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Best luxury EVs: Go electric in style

Luxury electric vehicles have always been arguably the most important EVs for the industry. Sure, these aren’t the cars for the masses, but they are the cars that leverage new technologies and push development forward first. After all, the first so-called cool EV was the relatively expensive Tesla Model S, which paved the way for more affordable cars like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

These days, there’s a much larger selection of luxury EVs, and if you have some money to spend and want something high-end, there should be a vehicle out there for you. Curious about which luxury EV is best for your needs? Here’s a look at all the best luxury EVs you can get right now, along with their starting prices.

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Lucid Air ($69,900)

Front three quarter view of the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance EV.
Lucid

The Lucid Air isn’t just luxurious; it’s technologically advanced. The Lucid Air offers the most range of any EV out there right now, and some of the higher-end models offer a range of up to 512 miles. That’s absolutely huge and means that you won’t have to worry much about charging in day-to-day driving. It’s also incredibly fast, as some Lucid Air trims can hit 60 miles per hour in only 1.89 seconds.

But it’s also highly luxurious. The car has a stunning panoramic glass roof and a roomy interior. It’s built with premium materials both inside and out, including beautiful stitched leather seat coverings. The seats offer heating, ventilation, and massaging functionality. The interior of the vehicle also offers a somewhat unique display setup with a wide screen for instrument monitoring and infotainment, and another screen below it to control things like climate, drive modes, and so on.

BMW i7 ($105,700)

Front and side of the BMW i7 eDrive50
Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

The BMW i7 has made headlines in the past for features like the widescreen TV that can descend from the ceiling for back seat passengers. But beyond features like that, it’s an incredibly luxurious car. The plush seating with heating, ventilation, and massaging makes riding in the vehicle incredibly comfortable. Both front and rear passengers will get access to those features. Rear passengers also have displays of their own, which they can use to control their own climate zones, seat controls, and window shades. The car is adorned with LED accent lighting throughout the interior, coupled with a wide curved display at the front for infotainment.

Arguably, this vehicle is better to be a passenger in than to drive, but it’s also a great EV. The vehicle has a range of up to 321 miles, depending on which trim you get. If you get the higher performance i7 M70, you’ll be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds. That’s pretty quick, even if it’s not quite as fast as the Lucid.

BMW iX ($87,250)

A 2023 BMW iX M60.
Ronan Glon / Digital Trends

Those who want something slightly bigger, with many of the features of the i7, should go for the BMW iX. The iX doesn’t have all the same features as the i7, but most of the things that make being a passenger in the i7 enjoyable are present in the iX. You’ll still get the super plush seating, the dedicated passenger controls for climate, and the stunning accent lighting. While testing many of the cars on this list, I found BMW’s seat coverings to be among the best, and the leather is both durable and comfortable. The iX also benefits from a massive panoramic glass roof, which helps make it feel even more spacious than it already is.

As an electric car, the iX isn’t bad. The car gets up to 309 miles of range. It has a charging speed of up to around 150 kilowatts, though some drivers have reported being able to charge a little faster than that.

Mercedes-Benz EQS ($104,400)

Black 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ on front of trees
Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

The Mercedes-Benz EQS is Mercedes’ take on a luxury electric vehicle. At this point, there are a number of EQS trims to choose from. Say what you will about the exterior design of the EQS (I don’t love it), but you can’t deny how luxurious the vehicle is. On the inside of the car, you’ll get super plush seating with dedicated pillow headrests. The cabin is built from super premium materials and features a large display for infotainment. There’s nice accent lighting throughout and plenty of storage space, including a wireless charging pad for your phone. Even Mercedes’ software has been getting better, though you still might end up simply using CarPlay.

The EV specs on the EQS vary widely depending on the trim you get, but you can get up to 352 miles of range, which is pretty good. You can also get an acceleration to 60 mph in up to 4.1 seconds, which is reasonably quick. Having driven the EQS on a number of occasions, I will say that while it’s not the most responsive car to drive, it has relatively soft suspension that that helps make the road feel a whole lot smoother.

