Cars.com’s Top EV Picks of 2026

The 2025 Kia EV9 took home our Best Electric Vehicle of 2025 award, and while that accolade is based on the EV9’s overall performance, there are so many EVs for sale that we felt it important to highlight our top picks for several specific types of vehicle, including two- and three-row SUVs, cars and pickup trucks. We also chose a top pick for value, focusing on more than just the cheapest (though that is very important and something we track elsewhere). You can check out our Top EV Picks of 2026 below.

Related: Best Electric Vehicle of 2025

Top Pick: Value EV — 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Why the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV Won:

• A starting price of just under $35,000 makes the Equinox EV incredibly affordable.
• All versions of the compact SUV have estimated driving range in excess of 300 miles on a full charge.
• The Equinox EV’s low starting price includes popular features like adaptive cruise control and automatic climate control.

If you’re interested in a good EV that won’t break the bank, you should look at the Chevrolet Equinox EV. This sleekly styled compact SUV has a starting price of just under $35,000, and that’s before any tax credits or incentives are factored in. This is for a front-wheel-drive version, a single-motor drivetrain that delivers the Equinox EV’s longest range of an impressive 319 miles, according to EPA estimates. For the base LT1 trim level, choosing the more powerful dual-motor all-wheel-drive version adds a not-insignificant $5,300 and lowers the driving range to 307 miles.

But even in base LT1 trim with FWD, the Equinox EV is well equipped with popular comfort, convenience and tech features. Standard features include automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-In apps and an 11-inch digital instrument panel. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system is even offered as an option on higher trims.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV Near You

Top Pick: 2-Row Electric SUV — 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Why the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Won:

• It makes you feel immediately comfortable behind the wheel with its good natural visibility, easy-to-use controls and comfortable driver’s seat.
• Impressive DC fast-charging speed
• 2025 model-year addition of rear window wiper and physical buttons for heated/ventilated seats and heated steering wheel

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 returns as a Top Pick for the third year. One of the things that’s most appealing about the Ioniq 5 is that anyone can sit in the driver’s seat and immediately feel comfortable behind the wheel thanks to good natural visibility, easy-to-use controls and a comfortable driver’s seat. It also offers good cabin and cargo space, a comfortable ride and, via its 800-volt charging system, on-the-road DC fast-charging speed that packs a punch.

For 2026, not much has changed except the addition of an included mobile charger that can charge at Level 1 and faster Level 2 speeds. Change wasn’t needed because for 2025, Hyundai addressed many of our largest gripes by adding a rear window wiper and physical buttons for the heated and ventilated seat controls instead of touch-based ones.

The 2026 Ioniq 5 also uses the Tesla-style North American Charging Standard port, which doubles the number of fast chargers Ioniq 5 owners can use on the road by unlocking Tesla’s massive DC fast-charging network of Superchargers. The Ioniq 5 remains a Top Pick for those wanting normal SUV usability and drivability with the efficiency, smoothness and performance that comes with an EV.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Near You

Top Pick: 3-Row EV — 2026 Kia EV9

Why the 2026 Kia EV9 Won:

• It’s a good three-row SUV in addition to being an excellent three-row EV.
• Its driving range is competitive, and it’s quick in terms of both acceleration and time to charge.
• We prefer the EV9 to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz minivan and related Hyundai Ioniq 9.

The Kia EV9 fended off two new rivals this year, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz minivan and Hyundai Ioniq 9 SUV, to stay a Cars.com Top Pick for three-row EVs. The EV9 shares many of its components with its Ioniq 9 cousin, but the Kia’s value and comfort couldn’t be beat.

The EV9 continues to be a fine three-row SUV in addition to being an excellent three-row EV thanks to its cargo room, car-seat fitment and third-row usability. We even put it up against a Rivian R1S in a head-to-head comparison test where we preferred the EV9 to the more expensive Rivian.

For 2026, the EV9 gains a standard NACS charge port that allows it to charge at Tesla Superchargers without an adapter, and it also receives slightly more driving range as well as a performance GT trim level.

