Hey everyone, I’m thinking about getting an EV to drive around the city but I’m completely lost on which one to go for. I’ve been reading online but there’s a lot of conflicting info on the best brands, build quality, and reliability.
What EV brands do you guys recommend? And are Chinese EVs reliable? Would love your thoughts!
I leased a Kia EV6 Wind for $335 a month. It’s been amazing so far!
Jody said:
I leased a Kia EV6 Wind for $335 a month. It’s been amazing so far!
Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely look into the Kia EV6. Seems like a good option.
My partner has a VW ID4 and loves it. I’m leaning towards the Ioniq 5 for my next car once my lease is up.
Where are you located? What’s your budget?
Can you charge at home? How far do you drive on average? Any preferences for car size or body style?
I’ve got a BYD Atto3 and it’s been great! I test drove a Volvo EX30 and BMW iX1 before settling on it, and so far I’m very happy with the build quality.
@Lyle
Thanks for the info! Why did you switch from the Volvo or BMW? Did you run into any issues?
I’m in Australia, budget is around 80k AUD (about 55k USD) but flexible, and I’m mainly looking for something reliable and well-built, not really picky about body style.
@Emory
Got it! I’m also in Australia, so my experience might help.
I didn’t switch from the Volvo or BMW, I just test drove them before deciding. The Volvo EX30 was awesome but too small for my family of four, especially with the limited legroom. The BMW iX1 was great but $40k more than the Atto3, and for me, the extra cost wasn’t worth it.
With the Atto3, I got a sunroof, power seats, 360° camera, and a good range, all for around $45k. It’s a comfortable and well-made family car. The real-world range in Sydney is about 380-400km.
If you’re looking at Chinese brands, BYD and MG are solid bets. The MG4 is a decent option, and the BYD Seal is supposed to be great to drive. I only didn’t get one because my wife insisted on an SUV.
The Zeekr X and Xpeng G6 are also coming soon, but I’d be cautious about after-sales service until they’re more established.
Tesla is also worth considering, though I never personally looked into them. I’ve never heard a Tesla owner complain, and they are priced competitively now.
Hope that helps!
@Lyle
Any idea how the Xpeng G6 and G9 compare to the Tesla Model Y in terms of boot space? I’ve heard the G9 might have more space, but the specs don’t seem to show that.
Corbin said:
@Lyle
Any idea how the Xpeng G6 and G9 compare to the Tesla Model Y in terms of boot space? I’ve heard the G9 might have more space, but the specs don’t seem to show that.
I haven’t personally checked, but from what I’ve read, the G6 doesn’t have a rear wiper, which was a dealbreaker for my wife. The G9 seems promising, but like you said, it’s hard to confirm the boot space until we see it in person.
@Lyle
You might want to check out Xpeng, they’re getting some good reviews.
I’m in California, and I haven’t seen any BYD cars available yet. I own a 2022 VW ID4 AWD Pro, and it’s been worth every penny. The build quality is top-notch, and the 295HP makes it a fun car to drive.
I’ve taken it on several road trips, even some dirt roads, and it handles like a champ. The whole family loves it for long drives — we’ve done a 14-hour road trip with three charging stops, and it’s been very comfortable.
Highly recommend if you can find one!
@Noor
You did a 14-hour trip without charging? How’s that possible?
Uma said:
@Noor
You did a 14-hour trip without charging? How’s that possible?
Haha, no, the 14 hours included 3 charging stops, each about 30 minutes. We were stuck in traffic because of a big accident, so the trip took much longer than it usually would.
@Noor
Ah, makes sense. Was that near Needles?
Exactly! Somewhere around Needles, but I can’t remember the exact town. I’ve lived in California for over 40 years and there are still places I’ve never heard of!
@Noor
Northern California is worth exploring! Mt. Lassen and the Humboldt Redwoods are hidden gems. Amazing state, honestly.
@Noor
Can the VW ID4 use Tesla Superchargers?
Not yet, but they plan to roll it out in 2025. Right now, only Superchargers with Magic Docks will work for non-Tesla EVs.
VW has said that future models will come with a Tesla-compatible port. Until then, you’ll need an adapter for charging.
I’ve got a Neo/Weilai ES6 here in China, and I love it. The only downside is the voice assistant is in Chinese, but I’m learning so it’s not a huge problem.
It’s a sleek and reliable car. I’ve had it for just over a year, and no major issues so far.
I’ve had an MG5 for three years, and it’s been perfect. No issues whatsoever.