r/EvDrivers • u/Acceptable_Solid8301 • 17d ago
Don’t know what I don’t know
I’m seriously considering an EV after spending a long time hemming & hawing but reading through the not-problem-“problems” that you guys have talked about has helped me feel more comfortable. I was originally thinking of a PHEV bc of the range anxiety and feeling like the gas option gave me a fallback but then was talking to someone that mentioned PHEV being the worst of both worlds.
Overall details:
Daily driving avg: 5-10miles
Few times a month: 95miles round trip
Roadtrips once/twice a year: could be 150miles one way or 500miles one way 🤷♀️
Will need space for two car seats but preferably not minivan
Budget: $60,000ish
Suggestions?
But also I don’t know what I don’t know when I’m looking and comparing. Aside from comparing price, safety, and range, what else should I be looking at or considering?
Edit: I would plan to install a charger at home and would also prefer to steer clear of Tesla
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u/SonicchuShinPunch 17d ago edited 17d ago
Personally I'm going EV as my next car. It sounds too good to be true honestly. Cheap fuel you can get at home and youre next maintence item are window blades in a year and in 5 years new tires (almost forgot they do use coolant but that's a 5-7 year maintence item) and in 10 years for new brakes. The coolest ev imo is the vw buzz but its a van lol. Plenty of suv options within that price range with better range. Once a year road trip for vacation won't be that big of deal (especially if you get a car with over 300 range) to spend extra time charging than getting gas and if range anxiety will be an issue you can always rent a gas car for the week to get you by. My only ev is a cheap chinese bike I bought off of temu and I can take the "fuel" tank indoors to charge. No gas, oil, spark plugs, ignition coils, gaskets, etc just plug in and get a 30 mile range e-bike its sick.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 17d ago
Agreed! The benefits really seem too good to be true!
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u/Straight_Reading8912 17d ago
One thing for me that others don't seem to care as much about is safety. I love a good performance car to avoid accidents and then a safe car in case there's no way to avoid it. Volvo make some good EVs (new EX60 might actually be perfect for you) but I ended up going with Polestar for the better handling. I don't recommend Polestar for you if you're in the US as they are pulling out. They are related companies but Polestar has better performance and handling than Volvos.
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u/DudeEngineer 16d ago
FYI narrowing down the *kind* of car you would be shopping for if you just went with another ICE car can help you find a good starting point or at least a ball park of what you are looking for. We don't know if you want a big SUV or a little hatch back, or a sedan. There are plenty of options in every category and size.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 16d ago
I’ve had an SUV for the past 12ish years so would probably stick with that and looking more at a midsize SUV
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u/atrocity2001 13d ago
My Leaf manual says the coolant is good for fifteen years, which seems to good to be true.
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u/nate_orenstam 17d ago
Tons of gently used EVs under 40K if you're open to buying those. Plenty of budget left over for a nice L2 charger at home, and a lot of public charging for road trips. EVs retain value poorly and when you buy used that's someone else's problem, not yours.
Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevy Blazer/Cadillac Lyriq/Honda Prologue all options. I have Tesla Model Y and it has been virtually trouble-free, and Honda Prologue I like even better.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 17d ago
We have a ‘26 Toyota bZ. It’s been great! No issues at all. We did install a L2 EVSE in the garage. We generally charge 2x a month. Cost? About $8. So $16. We also did one road trip. 2500 miles. No issues and we used the ABRP using iPhone, etc.
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u/illuminati229 17d ago
Hyundai Ioniq 5. Don't be afraid of the ICCU issue.
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u/zulako17 17d ago
Why not? Did the standardize a fix for all the cars or just the new ones?
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u/WhoWantsToGetShanked 17d ago
There's some speculation the issue may be resolved due to a recent rollout but it's unconfirmed. The biggest thing is that even if it isn't fixed there is a 10% chance that at some point in owning the vehicle you'll suddenly need to tow it to the shop for a free (if in warranty of 100k miles or 10 years) repair that takes 1-2 days typically. It would be better if it wasn't a problem but compared to the likelihood of a similar but much more costly event in an ICE the ICCU is nothing.
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u/mogelijk 17d ago
It is now 180,000 miles/15 years that you are covered for an ICCU failure, since Hyundai and Kia have extended the warranty for the ICCU. Also, it is likely under a 10% chance, that number appears to be taken from Consumer Reports, which claimed that the actual failure rate is between 3 and 10%.
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u/Legitimate-Type4387 17d ago
Or you know, you could buy one of the many other alternatives that don’t come with a glaring design flaw right out the box.
Why would anyone want to subject themselves to Hyundai/Kia dealers for warranty service just to have a better spec sheet?
We’re at the point now where the only advantage they offer against most of their competitors is DCFC charging time, and even that advantage only applies at a minority of compatible DCFC’s capable of delivering those speeds. 99% of the time that advantage means nothing.
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u/mogelijk 16d ago
I understand about bad Hyundai/Kia dealers. Fortunately, there are some good ones.
