Dollar per mile, here are five of the best-priced electric vehicles that also have a projected range between 250 and 300 miles on a full charge.

Ten years ago, when electric vehicles were first coming to market, the few electric cars available at the time were lucky if they could get 100 miles on a single charge. Today’s marketplace now offers abundant choices that can travel more miles than the initial 100. The farther you want to go between charges, the more expensive those electric vehicles are to purchase. 

What Is the Ideal Range for an EV?

The answer to this question is unique for every driver. 

• How long is your daily commute? 
• Do you have access to charging at home or work? 
• Do you have access to an alternate vehicle you can use when you want to travel longer distances than your EV’s capacity allows?

Ideally, when choosing an electric car range, you want your EV to allow you to make your average commute for a few days between charges without creating any range anxiety. According to a report from EVStatistics.com, 99.2% of daily trips in the United States are fewer than 100 miles, with 79.9% of daily trips being fewer than 10 miles. Data compiled by Get Jerry says Californian commuters travel an average of 47 miles a day, while Maryland commuters travel an average of 52 miles round trip per commute. 

With that in mind, we set our sights on vehicles with an all-electric range between 250 and 300 miles.

Which Electric Car Has the Longest Range? 

Right now, it appears the Lucid Air Dream tops the list of electric cars with the longest range, offering more than 500 miles at a lofty price of more than $170,000. Tesla has a couple of Model S trim levels with long EV ranges, including the Model S Plaid that can go 375 miles for about $105K. We’ve also read about the now-canceled Model S Long-Range Plus that promised to exceed 500 miles of electric range for about $149K. Ouch!

Not everybody can spend that kind of green to go green, so we are including affordability in our consideration as well. As such, these five electric vehicles are priced between about $26,595 and $48,485 (before sales tax and any other fees). Also, because current rebate programs are changing dramatically in the upcoming months, our prices do not include any federal tax rebates or any other state or local subsidies. 

2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV 1LT

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination: $26,595
Range: 259 miles per charge
Cost per mile of range: $102.68

The Chevrolet Bolt EV returns for 2023 with a lower price and a slightly larger sibling, the EUV. Both are powered by a single permanent magnetic drive motor that delivers 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of near-instant torque. A 65 kWh lithium-ion battery pack helps the Bolt EV offer up to an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range on a full charge. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes 6.5 seconds.

The five-passenger Chevrolet Bolt EV subcompact SUV features a changeable plug that can be used with a standard 120-volt three-prong outlet for 120-volt Level 1 charging (which adds about 4 miles of range per hour) or a 240-volt outlet for Level 2 charging that can provide up to 39 miles of range per hour for a full charge in about 7 hours. A DC fast charger delivers up to 100 miles of range in about 30 minutes.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Bolt EV in 1LT trim starts at $25,600, plus $995 for destination and delivery. With an estimated all-electric range of 259 miles, that equals $102.68 per mile of range, giving the Bolt a strong advantage for the top spot on our list.

2023 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination: $34,835
Range: 258 miles per charge
Cost per mile of range: $135.06

The fun little Kona was Hyundai’s first SUV available in the U.S. with a fully electrified powertrain. Under its hood, its 201-horsepower permanent magnetic synchronous motor joins with a high-voltage 64 kWh lithium-ion battery to distribute 291 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. It promises up to 258 miles per charge and zero to 60 mph acceleration of 8.9 seconds.

The five-passenger Kona Electric subcompact SUV features a 7.2-kW rapid recharger that can charge from 10% to 100% in just a little over nine hours using 240-volt Level 2 charging; its 100-kW fast charger can replenish its batteries from 10% to 80% in approximately 47 minutes. 

Pricing for the front-wheel-drive Hyundai Kona SEL starts at $33,550, plus $1,295 for freight. With an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 258 miles, that equals $105.99 per mile of range, placing it in a close second to the Bolt EV.

2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE LR

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination: $46,795
Range: 303 miles per charge
Cost per mile of range: $154.44

In its first year of production, the IONIQ 5 was triple-crowned in the 2022 World Car Awards as World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year. It also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) — impressive kudos for this brand-new compact crossover SUV. The long-range IONIQ 5 SE features a 225-horsepower permanent magnetic synchronous motor mated with a 77.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery to distribute 258 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. It promises up to 303 miles per charge and zero to 60 mph acceleration of 7.4 seconds. It is also rated to tow up to 2,300 pounds, but be forewarned that towing will definitely reduce its range.

Level 2 recharging at home with a 240-volt outlet will net a full charge in just over 7 hours. With up to 250-kW 800-volt charging, the IONIQ 5 can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes; if you’re in a pinch, you can get up to 68 miles of range in just five minutes. The IONIQ 5 also benefits from two years of unlimited 30-minute DC fast charging sessions at Electrify America’s DC fast charging stations.

Pricing for the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE LR starts at $45,500, plus $1,295 for freight. With an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 303 miles, that equals $149.49 per mile of range, placing it solidly in the middle of our list of great range values.

2023 Nissan Ariya Venture+ FWD

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination: $48,485
Range: 304 miles per charge
Cost per mile of range: $102.68

Nissan led the way into the electric vehicle marketplace with the compact LEAF hatchback more than a decade ago; finally, the company is adding a second model to its electric vehicle lineup with the Ariya crossover. The car is available with both front- and all-wheel drive and either 66kWh or 91kWh battery choices for a total of nine trim levels, and we’re focusing on the front-wheel-drive Venture+. It promises an estimated range of up to 304 miles from its 238-horsepower AC synchronous motor that delivers 221 lb-ft of torque and acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. 

The five-passenger Ariya crossover features a maximum 130-kW fast-charge ability, meaning it can charge from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes with a DC fast charger. The standard 7.2-kW onboard charger can replenish a depleted battery in about 12 hours using standard 240-volt household power.

Nissan quotes a starting MSRP of $45,950, plus $1,295 for destination and delivery. With its estimated all-electric range of 304 miles, that equals $161.62 per mile of range, putting the Ariya in fourth place.

2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination: $43,215
Range: 252 miles per charge
Cost per mile of range: $171.49

Toyota’s introduction of the bZ4X represents the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the global Toyota bZ (Beyond Zero) brand umbrella. Jointly developed with Subaru, the five-passenger 2023 bZ4X SUV is powered by a 355-volt lithium-ion battery pack promising an EPA-estimated range of up to 252 miles from its 201-horsepower AC synchronous motor. The base-level XLE front-wheel-drive model promises to deliver 196 lb-ft of torque and acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

Solar panels integrated into the bZ4X compact SUV trickle-charge the battery and are expected to capture enough energy for about 1,000 miles of driving range per year. On cloudy days, a 150-kW DC fast charger can bring the bZ4X up to an 80% charge in about 25 minutes, while Level 2 charging via a 240-volt outlet will bring the battery from empty to a full charge in about 9.5 hours. Customers who purchase or lease a new 2023 Toyota bZ4X will receive one year of unlimited complimentary charging at all EVgo-owned and operated public charging stations nationwide.

Toyota’s five-passenger bZ4X starts at $42,000, plus $1,215 for destination and delivery. Combining that with its estimated range of 252 miles equals $171.49 per mile of charge, putting it just behind the Nissan Ariya on this list.