Longest Range Electric Car: Counting Down The Top 10

One of the most significant criticisms against electric cars is the lack of a proper driving range. It's a valid concern because maximum range will inevitably play an important role when purchasing an EV. More range equals a better electric car, though that shouldn't be the only factor.

CarBuzz is of the opinion that the best range is a range that fits in with your lifestyle. Buying a Tesla Model 3 Long Range is unnecessary if your daily commute is less than ten miles. In that case, just about every EV on the market will do.

This feature will likely be updated at least twice a year because claimed ranges are climbing at a rapid rate. EV naysayers like to point out that the average range of an electric car is around 250 miles, while the average for an ICE car is just over 400 miles.

Here's the thing, however. The average for combustion cars has been static for nearly a decade, while electric range improves year-on-year by double or triple digits. How many years before every EV is classified as a long-range car?

Since this is a top 10 list, we'll start from lowest to highest. For the record, we only use the EPA-estimated range because it is by far the most strict testing procedure.

As you'll see from numbers 10 to three, there's a strong presence in the 320 to 360-mile range. Depending on driving style, the first four cars on this list can easily be replaced by other vehicles that lose out by just a mile or two of range. Examples include the Cadillac Lyriq, BMW i7, Kia EV6, and Nissan Ariya. If you're in the market for an EV with roughly 300 miles of range, plenty of options exist.

If you want the longest-range electric cars, get ready to spend at least $88,000 for a Model S.

And importantly, remember that these are cars you can buy and drive now, not just put reservations down on for arrival next year.

One of the main trends you'll notice is a choice between performance and range. The iX M60 is a 523-horsepower beast but has a much lower range than its slightly more docile long-range xDrive50 stablemate.

The 50 still has 516 hp, so it's hardly as slouch, but the claimed driving range is 324 miles. You can say what you want about the design, but BMW knocked this one out of the park as a package.

And besides, you don't have to look at it once you are inside.

Rivian announced in May 2023 that its Max-Pack Dual-Motor R1T will be delivered to customers in August 2023. The American automaker promised 400 miles of range, but this must still be verified.

That's why we're sticking with the Rivian R1T Launch Edition and its 835-hp quad-motor setup powered by the mid-tier 135 kWh battery. Equipped with 21-inch wheels and low-resistance tires, it can manage 328 miles. Oddly, the EPA has only tested this one configuration. An R1T with a dual-motor setup and the mid-tier battery should have a much better driving range, at least in theory.

Either way, it's the longest-range electric truck you can buy at present. Rivian also has the benefit of its Adventure Network for customers who like exploring.

GMC claims the Hummer EV has a maximum range of 329 miles, but due to its 9,000-pound curb weight, it's excused from actual EPA testing procedures.

The Tesla Model Y is the American automaker's best-selling car, proving that people will sacrifice a few miles of range for a more attractive crossover body.

The Long Range model has an EPA-rated range of 330 miles, 28 miles less than the Model 3 Sedan it's based on. Twenty-eight miles of range is an easy sacrifice to impress the neighbors with a crossover body.

There is no long-range option for the Model X, but both available models beat the Model Y when it comes to range. You can have the dual-motor, which can get from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds and comes with an EPA-verified 348 miles of range, or you can get the ballistic Model X Plaid, which hits 60 mph in a supercar-rivaling 2.5 seconds. Impressively, even with the performance provided by the tri-motor setup, it can still have a 333-mile range.

At the time of writing, it was officially the electric SUV with the longest range, but you may want to watch for software updates that lower maximum range claims.

The model you want is the EQS 580 4Matic, which has 516 hp and 340 miles of range. Unfortunately, that's less than the Model X, so if the range is the only consideration, it has to be the RWD EQS 450+.

It only has 329 hp, which is a bit low for something with an "S" attached to its badge, but it comes standard with 350 miles of range, beating the Model X by two miles.

The Model 3 Long Range has a range of 358 miles, and for a while, it was one of the longest-range electric cars, at least on the more affordable side of the automotive industry.

While Tesla has a lot of issues, there's no denying that the Model 3 remains a good buy, and its contribution to the automobile industry can't be underestimated. While the Model S forced everyone to pay attention, the Model 3 forced legacy manufacturers to catch up.

You might want to wait a while if you're in the market because a facelifted Model 3 is coming, and it will likely boast increased range to take the fight to the next car on this list.

We all knew this moment was coming. Elon Musk and Tesla claimed the longest-range electric cars accolade year after year, but it was only a matter of time before a legacy manufacturer caught up.

That finally happened with the Ioniq 6, which offers 361 miles of range. It's in the same ballpark as the Model 3 in terms of price, but it's better in every other way. You get all the benefits of long-range electric motoring and decent build quality. The design may be controversial, but it proves how important aerodynamics are in the EV era.

The best setup for this car is RWD with a 77.4 kWh battery.

This car is more than a decade old, and still, it places in the top three. What a stellar achievement. In base trim, the Model S can cover 405 miles, and thanks to a recent price drop, it's better value for money than the next entry on this list.

If you're willing to sacrifice nine miles of range, you can get the blistering Model S Plaid, which has put many a supercar to shame in a straight line.

Lucid wanted to make a big splash with the Air and came in swinging with the Dream Edition. The Grand Touring was launched roughly a year later but with an EPA rating of 516 miles. Together, these two sedans are the electric cars with the most range available.

Lucid also introduced a home charger that can add 80 miles of range an hour, making its EVs even more attractive to those who can afford them.

The car with the most excellent range is the Lucid Air Dream Edition. It was the first Air to go on sale, but only in limited numbers. The EPA confirmed that it would do 520 miles on a single charge, not just setting a new record but also making it the first car to breach the 500-mile barrier. It beat the existing longest-range electric car king by more than 100 miles.

You can still buy a used model, but watch for the wheel size. The 520 miles of range only applies to models wearing low-drag 19-inch wheels. If you buy a model with 21-inch wheels, the most range you'll get is roughly 450 miles.

Until some manufacturer can pull a rabbit out of a hat, this is the longest-range EV you can buy in America.