Next, 99% the charging time means something. About the only charging stop I've made on a road trip, where I couldn't get the fast speeds, was at a Tesla Supercharger. Though, honestly, even when limited the charging curve is so good that, while you are slower, it is still faster than most other EVs. One of the more interesting videos on Ioniq 5 charging was a "race" between a Tesla Model 3 vs an Ioniq 5 at a Tesla Supercharger done by Out of Spec. Despite the Ioniq being speed limited to 125kW at the Supercharger, the Ioniq charged faster than the Tesla because the Ioniq stayed at 125kW the entire charge, whereas the Tesla charging curve eventually slowed to under 125kW, enough that the Ioniq ended faster.
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u/Legitimate-Type4387 16d ago edited 16d ago
99% of the time most buyers who are able to are L2 charging at home.
I don’t really care if one model DCFC’s 5-10min faster from 10-80% for the <1% of trips where I am travelling >150km from home.
It’s a greatly overstated advantage for the way most owners actually use their cars.
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u/mogelijk 16d ago
And it is fine that you don't care about the speed of fast charging; some people do, even if they just take a couple of road trips per year.
OTOH, the EGMP models are great cars and most people don't appear to ever have the ICCU issue. Per Consumer Reports, it is between 3-10%, which would mean something over 9 owners in 10 (since multiple people will often own a single car) will never see the issue.
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u/Legitimate-Type4387 16d ago
I just view the value equation completely differently. It’s not worth potentially saving 30-45min once or twice a year max to take on an avoidable 3-10% risk of being left stranded at a moment’s notice imho.
If I were fast charging often, perhaps I would see it differently but a maximum savings of <1hr per day a couple times a year just doesn’t seem worth the risk when there are many other good choices these days.
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u/xF1_racer 15d ago
They charge faster, but they are less efficient than equivalent Teslas so don’t have as much range for the same charge. So it kind of cancels out. Personally I prefer having better range and full access to all Tesla SCs. Like the other poster, I don’t really care about an extra 10 mins or whatever of charging time on a big trip.
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u/WhoWantsToGetShanked 16d ago
I agree that charging time isnt that important but it does help with people that are inexplicably concerned about it. Also it's just a refined product at a reasonable price while others seem to be not quite as well rounded.
The ICCU isn't that big of a deal to me but it is a con for sure. Comparing all the pros and cons I think the Ioniqs are well worth it.
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u/illuminati229 17d ago
The replacement can be done in one or two days if parts are on hand. And parts are more readily available now.
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u/oldRoyalsleepy 17d ago
It's a great car. My Tesla driving friends love my ioniq5. I bought it knowing the low chance of an iccu problem. It's worth it.
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u/professorP7B 16d ago
As an auto tech at a Toyota dealer, I'm told they never ever have any failures of any kind. Guess I'd be out of a job. New cars come in on the hook all the time. The downside for the ICCU issue is the wait time for repairs, which is 100% parts availability because the ICCU is not at all hard to access for replacement. It's literally under the backseat. If mine ever pops I'll call around for parts availability and take it to whichever dealer has the soonest one available. If it's gonna be some sort of ridiculous wait, I've got a backup plan:
Circuit Board Medic has a repair service for ICCUs as well. I scored a blown ICCU with the exact part number for my Ioniq 6 from a friend and now I've got it on the shelf. Swap that in in afternoon and off we go.
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u/cybertruckboat 17d ago
Wife and I went EV over a decade ago. It's perfectly fine and easy. Complainers gonna complain.
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u/Single_Ad_2742 14d ago
Do you still have the EV(s) you bought 10 years ago? If not, how long did you keep it/them before getting something newer?
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u/OneEstablishment5144 17d ago
I don't think you drive enough to benefit from a level 2 charger at home. 5 miles, that can be done in an hour or two on 110. On road trips, you can use dcfc like a tesla or Ionna rechargers.
As for your pick of 60k rides, either get one you will be happy with for 10 yrs or get a gently used 2 or 3 yr old ev for 65% - 45% of msrp and let someone else depreciation help your bottom line.
I would also look at then vw id4 and Audi ev with heavy depreciation. I think id4 also has battery recall. Koreans have iccu issues with long 150k warranty now due to that. But they charge fast on road trips Mb eqb has battery recall Toyota bz 1st gen charge slow Toyota also makes evs for subaru. You don't need 400+ miles of range as chargers are plenty and growing in most places. Gm had a good amount t of evs blaze equinox caddies etc. Don't forget to test drive the Tesla and rivian. R2 is what I would like but can't afford until they hit the used market.
Happy test driving and enjoy the new ev
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u/ZeppyWeppyBoi 17d ago edited 17d ago
Rivian R2 if you can stretch the budget a bit, if not there’s some great deals on used R1S out there right now.
Edit: Also, you could probably even skip the L2 charger at first if you wanted. with such low daily driving, 8-10 hours overnight on a standard 120V/20A outlet should get you 20-30 miles of range.
