By
Karl is a former Senior Editor at CarBuzz and first joined the company as a freelancer in 2019. After graduating as a copywriter and studying journalism, his early work life included stints in television scriptwriting and digital marketing. While this period helped hone his writing skills, it had far too little to do with cars. Karl never gave up on the desire to work in the automotive realm, and his Escalade-sized car magazine collection was a constant reminder of that goal. Later, he chased down the then-editor of a major motoring publication on social media, leading to his first motoring news story being published in print.
Before CarBuzz, he spent nights writing automotive articles for various sites, including Porsche Hangout and Foreign Affairs Motorsport, the latter a Florida-based repair shop. A permanent move into the automotive industry followed, and today, Karl covers everything from model reviews to features and how-to guides, while he has represented CarBuzz at global launches for models like the Lexus RZ and Audi SQ8. He also worked in CarBuzz’s news division and enjoys both the excitement of a breaking news story and the opportunity to delve more deeply into niche motoring topics. Karl credits the unlikely combination of a family-owned Mazda 626 and BMW 7 Series from the 1980s for cementing his passion for cars. He has an equal appreciation for cheap, economical runabouts and high-priced exotics, believing that almost any car serves a useful purpose. After many years behind the wheel of small, sporty hatchbacks, Karl is now trying to keep the rapidly shrinking wagon segment alive with his Volvo V50 T5.
Summary
- Luxury models dominate the list of top-rated EVs for 2023, but the Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach-E are exceptions.
- High-priced EVs emphasize excellent performance, high-tech features, and impressive comfort.
- Porsche has the most prevalent presence here, thanks to the extensive Taycan lineup.
They may still account for a small percentage of total car sales, but electric vehicles have come a long way. Not only have modern EVs evolved from being awkwardly styled compacts with severely restricted ranges on a full charge, but many of them are tangibly better cars than their gas-powered counterparts. We’ve put together the best EVs of 2023, based on our BuzzScore rating methodology. While we hope to see more affordably priced EVs on this list in the near future, we’re encouraged that non-luxury models like the Kia EV6 performed strongly in our testing.
Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here.
Cadillac Lyriq
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Single Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
340 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
325 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
-
97/82 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
Lyriq
- Segment
-
Compact Luxury SUV
With a BuzzScore of 9.8 out of 10, the Cadillac Lyriq is one of our highest-rated individual models, a notable achievement considering this is Cadillac’s first EV. The Lyriq has lots of character, inside and out, which isn’t something we can say about every EV. Like Cadillacs of old, it envelopes occupants in a cocoon of luxury; the materials are tasteful and the cabin is extremely quiet on the move.
The 500-horsepower dual-motor model is especially rapid and you can cover over 300 miles on a full charge. Starting at a little over $60,000, the Lyriq comfortably undercuts some other midsize EVs like the BMW iX and Audi e-tron.
Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
509 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
80/80 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
We review each of the Taycan variants individually, and the Sport Turismo is the first of several Taycans that appear on this list, thanks to their well-earned BuzzScores. Granted, any car that starts at over $130,000 needs to be good, but the Taycan Sport Turismo lives up to the expectations of that price tag. About as sporty as wagons get, the 2023 Sport Turismo is available in GTS guise, which equates to over 500 hp and dramatic acceleration. Responses through the corners are crisp despite the wagon’s weight, and the wagon body frees up more cargo space than is available in the normal Taycan. For those lucky enough to afford it, the Sport Turismo is a brilliant electric wagon.
Kia EV6
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Single Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
167 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
258 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
-
136/100 MPG
- Base Trim Fuel Economy Equivalent (city/highway/combined)
-
136/100/117 MPGe
- Make
-
Kia
- Model
-
EV6
- Segment
-
Compact SUV
The Kia EV6 is proof that a brilliant EV doesn’t have to cost luxury-car money. The 2023 model starts at under $43,000, but it does not benefit from federal tax credits, which would’ve brought the total cost into the $30k range. The EV6 is enjoyable to drive and quick enough, but the Standard Range model with RWD only has a range of 232 miles, which won’t be enough for everyone. Most people will find the interior an agreeable place to be, with smart materials, lots of features, and good space utilization. Overall, Kia’s electric crossover is one of the top choices in its class.