The EV9 Light Long Range’s 305 miles of Kia-estimated driving range is competitive, and in optimal conditions, it’s possible to go from a 10% charge to 80% in less than 25 minutes at a 350-kilowatt DC fast charger. The EV9 claims our Top Pick honor for three-row EVs because it’s a compelling and well-executed EV, and it does nearly everything a good three-row SUV should.

2026 Kia EV9 Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Kia EV9 Near You

Top Pick: Electric Car — 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Why the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Won:

• Its maximum 342 miles of rated range comes from impressive efficiency: an EPA-estimated 132 mpg-equivalent combined.
• It has fast DC fast-charging capabilities, charging in as little as 18 minutes in ideal conditions.
• It’s affordable, with a starting price of less than $40,000.

If you’re interested in an EV because of the impressive efficiency they offer, look no further than the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6. With estimated efficiency as high as 135 mpg-e combined, the Ioniq 6 sedan is one of the most efficient new EVs you can buy. That means you get more miles of range from its battery, with up to 342 miles on a full charge. And with its standard 800-volt architecture, Hyundai says the Ioniq 6 can DC fast-charge in as little as 18 minutes under ideal conditions.

At the time of publishing, a U.S.-market 2026 Ioniq 6 hasn’t been announced (other than the hot rod Ioniq 6 N), but we expect changes such as physical controls for heated seats and steering wheel, plus an updated multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Backseat headroom is a bit limited, but the Ioniq 6’s cabin is comfortable and roomy otherwise, and most controls are familiar enough that you won’t need to go looking for the owner’s manual. The Ioniq 6 is also affordable, coming in at $39,095 for the SE Standard Range version, which is yet one more reason it’s our Top Pick Electric Car.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Near You

Top Pick: Luxury EV — 2026 Lucid Air

Why the 2026 Lucid Air Won:

• It’s a technological marvel of miniaturization, optimization and efficiency.
• It has a posh, comfortable and simple-to-use cabin, with luxurious appointments that surpass competitors.
• Its engineering allows for a rated all-electric range as high as 512 miles, the longest available from any EV.

To change a paradigm, you sometimes need a fresh perspective, and the Lucid Air is the kind of car that could only come from a company that’s never made one before. It’s a technological marvel graced with a cabin that’s posh, comfortable and simple to use. Its sheer engineering cleverness shames competitors, and its base price around $72,000 is surprisingly affordable.

Since winning this award for 2025, the Air has gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and boosted range on lower trim levels. Three drive-motor configurations are available: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive version; dual-motor AWD models; and a blisteringly high-performance tri-motor version with two motors out back and one upfront. Range is as high as 512 miles in the Grand Touring variant, which is the longest-range EV you can buy.

The Air also has massive cargo capacity and the passenger space of a larger car thanks to its innovative packaging, and everything from its onboard electronics to its materials quality is top-notch. All of these attributes have convinced us that the Air is worthy of the title of Top Pick: Luxury EV.

2026 Lucid Air Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Lucid Air Near You

Top Pick: EV Pickup Truck — 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV

Why the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Won:

• Certain versions of the Silverado EV have a driving range approaching 500 miles.
• Despite its electric powertrain, the Silverado EV still delivers conventional pickup capability.
• The large Silverado EV maneuvers like a much smaller pickup thanks to available four-wheel steering.

“Range anxiety” is not something that should be much of a concern for Chevrolet Silverado EV drivers. This full-size electric pickup truck offers a choice of three battery sizes, with the largest Max Range pack manufacturer-rated up to 493 miles of range on a full charge from the incredibly large 205 kilowatt-hour battery. And with up to 350-kW DC fast-charging capability for the Max battery pack, you can replenish range reasonably quickly when charging away from home.

While the Silverado EV delivers smooth, silent performance like other EVs, it also offers capability that truck shoppers expect. The Chevy’s maximum towing capacity is 12,500 pounds, and its max payload rating is 2,350 pounds. And if you’re interested in taking your electric pickup off-pavement, there’s a new Trail Boss trim for 2026 that has a lifted suspension, 35-inch all-terrain tires and an off-road-focused Terrain mode.

2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Near You

More From Cars.com:

• What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide
• Electric Cars FAQs: What They Are and How They Work
• Thinking About Getting an EV Before the Tax Credit Ends?
• Shop for EVs and PHEVs
• More Electric Car News and Reviews

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