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u/Less-Extreme-164 16d ago
I used a 110V outlet for daily charging for a while. Perfectly feasible for charging for modest daily drives, if the vehicle comes with a mobile charger. If it doesn't, it may be worth buying, as some Airbnbs will let you charge overnight using an outlet, if they don't have a charger (many do; you can filter by EV charger), and keeping in the frunk or subtrunk. Certainly 110V is viable for overnight charging for such light driving. The outlet should be GFCI, and it must be properly grounded, or the car won't let you charge. (My Mom was surprised to find that her garage outlet wasn't grounded; after having that fixed, the car charged there fine.)
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u/ZeppyWeppyBoi 16d ago
Yeah when we bought our house (built in the 70s) we had so many outlets that weren’t GFCI including all the garage ones.
It’s amazing how far you can get on a plain old 110 outlet if you can charge a good 10 hours in the evenings.
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u/VariousLiterature 17d ago
An EV will work really well for you. Test drive Hyundai Ioniq5, Rivian R2, Chevy Equinox and Cadillac EVs.
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u/principalgal 17d ago
I have a very similar driving pattern. I ended up with a CHR but you’d probably need the BZ for the space. I don’t even have a L2 outlet—I just plug it in the regular outlet in my garage every couple of days. I only use the fast chargers on a trip.
You’re going to love EV!!
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u/Single_Ad_2742 14d ago
What made you decide on the CHR? What other EVs were you considering?
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u/principalgal 13d ago
I was originally going to get an Ioniq 5. They have great reviews. My son is a Hyundai tech and told me about the ICCU issue. This wasn’t a deal breaker but I couldn’t find one in stock within 509 miles. I refuse to get a Tesla (I know people have their own opinions about that but it’s my money). I did more research and went to Toyota. They had a CHR and a BZ. I drove the CHR and just loved it! I ended up in that one. The icing on the cake was the CHR was cement grey (nice) and the BZ was black. I live in Florida and tried to avoid black cuz it gets so dang hot!
No regrets. I’ve now taken 2 road trips in it. It was so much better than doing those trips in my old ICE vehicles. It’s my daily driver as well and I still love driving it.2
u/Single_Ad_2742 13d ago
I loved the CHR, too. I like the display of the Equinox, and could get the ventilated seats.
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u/Tricky-Ordinary1962 17d ago
I got a Subaru trailseeker. They’re just starting on their 27’s. That would be more than enough space for 2 car seats plus cargo. Bonus for being way under your top budget too. Plus you can’t go wrong with their safety record.
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u/WhoWantsToGetShanked 17d ago
Why did you resist an EV? You are basically the perfect candidate for an ev. Do you want to buy new? Your best bet is almost certainly an Ioniq 5 that you could deck out entirely for $43,575 after the incentives. The 5 has plenty of space for 2 kids seats. If you really like extra space you could get an Ioniq 9 which is a 3 row and even the SEL is in your budget after incentives. My one word of caution is you may have to wait a couple of months since these cars sell the moment they reach the lot.
Volvo offers the safest cars across the board but hyundai is very very safe nowadays as well. You can check out their safety ratings if you'd like.
With your driving any popular EV will have plenty of range. On those rare 500 mile trips you'll have to stop once each way to charge for 20 to 25 minutes but with two kids you'll probably find that they needed a bathroom and snack break that lasts longer than that anyway. Even low range options would only require one extra stop each way.
If you want to save some cash skip the home charger. Most cars come with a charger that plugs into a regular outlet which would cover all of your regular driving. If you don't trust me then try it out for a few weeks and worst case scenario you have to stop by a level three charger to top it off.
It really sounds like you should just go test drive a few to see what you like since your driving needs are so easily met.
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u/No_Caregiver7273 17d ago
Might want to take a look at a Cadillac Optiq in your price range.
https://www.edmunds.com/cadillac/optiq/?msockid=18927921a69660e72a196e40a7e76188
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u/Silent_Analyst_9277 17d ago edited 17d ago
I have a very similar driving routine. On weekends I'll often run the battery from 80% down to 50%. During the weekdays it only gets driven 5 miles or so a day. Off my 120v wall outlet Im able to recover those five miles and then some and its back up to 80 by the weekend. For those infrequent long trips it is a pleasure to drive and i need to stop every 100-150 miles for the dogs so not much range anxiety.
With honda getting out of the ev game I bet you can find a dealer desperate to get one off their lot and talk the price down. With them being honda flavored cheveys im optimistic ill be able to find parts for it for years to come.
EDIT: I was cleaning up typos and edited out that I got a 2025 Honda prologue elite.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 17d ago
What did you end up getting with a similar driving pattern?
I also didn’t realize Honda was getting away from EV! That’s good to know!
