Best Electric Cars for Road trips (A Complete Guide)

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Rose Morah

Which are the best electric cars for road trips?

I believe the answer lies through the lens of EV enthusiasts and experts.

We recently conducted a survey to determine the best EV cars for road trips, where we gathered feedback from EV experts and car enthusiasts who regularly go on long road trips with different EVs.

Our aim was to get their opinions on the best electric cars for road trips, and what to look out for in an EV before embarking on a long road trip.

From the survey, we concluded that a successful trip is dependent on the type of EV you going to use, and how well you plan the trip.

Based on the findings, we came to the conclusion that the best EV cars for road trips are:

Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model X
Tesla Model S
Hyundai Kona Electric
Audi e-Tron
Jaguar i-Pace

Related:

So, what exactly makes an EV car good for road trips?

Its features!

Best EV features for road trips

Range
Recharge time
Space and comfort
Superchargers availability

1. Range

This is how far an electric vehicle can travel on a single charge.

If you are a frequent road tripper, range is one of the most important features to consider before anything else. An EV with a long-range will deliver a much better road trip experience.

Fortunately, today we have sufficient-range EVs that are able to give you a seamless road trip experience.

See the Longest Range Electric Car.

The following are the best long-range electric cars in 2021.

	Electric Vehicle (EV)	Range (Measured by WLTP)
1.	Tesla Model S Long Range	379-mile range
2.	Tesla Model 3 Long Range	348-mile range
3.	Tesla Model X Long Range	314-mile range
4.	Jaguar i-Pace	292-mile range
5.	Kia e-Niro	282-mile range
6.	Hyundai Kona Electric	278-mile range
7.	Mercedes-Benz EQC	259-mile range
8.	Audi e-Tron	239-mile range

NB: The actual range may be less than what is advertised by manufacturers

In summary of the above table, Tesla S is a relatively fast EV and can go up to a 379-mile range on a single charge, making it the longest-range EV currently on the market.

However, the range is not the only determinant when you are looking to purchase an EV.

Let’s look at the next feature.

2. Recharge time

Going on a road trip with An EV that has a fast recharge time is important. However, there are a lot of controversies whenever the topic of the fastest recharge time is introduced.

Some of the reasons why it is hard to estimate the exact recharge time include:

How you charge.

Mainly based on the following factors:

The ambient temperature.
The state of the battery. For instance, is it from empty to full or half-full to full?
The type of EV. The type of EV may also limit the vehicle’s maximum charging rate.

Unproven manufacturers’ claims.

Most manufacturers report their recharge time using the level 3 charger, which is unfortunate because not all EV owners have access to them.

We did some research to determine the EV with the fastest charging time based on these facts.

The following data shows our findings on Public Chargers:

Electrical Vehicle	Charging From 20% – 80%	Charge Time	Range per hour
Tesla Model S	50kW	60 – 80 min	84 – 87 m/30 min
	150kW	30 – 30 min	169 – 260 m/30 min
Tesla Model X	50kW	60 – 80 min	67 – 70 m/30 min
	150kW	30 min	139 – 211 m/30 min
Tesla Model 3	50kW	40 – 60 min	96 – 113 m/30 min
	150kW	20 – 20 min	288 – 339 m/30 min
Audi e-Tron	50kW	70 min	59 m/30 min
	150kW	30 min	176 m/30 min
Hyundai Kona Electric	50kW	50 min	99 m/30 min
	150kW	40 min	153 m/30 min
Kia e-Niro	50kW	50 min	99 m/30 min
	150kW	30 min	152 m/30 min
Mercedes-Benz EQC	50kW	70 min	68 m/30 min
	150kW	30 min	150 m/30 min
Jaguar i-Pace	50kW	70 min	73 m/30 min
	150kW	40 min	145 m/30 min

TRIPVERSED.COM

Two key things to note from the above data:

These are not the exact results that all drivers will get when charging their EVs. Many factors play a part in how fast your EV will recharge. However, the differences in recharge times are not so far apart!
It is challenging to get constant charging time for Tesla EVs because they are always improving their vehicles. For instance, the company says that their latest Model S Plaid Plus will take only 15 minutes to charge an additional 200 miles of range.

3. Space and comfort

A good road trip EV should definitely be spacious. This means that the cargo space should be spacious enough to fit your luggage. Additionally, it should provide good legroom for your desired comfort.

