUVs. To put it simply, it is the electric equivalent of the X5. It comes with all the bells and whistles one can ask for, and also Hans Zimmer’s iconic sounds. The Bavarian automaker offers the iX in two trims – the xDrive50 and the performance-oriented M60. With 0-60 mph in 4.4- and 3.6 seconds, respectively, both are pretty potent machines when it comes to straight-line sprints. But, what’s also impressive is the range. Backed by a 105.2-kWh battery pack, the iX can deliver up to 324 miles on a single charge as per EPA estimations. This is when you opt for 20-inch wheels. Opt for the 21-inch wheels and the range drops to 305 miles, and to 315 miles with the 22-inch set. Even though the 324-mile rating might not be groundbreaking, it still is one of the top 10 most frugal EVs at the time of penning this article.

- iX xDrive50 – 324 miles ($83,200)

- iX M60 – N/A ($105,100)

Tesla Model Y – 318 miles

The Model Y is essentially the crossover version of the Model 3 and has been a hit for Tesla. Crossovers, in general, have been one of the most popular segments for the last few years. Even in the budding EV space, this segment has got loads of offerings. There’s the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Kia EV6, to name a few. Despite that, the Model Y has been able to hold a strong footing. The Model Y Long Range offers 318 miles of range on a full charge, whereas the Model Y Performance offers 303 miles of range. Either way, the Model Y is yet another Tesla that has managed to find a spot on this list.

- Model Y Long Range – 318 miles ($62,990)

- Model Y Performance – 303 miles ($67,990)

Rivian R1S – 316 miles

Rivian burst onto the automotive scene back in 2018 at the LA Auto Show where it revealed its electric pickup truck the R1T. Ever since, it has been in news pretty much the whole time. Rivian decided to roll out the pickup truck+SUV combo, just like Bollinger with the B1 and B2, and the GMC with the Hummer truck and SUV. Both the vehicles are mechanically the same. Here, you get seven seats and a closed roof. While the battery capacities are also the same, the R1S gives you two extra miles of range with the ‘Large’ battery pack. The 135 kWh battery pack offers enough juice to travel 316 miles on a single charge. A bigger battery pack will be coming next year that is said to offer over 400 miles of range.

- Explore – 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 316 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles ($72,500)

- Adventure - 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 316 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles ($78,000)

- Launch Edition – 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 316 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles ($90,000 - not available anymore)

Rivian R1T – 314 miles

The R1S’ twin, the R1T takes a spot on this list, too. Destined to take on the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 Lightning amongst other pickup trucks, the R1T looked to be one of the most complete packages out there. Things like an 800+-horsepower quad-motor setup, performance specs like 0-60 mph in three seconds, and a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds impressed almost everyone. As a cherry on the top, Rivian even announced that the R1T will have a range of over 400 miles. This would be with the 180 kWh optional battery pack, which has been delayed for now and will arrive in 2023. For now, the R1T can be had with a 135-kWh battery that is good for 314 miles as per EPA estimations. It might be a bummer for folks who were keen to buy a Rivian, but you’ll either have to do with 314 miles now or wait until next year to get the $10,000-Max battery pack with 400+ miles that will arrive in 2023.

- Explore – 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 314 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles ($67,500)

- Adventure - 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 314 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles ($73,000)

- Launch Edition – 105 kWh: ~230 miles; 135 kWh: 314 miles; 180 kWh: 400+ miles miles ($85,000 - not available anymore)


Model 

Range

Lucid Air

520 miles

Tesla Model S

405 miles

Mercedes-Benz EQS

350 miles

Tesla Model 3

334 miles

Tesla Model X

330 miles

GMC Hummer EV

329 miles

BMW iX 

324 miles

Tesla Model Y

318 miles

Rivian R1S

316 miles

Rivian R1T

314 miles