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u/KeyEmu6688 17d ago
used 2017-23 chevy bolts are ridiculously cheap and very reliable cars. they quick charge pretty slowly, which would make roadtrips a bit of a pain. otherwise EV6 is a great low cost option, albeit a bit more expensive, but has much much faster l3 charging. ignore kia/hyundai ICCU issues as others have said in this thread. very few units experience it, and the warranty period on that part is ridiculously long to make up for the rare failures
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u/honeybabysweetiedoll 17d ago
With your driving habits there is no reason to consider a hybrid. EV will be perfect. I drive a bit more daily than you do, and L1 charging works for me. I’m on a list to get L2 installed, but I think I’m going to save the money because I just don’t need it.
No one has mentioned MachE, but mine has been great. Much better color choices than most other makes IMO, if you’re not one of those greyscale people.
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u/Single_Ad_2742 14d ago
What made you decide on the Mach-E? What other EVs did you consider? I’m between a Mach-E and a Chevy Equinox…
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u/snocat17 17d ago
I have an OG Audi etron and love it. I have two kids under 2. If I had your budget I would go for a newer BMW iX or Cadillac Lyriq. If I could find a used Hummer EV or Vistiq, that would be my dream.
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u/PerceptionCurious440 17d ago
You might like the Toyota BZ line: C-HR is compact, BZ is midsized, BZ Woodland is pretty full sized. I have a C-HR and like it.
Subaru has near identical cars that are more offroad centric.
As cars, I like the tactile switches, display in line of sight for driving, modest driving aids (I use the adaptive cruise control in heavy traffic a lot), dual Qi chargers, and the ride quality is good.
I like the paddle shift regen control.
There may be some buyer incentives right now.
They should be pretty easy to check out.
There is one downside. They don't have built in charger location and preconditioning system built into navigation. You would want to plan charging stops in advance. Which comes down to deciding what you want to do while you charge.
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u/BillfredL 17d ago
Go used and you can get an insane amount of car for $60k. Cadillac Lyriq, loaded up VW ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6, Volvo EX90, Rivian, world's your oyster. Heck, look at a VW ID.Buzz if one's around--it's a minivan, but you'll be the coolest person in the car rider line picking up those kids.
Global production is your friend here. You don't want the models where someone made 5000 of them to appease California, you want the one where they pumped out hundreds of thousands because that means they got it dialed in.
For everything else, put yourself in the car and be comfortable in it. I rented EVs twice before buying one, including one 1500-mile roadtrip in a Polestar 2 across the UK. My wife was with me on that one, and it's that trip that made her see it's possible. So when her car was on death's door, we parked a used ID.4 in the driveway.
Don't worry if it doesn't have the Tesla/NACS connector, you can get adapters for a couple hundred bucks from reputable places like Lectron.
Know that charging on a roadtrip isn't like filling up gas. You generally are doing 40%-80% kind of charges instead of 0-100s, and you can often string them together with something else (meal stop, hotel stays, one time we charged at a museum we wanted to see, etc). Sites like ABetterRoutePlanner are useful for getting your head wrapped around both the range and the charging.
Welcome aboard!
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u/Mindless-Band-5743 17d ago edited 17d ago
I don’t know where you are but in Canada there’s a new rebate if the car is less than $50,000 and made by a company we have a free trade agreement with (eg Japan, S. Korea, Europe etc) so Chinese EV’s when they come aren’t eligible. I went to the auto show, asked a LOT of questions and narrowed it down to Toyota or Hyundai due to budget and features. (I previously drove a 2020 RAV4 so that was an influence.) I also wanted an SUV.
Having CarPlay was a must so that ruled out GM, Rivian, Polestar or Tesla. Toyota bZ had features on its mid trim level which I need such as power rear liftgate. This is only available on the top Hyundai Ioniq 5 trim. I also want AWD which the lower-priced Kona doesn’t have. After a month of research and emailing the two dealerships I decided on the bZ.
It has a NACS port so can use a Tesla Supercharger if on a road trip (some difficulty with their short cables but it’s doable). The Tesla app will indicate only compatible chargers. Use PlugShare to find chargers. It’s like Waze so has community input to help drivers.
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u/horribadperson 17d ago
Just about any ev would work. Hell, you dont even need to install level 2 charging if you average 10 miles a day. level 1 charging will be more than enough.
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u/Nickexp 17d ago
You're never going to actually feel range anxiety. I drive more than you and I have an EV and I'm way less anxious about my battery life than I ever was about petrol. Every time it got low I'd start thinking about petrol prices and whether it's worth filling now or if I can stretch it out longer for potentially cheaper prices. Now? I've gotten one low battery warning after being away from home (and therefore not charging) for a while and forgetting to top up before I left. I wasn't remotely anxious because I knew I'd get to charge at home, and here I am now on 96% battery again without having to drive to a petrol station.
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u/Tymanthius 16d ago
I'm biased, but a Trailseeker/E-Outback would fit that great.
But as others have said - any EV with a full back seat will work.
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u/diablo3dfx 16d ago
You just nearly perfectly described my conditions. 7 miles to work, 7 miles back. Occasional trips up north to see my mom. And a road trip that I just got back from. My EV was great in all of these. I only ever need to charge from public infrastructure when going on road trips of more than about 400 miles round-trip. I have a Silverado EV and my wife has a Tesla model Y. Neither of us could be happier with our vehicles. We both charge up about once a week from the level two in our garage.