EV Cargo Area Data

EV	DIMENSIONS
2021 Tesla Model S	25 – 26 cubic feet of cargo space. 58 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. 5 cubic feet of additional storage space underneath the hood. OWNER’S REVIEW The 26 cubic feet cargo space area can fit about eight carry-on-size.
2020 Tesla Model X	80 cubic feet of cargo space. OWNER’S REVIEW It has lots of space for luggage. You can flip the cargo floor to get access to more space. You can also fold the 3rd-row seats for more cargo space.
2021 Tesla Model 3	15-cubic-foot trunk OWNER’S REVIEW It has an impressive cargo space throughout the cabin.
2022 Audi e-Tron	28.5 cubic feet of cargo room (e-Tron SUV) 27.2 and 54.5 cubic feet (e-Tron Sportback) OWNER’S REVIEW It fits about seven carry-on suitcases.
2021 Hyundai Kona EV	19.2 cubic feet of space (when all of its seats are in use) 45.8 cubic feet behind the front seats. OWNER’S REVIEW The cargo space is not that impressive as compared to other SUVs.
2021 Kia e-Niro	18.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. 53 cubes with the seats folded down. OWNER’S REVIEW It is easy to organize your luggage in the cargo area because the back seats fold flat.
2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC	19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seat. OWNER’S REVIEW The cargo area is not that impressive.
2020 Jaguar i-Pace	25.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seats. 51 cubic feet with those seats folded

EV cargo area data

So, which electric car has the most cargo space?

2020 Tesla Model X has the most spacious cargo space. Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron also have a good cargo space that easily will fit your luggage when going on a road trip.

Which EV has the most legroom for drivers who are over 6 ft tall?

In our list of the best EVs for long road trips, only three made the cut; Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-Tron, and the Tesla models, after they were tested with a 6’6-ft driver.

These were the findings:

Overall the Jaguar I-pace was the best. The driver had lots of headroom and legroom when compared to the rest.
The Audi e-Tron was very comfortable, with great massage features and thigh support compared to Tesla. Unfortunately, the headroom wasn’t that great.
It is easier for a tall person (6’6 ft) to get in and out of the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron than on the Tesla models.

4. Supercharger’s availability

If you live in the US, Canada, or some European countries (such as the Netherlands, France, Germany, and the UK), Supercharger availability shouldn’t worry you if you plan to go on a road trip on your EV.

However, it’s worth noting that not all chargers are created equal. Before you purchase an EV, consider the type that would support Level 3 chargers, especially if you plan on taking frequent long road trips.

Today, Elon Musk has increased Tesla Superchargers, which currently have over 25,000 stalls worldwide.

And apart from easy access to superchargers, Tesla owners also enjoy fast charging, which makes Tesla unbeatable for long road trips.

Additionally, Electrify America is also doing a great job of building fast, reliable, and convenient EV chargers in the US.

Final word

Based on range anxiety, comfort, space, and user-friendly experience data that we collected from 500+ EV owners who shared their EV road trip experiences, below were the findings, on a score of 0 – 10

EV driver experience survey based on tripversed reports. — Data source: Tripversed official survey

The above results were a perfect indication that also drew us to our conclusion of the following EVs as the best ones for long road trips:

Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model X
Tesla Model S
Audi e-Tron
Jaguar i-Pace
Hyundai Kona Electric

The list is subject to change because more EVs are emerging, and others are improving their performance. So, we will be updating this article frequently.

Electric Cars FAQs

Which are the most popular electric car companies?

	Electric Car Company	NOW	COMING SOON
1.	Tesla	2021 Tesla Model 32021 Tesla Model Y2021 Tesla Model S2021 Tesla Model X	2022 Tesla Cybertruck 2022 Tesla Roadster
2.	Audi	2021 Audi E-Tron SUV 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback	2022 Audi E-Tron GT2022 Audi E-Tron GT RS2022 Audi Q4 E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback SUV2022.5 Audi Q5 E-Tron SUV
3.	BMW	2021 BMW i3	2022 BMW i4 (four-door fastback sedan with a 300-mile range and 500 hp)2022 BMW iX (500-hp, 300-mile crossover)
4.	Ford	2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E	2022 Ford E-Transit van2022 Ford F-150 Electric
5.	Honda	2021 Honda E (microcar, global markets only)	Honda crossover (expected 2024)
6.	Jaguar	2021 Jaguar I-Pace	One sedan in two wheelbases Two SUVs A sporty XK model in two guises (All expected around 2025).
7.	Lexus	2021 Lexus UX300e (global markets)	SUV based on Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept (expected 2025)
8.	Mercedes-Benz	2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC (global markets)	2022 Mercedes-Benz EQA2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB (not confirmed for North America)2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS (sedan and SUV)2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE (sedan)Mercedes-Benz EQG (SUV expected 2024)
9.	Nissan	2021 Nissan Leaf/Leaf+	2022 Nissan AriyaEight global EVs by 2023
10.	Porsche	2021 Porsche Taycan	2023 Porsche Macan EV
11.	Volkswagen	2021 Volkswagen ID3 (global markets)2021 Volkswagen ID4	2024 Volkswagen IDBuzz ID Space Vizzion concept wagon
12.	Volvo	2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge	2022 Volvo C40 Recharge
13.	Chevrolet	2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV	2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUVChevrolet Silverado Electric (expected 2023)Small SUV, high-performance vehicle (expected 2024-2026)