Porsche Taycan ($99,400)

2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
Porsche

The Porsche Taycan is the luxury EV to get if you’re looking for an electric sports car. The Taycan offers that classic Porsche look, with a sporty appearance and feel both inside and out. The seats offer a partial leather covering that can be personalized during configuration. However, there’s also a leather-free option too. This particular vehicle is a four-door car, so while it’s definitely a sports car, you could still use it for the family.

The overall performance and range of the car depend on the trim that you get. The highest-end version can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.1 seconds, which is incredibly fast. The vehicle offers up to 292 miles of range, which is fine. But it also supports a charging speed of up to 270kW, which is pretty quick and allows the car to charge from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes.

Tesla Model S ($68,490)

Silver Tesla Model S
Tesla

We couldn’t discuss luxury EVs without talking about the original luxury EV, the Tesla Model S. While the Model S has been available for some time now, it has also been updated on a number of different occasions, and it’s still an excellent choice for those who want to step up from the Model 3 sedan. The Model S embodies Tesla’s approach to design with a minimalistic interior and a sleek and stylish exterior. It comes with Tesla’s sports seats, and you also get Tesla’s software, which is among the best out there.

Tesla is known for offering premium technology in its vehicles too. The Model S is available in two trims, and depending on the trim you get, you’ll get up to 402 miles of range, which is very good. The Model S Plaid is also very quick, offering an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds. That makes it among the fastest cars out there right now.

Tesla Model X ($65,990)

Tesla Model X
Tesla

If you like the idea of the Tesla Model S, but want something a little bigger, then the Model X may be for you. The vehicle is taller overall and was made famous for its gull-wing doors that open out. That’s not only a cool party trick, but it makes the rear seat door opening bigger too, which is good news for people who have kids and constantly find themselves having to strap their kids in without enough room.

Everything else about the Model X is very Tesla. You get that minimalistic interior, the great Tesla software, and the stylish exterior design. The car doesn’t quite offer the same range as its sedan sibling, maxing out at 335 miles, though that’s still pretty good. If you upgrade to the Model X Plaid, it’s very quick too, with the ability to accelerate to 60 mph in only 2.5 seconds. For that, you’ll have to pay a little extra, though.

Christian de Looper

Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle space over the past decade-plus. Christian's byline can be found in the largest and most influential consumer tech publications on the internet. He got his start covering mobile for Talk Android, then moving to a five-year stint as a mobile contributor at Digital Trends, covering new smartphones, the rise and rollout of 5G, and the many mergers and attempted telecom mergers that took place during that time. During that time, he also covered mobile technology for the likes of TechRadar, and began covering other areas of the consumer tech industry. Today, he covers automotive and electric vehicles for Digital Trends, including all the latest and greatest EVs and everything that happens in the EV industry. He also covers personal audio for PCMag, smart home and home theater for Tom's Guide, consumer tech reviews for BGR, and general consumer technology for Forbes Vetted, and tech design for Design Milk. Since 2012 when he first began writing about consumer technology, he has also appeared in publications like Lifewire, Mashable, US News & World Report, AP Buyline, and CNN Underscored. He’s attended all the biggest trade shows in the industry, including CES, MWC, and IFA, and personally reviewed all the biggest and most important gadgets over the past ten years.

Christian studied music production at a small music school in Minnesota, where he both learned how to produce music and discovered his passion for writing. In college, he found himself wanting a job, but couldn’t go to one in person without a car or a driver’s license — so he turned to online work. He soon started writing for small phone blogs (his first big gig was at Talk Android), building his byline over time.

Christian's lack of a driver's license wasn't because of a poor driving ability. He spent the first 14 years of his life in Canberra, Australia, where he spent hours on his PlayStation 2 and honing his drumming skills. After his father got a job in Paris, France, Christian spent the next five years of his life there, learning French and developing an interest in music production. In Paris, he graduated from high school, and with the U.S. citizenship that he got through his American mother, he soon moved to Minnesota to pursue a higher education in music technology. After college, Christian moved to Los Angeles but eventually settled in Santa Cruz, California, where he now lives with his wife, daughter, and cat. When he's not hanging out with his family or working, he can be found playing PlayStation or developing a new hobby (his latest is leather-working). Oh, and he's a pretty good driver now too.

Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says
Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.

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Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.

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Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.
costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

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