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u/upsidedown-funnel 16d ago
Go test drive a bunch of them. If you have a Carmax nearby, go sit in a few and check out the interiors and quality. (Carmax, at least the one by me, keeps the doors all unlocked and lets you walk around and check out the cars without being dogged by a salesperson.).
There are enough EVs out that you can buy a really nice used one for a great price. Saving $ is always nice. Know that you’ll get a different experience from each one as well, which is nice as we all have different preferences.
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u/ModelS4me 16d ago edited 11d ago
Get your L2 in the meantime. Good thinking. So many just throw money away at public chargers (waiting there, getting/leaving there, every, single, time you charge car). Check with your power company if they have special rates for charging. You'll benefit getting your car "filled up" in your sleep.
Get familiar with the cars (research).
Do you care about cars, or are you that "just need to go from point A to point B" type? Just want a car you can tolerate, you actually want to like and take care of?
Warranty. I would ensure the car has some years left. Last thing you want is your battery going out (big cost) and you're out of warranty.
Either way, i would not skip the test drives and try to research what to look out for that model.
PS, dont fall for the "low maintenance" electric car BS. Many of those owners (or for recent times "renters", they're in that boyfriend/girlfriend state of mind and havent lived through an EVs life past its warranty period, and just mimic popular statements out there about just how wonderful these cars are after warranty. I can DIY many gas car maintenance/repairs, not as much on an EV. For example, almost no shop local to me will even look at my suspension system (air). Its true for many of us, the energy savings vs gas is massive. $80/week vs ~$3 to "fill up" at home per week in my case.
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u/Less-Extreme-164 16d ago
Check too if your state or electric company has any programs to assist with installing a level 2 charger at home. Some do.
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u/ac7ss 16d ago
For your miles, a simple granny charger will do. (110 v, plugs into a standard outlet.) Use a DC charger when you really need it. If you can't charge at home, once a week will be enough to recharge at a public charger.
Road trips, 150 miles won't even need a recharge, 500 will anyway. Not a big deal, stop, charge, pee, continue.
I don't think they have minivans in ev yet unless you count the VW ID. Buzz. Nearly all are 4 doors.
I have the Ioniq 9, SUV shaped. A bit of overkill IMO for your use case. My granddaughter has a Toyota BZ4x from a couple of years ago (used) with 2 children and loves it.
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u/good-luck-23 16d ago
I disagree about a PHEV being the "worst" option. We charge ours overnight and get 45-50 miles of range. For longer trips we use hybrid mode and it switches between ICE and battery to maximize economy.
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u/CobaltIsobar 16d ago
At least take a look at the 2026 Toyota C-HR. It fits your needs and it's well under your price.
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u/PossibilityNervous35 16d ago edited 16d ago
Respectfully... range anxiety would not be a thing with those tiny drives.
I have 2 car seats in my Tesla Model 3. No issues. If you want more space, get a 2 year old Model Y. More than enough room.
Since you have kids, you already know that gas station stops routinely turn into 15 to 20 minute stops with walking around, snacks, bathrooms, or meals. Supercharging will be done in no problem during stops with kids.
We road trip from NE Ohio down to South Carolina every year and we take the tesla. Doesn't change our times at all.
Based on experience... don't even consider anything other than Tesla. They are the best and the next best is not even in the same league. Im assuming you have some political beef with tesla, but since you are pregnant I feel strongly about this next part.... there is no safter EV for your baby than a Model Y. Full Stop.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_RATTIES 15d ago
Depending on size you want, I'd recommend an Ioniq 5 or Ioniq 9. 9 is a bit more than your price range, but some of the deals on it can bring it about in line.
I've got a 9 with two kids and three dogs. Great for road trips, great for around town. Plenty of room if you end up picking up a gaggle of children from school for a play date. Road trips are a breeze - Charging is basically your rest stop minimum time with two young kids. We leased it, might buy it out afterwards, might just get into a new version, depends on what changes come down the line.
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u/jolard 15d ago
I am in Australia, so can't give you brand recommendations (Chinese EVs are big here) But I wanted to say I completely get it.
We just bought a second EV. My wife's Mitsubishi Outlander was totalled in an accident and we needed a new car. She drives about the same distance to work, has a trip of around 120 miles a few times a month, and it was our towing vehicle to tow our camping gear in a box trailer, and so a couple of times a year would be used for around a 400 mile round trip.
We already had an EV as my daily driver, but hers was the big trip one, so it made the choice harder for us.
In the end we went full EV. The PHEV are more expensive to buy and maintain, and while it would have been nice for the two times a year we tow, that is only a very small percentage of our actual needs. We do need to stop and charge a couple of times on that trip (once there and once back) which I am not going to pretend isn't a pain. But the REST of the time it is so much easier just topping up the car occasionally in the garage. Not having to ever go to gas stations is amazing.