Tesla Model S Plaid
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Single Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
1,020 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
119/112 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
It’s been a couple of years since the record-breaking Tesla Model S Plaid blasted onto the scene with 1,020 hp and a two-second 0-60 time that embarrassed every gas-powered exotic out there. Those numbers are still astonishing today, and you’ll need to spend over double the price to acquire a sedan with similar capabilities, that being the Lucid Air Sapphire. The Model S Plaid has a competitive range and a modern interior with many high-tech features. It’s comfortable, quiet, and the styling has aged well. While it’s not put together as carefully as an Audi, the Model S Plaid is still a staggering achievement, at a bargain price.
Porsche Taycan
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
321 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
79/88 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
Matching the Model S Plaid in our ratings is the first of several Taycans. The magic of Porsche’s electric sedan is that it’s consistently excellent, even from the base model without any extras. That being said, you still have to cough up over $80k for the cheapest 2023 Taycan. The Porsche accelerates swiftly, changes direction with an athleticism that belies its size, and incorporates an extra pair of doors more elegantly than the Panamera. Depending on the variant, the range on a full charge is between 206 and 246 miles, which is poor compared to the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S. But the Taycan is easily the sportiest sedan of the three.
Porsche Taycan Turbo
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
616 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
81/80 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
With up to 670 hp in the Turbo and 750 hp in the Turbo S (in boost mode), the Taycan Turbo is breathtakingly quick. Even without the boost, it makes 616 hp. In the case of the Turbo S, the 0-60 mph time is only 2.6 seconds. Despite how quick it is, the much cheaper Model S Plaid is even quicker, but the Porsche’s steering and sporty driving position make it more enjoyable everywhere else. The Taycan Turbo also rides well and has a stylishly crafted interior, but the range – like the rest of the Taycan lineup – isn’t amazing. The Turbo S can only cover 222 miles on a full charge.
Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
616 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
80/78 MPG
- Make
-
This Taycan takes everything we love about the Taycan Turbo and wraps it in a cool, wagon-style body. With overboost, the Turbo S serves up 750 hp, so the 0-60 time is way below three seconds. The fact that those performance figures are available in a car with an available Gravel Mode and an Off-Road Design Package borders on comical, but yes, this Taycan has a tad more rough road ability than normal Taycans. The Turbo S costs $190k, so like other Taycans, the Turbo Cross Turismo isn’t cheap.
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
375 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
80/80 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
With a BuzzScore of 9.3, the normal Taycan Cross Turismo is as deserving of a place on this list as the rest of the Taycan family. Without the insane outputs of the Turbo models, the price dips to just below $100k for the 2023 model year. With at least 375 hp, no version of the Taycan Cross Turismo is slow, and both trims have standard all-wheel drive. You’ll probably want to dip into the optional extras list to equip some items that should be standard. Other than that and a mediocre range on a full charge, this is a superb electric wagon.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Single Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
266 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
317 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
-
110/96 MPG
- Base Trim Fuel Economy Equivalent (city/highway/combined)
-
110/96/103 MPGe (RWD)
- Make
-
Ford
- Model
-
Mustang Mach-E
- Segment
-
Compact SUV
The Mustang Mach-E is the first of seven accomplished 2023 EVs to have an identical BuzzScore of 9.1 out of 10. More significantly, the Mach-E is one of the few non-luxury models on this list, demonstrating that a top-class EV doesn’t have to have a prestigious badge or sky-high price. The 2023 Mustang Mach-E is sportier to drive and to look at than its Tesla Model Y rival. The California Route 1 trim can cover a decent 312 miles on a full charge, and you can go for the energetic GT if you want a seriously quick crossover.
Tesla Model S
- Base Trim Engine
-
Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Single Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
670 hp
- Fuel Economy
-
124/115 MPG
- Make
-
- Model
-
They may not be as quick as the Plaid, but the normal Model S sedan variants have a near-unbeatable combination of range and performance. Take the Long Range, for instance, with its range of over 400 miles and 0-60 time of close to three seconds – you’ll struggle to find many cars that are quicker off the mark than this one. A spacious cabin and a simple, sophisticated exterior are other Model S virtues, but do make sure you can live with the absence of physical controls.