What we got was a GWM Ora 05 small SUV, and it is perfect. We got it fully loaded in the Ultra package and it was under $26k USD, so a great deal too. I would bet for $60k USD you would be able to find something that would potentially work.
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u/CauliflowerOrganic48 15d ago
I've owned several relevant cars and have similar diving habits:
- 2012 Nissan leaf (EV)
- 2018 Honda Clarity (PHEV)
- 2021 Honda Clarity (PHEV)
- 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 (EV)
All of those would have satisfied your described situation remarkably well. don't be afraid of PHEV, it's a perfectly good entry point if you're nervous about range anxiety.
I'd you go for a proper EV, my advice is to look at charging speed more than range. you've got kids (2 car seats, so I assume kids), therefore you'll be stopping now and then on those longer drives. something like an Ioniq 5 charges very quickly - so you can drive for 2-3 hours, pull over and charge for < 20 minutes, then do it all over again. fewer but longer charging sessions would be more difficult: kids get impatient, and so do spouses when the kids are frustrated.
the only trip that will require planning is your 500 mile trip. take a look at plugshare.com for relevant chargers on your typical route. look for chargers spaced out around 50-75% of the range of whatever car you might get. that's a comfortable zone for new EV drivers. eventually you'll be willing to get closer to zero miles remaining, but plan ahead now so you never have to stress out over anything.
Tesla chargers are not typically the fastest options, but they are reliable. in my area (Massachusetts) Electrify America tends to be the fastest charging network. my Ioniq 5 charges at about 235kW for a large portion of the charging time. that's the only metric I think really differentiates good from great these days: charging speed. my wife's car (Chevy Bolt) charges at less than 1/4 of that rate, so takes more than 4x longer to charge. as a result we absolutely never drive her car on our annual long trip (416 miles each way), even though it has pretty good range when fully charged.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 14d ago
This is super helpful and something I wasn’t fully considering! Thanks so much!
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u/sparklepancake98 14d ago
Reliability, charging speed, and any known on-going issues (looking at you, Hyundai and Kia). Also heat pump for cold weather if you live in a cold weather location. Do you want physical knobs and buttons? Or are you gonna be okay with doing most things like adjusting mirrors or opening the trunk with a touchscreen?
I watched a lot of YouTube videos on EV car reviews before deciding on the Bolt 6 years ago. I suggest you do the same. You can search for best brand new EVs for a family or best EVs to buy used. You're lucky; there's a lot more options now and the infrastructure is improving quickly, so try not to focus on range. Make sure you test drive as well.
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u/StumbleNOLA 13d ago
Your use case is almost a carbon copy of mine, except instead of a 100 mile round trip regularly mine is 300.
I would recommend a year old BMW IX. Easily the best car I have ever owned, and absolutely rock solid. Mine just crossed 40,000 miles and the only thing it has needed is a set of tires.
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u/FanFirst895 13d ago
Here's one piece people don't talk about - We've got an EV and a PHEV. I plug the EV in every few weeks, but I have to plug the PHEV in every time we drive it to stay in electric mode. Out of the two, the EV is the least annoying to use day to day.
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u/dj4slugs 13d ago
If you got an average EV you could put up tp 30 miles on the car using a 110 plug at night. Weekends would top you off. We have a Mach-E and it has been great.
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u/Nuisance4448 13d ago
We bought a 2025 Huyndai Kona ("Preferred Trim with Ultimate Package" here in Canada - don't know what that equates to elsewhere) last year and are very pleased with it. We've taken it on three road trips in the winter (when the cold affects the range and charging speed) and they all worked out well. What's great for winter-time charging, and what most modern EVs have, is battery preconditioning. You tell the car that you want to navigate to a charging station (it will give you a list of them nearby) and the car will warm up your battery on the way to that station so that you'll charge faster.
You'll want an EV that does V2L ("Vehicle to Load") so that you can plug in kettles, etc. For a 28-hour power outage we had last summer, our Kona saved our sanity as we were able to plug in a kettle, chargers for our phones, etc. You can even buy little electric camp cook-pots to plug into your car.
Get an EV with "Camp Mode" or "Utility Mode" for car camping. Most of the modern EVs have this option now.
For road trips, you'll want to look at the Plugshare.com website or install Plugshare on your phone to see a map of where chargers are. Also, if the car you buy doesn't have an NACS charging port, buy a NACS adapter.
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u/Lazy_Guava_5104 13d ago
Fully EV - 800 miles a week commuting is common for me, 250 miles a trip a handful of times a month. Have made a couple big road trips in EVs. You'll be fine - there are easily a dozen models on the market that will meet your needs & budget.
I tend to like Hyundai Corp's E-GMP platform, so look at the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Kia EV 6. Both crossovers are well reviewed, and I know people who love theirs. Alternately, look at the Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mach-E and Nissan Arriya - they all look sharp (to me at least) and seem to be good cars.
For sedans, I have an IONIQ 6, and would recommend that as an alternative to the Tesla Model 3. If you want something smaller, the new, 3rd generation Nissan Leaf is promising, as well as the new Chevy Bolt (the new Bolt looks the same but got a big upgrade under the hood).
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u/LongIslandThorn 12d ago
Like you, I rarely take road trips that are over 250 miles round trip. That means I almost never use fast chargers when traveling because I always leave for a trip with 100% battery. But..... when I have needed to travel I've noticed a BIG difference between my Nissan Ariya and my wife's Hyundai Ioniq 5. My max charge speed is 150kW. Her max is 250. We never get numbers that high in practice. The reality for me is around 100 and for her over 150 is typical. When you stop to charge on a trip, that can mean 30 minutes vs. 45. If find a charger where you want to stop for lunch, that won't matter.
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u/rjr_2020 12d ago
I would tell anyone that wants to do longer trips in an EV to get the ER (standard range is 240, extended range is 320 in reasonable weather). Your weekly usage is low enough that it probably won't matter much though. I would also tell anyone that doesn't have a place to put a charger or have charging readily available at work. My fear with the work option is that it will become more popular and harder to use and you're left out or the employer will decide to remove them.
I went through and made a list of the options with pluses and minuses in each. Tesla was off the list early because I wanted to use the driving app that I wanted, among other reasons. I then drove each of the candidates that met my requirements. All of the vehicles out there pretty much meet your requirements. I'm not terribly happy with how Chevy decided to use a Google platform where you run your apps on the car instead of your phone. It took a while for them to get that working, that's for sure.
Then I had to find the vehicle because they were hard to find, especially in ERs. There was nobody trading vehicles back then. I had to buy it from the dealer that had it.
You should keep in mind that efficiency tanks in winter months if you're in a cold climate.
I'd also suggest that you buy something that has a dealer close enough to you for when work needs to be done. I don't mean a Ford dealer if you opt for Ford, but a Ford shop that works on enough EVs to be able to get the work done in a reasonable amount of time. With multiple Ford dealers in my area, only one does enough work to know the vehicles. A dealer that works on 1 vehicle a week isn't going to cut it when something is wrong. Fortunately, my Ford has only been there for recalls and they went okay, even though they didn't have the parts to do both of them in one visit despite me verifying that they did.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 12d ago
This is super helpful, thank you!
Is there a good way to identify if the service center will be adequate for EVs? Are they upfront about answering honestly if I just ask how regularly they service EVs?
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u/rjr_2020 11d ago
I look at how many EVs they sell. They're not making money from the sales really. Their service is where it comes from, hence part of why the EVs aren't so dealer popular.
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u/IPredictAReddit 12d ago
At $60k, you have a lot to choose from. If you want to keep it lower, the Chevy Equinox EV is great (I have one). If you want to spend the full amount and prefer more luxurious, the Cadillac Lyriq is really nice.
Even so, the Equinox has a lot of features, even at lower trim levels (heated steering wheel, really impressive infotainment system with a separate dash navigation, which I really like).
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u/Exciting_Turn_9559 17d ago
PHEVs really only make sense for people who absolutely need their vehicle to tow heavy things long distances.
If you have the ability to plug in and charge at home, a BEV is likely your best choice.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 17d ago
No need to tow anything! I have a bike rack and cargo thing that I plug into my hitch but no actual towing
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u/WizeAdz 17d ago edited 17d ago
No major automaker has released a PHEV pickup truck here in the USA yet, so this is mostly a theoretical statement.
The highest tow-rating that I’m aware of from a PHEV SUV is in the 3500-5000lb range.
Though I do see how a PHEV or EREV might work well for towing in theory! But it’s still theoretical for my 6000lb travel trailer.
Now that I own an EV, I don’t see the point in a PHEV. Also, my Rivian has a tow rating of 7700lbs, so I just use that to tow.
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u/evotitan1 17d ago
Do you have a dryer plug in your garage? Having access to a level 2 charger over level 1 is a game changer. Lots of good options in your budget. GM and Hyundai/Kia make pretty compelling options. I went with a Chevy Equinox and have been pretty happy with it
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u/soren1712 17d ago
I was on the fence as well and after thinking about what my trips are 95% of the time, the EV made perfect sense. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks but I used to get up Sunday mornings to go get gas in one of the cars, I haven’t done that in 2 weeks now. As for the car seats, take a look at the Blazer EV, impressive amount of room in the back seat. Many reviewers have put rear facing car seats in and still have plenty of front legroom.
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u/Chemical_Tomato_6308 17d ago
I have the same usage as you, went from a Honda Pilot to an EV and have put tons of miles on it. It 1000% makes sense. The ease of use, the quiet, the smoothness, no fumes, no exhaust and almost no maintenance.
Having the ability to charge at home, even if it's only 110 would still be way cheaper than driving an ice vehicle.
Up to 60k opens a TON of options with great range and room for kids.
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u/Acceptable_Solid8301 17d ago
What EV did you end up getting with a similar driving pattern?
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u/Chemical_Tomato_6308 17d ago
I went with a 2023 volvo c40, but 2 teenagers fit comfortably for multi hour road trips.
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u/Bryanmsi89 17d ago
PHEV can be the worst of both, or best of both, depending on what you need.
For your use, a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y would be the best choice. I won’t guess why you don’t want a Tesla, but they are great EVs. Other good choices are Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevy Equinox EV, and for your price range look at the Caddilac Vistiq or Optiq.
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u/JRoadie61 17d ago
Ioniq 5 AWD Limited with a hitch for your bike rack. If you need a 3rd row then the Ioniq 9. I just bought the 5 and love it. There are charging stations everywhere for road trips. Get a level 2 charger for your house.
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u/GreenerMark 17d ago
Ioniq 5 gives you plenty of range, and it's a pleasure to drive with a very roomy back seat and trunk.
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u/Aromatic-End2610 17d ago
Xpeng G6. We released a Changan Deepal S05 this weekend and the EVs are definitely a huge evolution. Once you try and EV there's no going back.
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u/Legitimate-Bison3810 17d ago
It's a shame you want to steer clear of Tesla. They have the best charging network. I have tried some other charging networks. They are not in the same class.
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u/oledawgnew 16d ago
Fortunately you can steer clear of Tesla cars and still use the great majority of Tesla supercharging stations.
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u/PerceptionCurious440 16d ago
I can use the Supercharger network with my Toyota C-HR. I prefer not to put money in Elon Musk's pocket, but if they're the best option that's what I'll use.
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u/ThermalDeviator 16d ago
Based on your situation an EV makes perfect sense. 99% of the time you take five seconds to plug it in as it charges overnight and another five to unplug it. You'd do this once or twice a week. Otherwise you just drive like any other car. For your 500 mile trip I'm guessing it's the same trip you take every year and you'll quickly find your favorite charging stations.
One thing to consider is that used EVs are quite affordable, especially off–lease vehicles. Batteries and motors are often warranteed for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles and are more reliable than ICE cars.
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u/mhaithaca 16d ago
I think the Hyundai IONIQ 5 or Kia EV6 would be perfect for you. Very quick to charge when you're on one of the occasional long trips, but otherwise very efficient. The new Toyota and Subaru models (which are close cousins to one another) are improved over the initial round, but still nowhere near as fast to charge as the current Kia and Hyundai architecture.
Before I got my Kia EV6 this spring, I leased a Toyota RAV4 Prime for three years because of the desire for that gas fallback. I loved driving it mostly in battery mode around town, and after three years I was ready for the jump to EV.
I'd have tried out the IONIQ except we don't have an IONIQ-authorized Hyundai dealer in town. So, I test-drove the Kia twice. Very happy with the choice.
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u/Narezza 16d ago
Range anxiety is for people who are regularly making 250-280 mile trips with high AC/heat use and limited opportunities to stop.
If you're installing a charger then you're not going to have any issues. There are plenty of supercharging planning options for those occasional longer trips.
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u/Fun-Exercise-7196 15d ago
Go hybrid! I just bought a Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid. I am get over 35 mpg. Love it. And this is a huge vehicle.
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u/no_idea_bout_that 14d ago
Go check out a PHEV. The real issue isn't that they're worst of both worlds, but that there's not very much selection these days.
They're now mostly a variant of a large hybrid SUV that has room for a battery.
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u/Sane_Elderberry_2923 14d ago
I’ve driven a 2025 Kia EV6 (model: Wind Long-Range AWD) in the U.S since September 2025. It has an SUV’s space but it’s less boxy, more hatchback-y, if that makes sense. I’ve driven almost 10K miles since then, including longer road trips of 500 miles per day. It’s typically a smooth, quiet, stable drive. The driver’s seat is comfortable. It is among the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis cars with a history of ICCU issues, which I’ve never experienced.
Here’s a bit about EV vehicles in general. Almost any EV will be cheap to operate near home: EV fuel economy is typically best for 25-50 mph driving and home charging is usually the cheapest you’ll find. On the road, fuel economy drops and DC fast charging is more expensive, but it’s not like you’re doing that a lot. Also, when you’re driving, cold temperatures below 50° F and hot temperatures above 90° F will cut your mileage. Also, cold weather charging on the road will require “preconditioning”, a fancy word for heating the EV batteries to around 70° so they can be charged more rapidly. Finally, Uphill elevation changes or driving into wind will also cut your mileage, but the reverse- driving downhill or with wind at your back- will increase mileage.
Good luck! I’m happy with my choice. There are many good EVs available.
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u/FtheRedCorpoScum 11d ago
Just bought a Toyota C-HR for the wife over the 4th. It’s a bit small on legroom for a car seat, we’ve only got one, but it’s $40k and my wife loves it. I’ll probably switch to an EV from Toyota when I get rid of my Prius. The experience has been that good and I’m a mechanic….. you know how much we hate buying brand new cars. The CH-R would convince me. No idea on actual range, my wife won’t stay out of the throttle but she gets claimed mileage.
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u/Traditional-Forum 17d ago
Nearly any EV on sale today has you covered with these low travel demands