A long time friend of mine contacted me recently saying that his mother has decided that she wants an EV to replace the VW GTI she’s been using as a commuter car. I gave him my top three suggestions, which he asked me to text him. Instead, I’m making a post about it -- because why not have a link I can hand out to the next person who asks “What’s the best EV I can buy for under $40,000?”
New Vehicle Suggestions -- $40,000-ish
I’m going to be referencing a Car and Driver list, because I can’t keep up with all the models available today.
1. VW ID.4 - 275 miles for $42,525
It’s ironic that I’m starting with a VW given that the driver in question already has a VW and my friend is an independent mechanic for VW vehicles... however, this vehicle is the first suggested new vehicle on the C&D list. I’ve driven this car, and I was somewhat underwhelmed. It is by no means a bad vehicle, but it isn’t exactly exciting either. The base rear-wheel drive ID.4 lacks about 20HP compared to the 2017 GTI that she’s currently driving, but I don’t know that she’d really notice the difference. Also, this is a compact SUV -- so it’s really not a fair to compare it to a sport hatchback, but that’s kind of how real-world car shopping goes... right? My biggest gripe on this car is the fact that it has a lot of capactive-touch buttons (on the steering wheel, the door, etc) that can be flakly. I also really dislike the power window switch -- it only has 2 buttons to control 4 windows. You press a capactive touch “Rear” button to make the switches control the rear windows.... A bonus for this vehicle is that some models are manufactured at the Chattanooga, Tennesse plant -- making them elligible for the US Tax credit (but how much of that credit, I can’t really tell you). I found one new 2022 ID.4 for $42,900 on AutoTrader, and I found a Certified Pre-Owned 2021 Pro S model for $37,300 -- which I’d say is a pretty good deal. Here’s all the ID.4′s within 200-miles of my friend’s zipcode.
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 220 miles for $41,245
The Ioniq 5 is actually the third-listed vehicle on Car & Driver’s list, but it’s actually the car I am most interested in: the hard edged 80′s styling, the very innovative interior, the 800-Volt drivetrain, ultra-fast 200kW DC-fast charging, and the Vehicle-to-Load functionality (which sharing power from the vehicle’s high-voltage battery to regular AC appliances via an in-cabin port or the external adapter that plugs into the charging port). I’ve owned a Hyundai Ioniq previously and was very impressed with the dealer experience (buying and servicing) and the company itself (they give Subaru a good run for the money on giving back to communities in which they sell their cars). Poking around AutoTrader, I found a single SE model for $42,995 in Roanoke, VA. This is one of the most popular cars for sale in the US right now, and dealers have waiting lists (I have a friend who is expecting the Ioniw 5 he ordered a few months ago to arrive in April). I couldn’t find a single used model within 300 miles, also worth noting that the Hyundai does not qualify for the Federal tax credit anymore.
3. Kia Niro EV - 239-miles for $41,285
Next up on my list is the Kia Niro EV. This is another vehicle that I have considered buying for myself. It’s only a 400-volt drivetrain, but it does feature 70kW DC-fast charging and a front-mounted charging port (which is, in my not-so-humble opinion, the best spot for the charging port). Looking at AutoTrader, I found a new 2023 model for $41,295; a Certified 2022 EX model for $41,477; and a used 2022 for $38,391. Again none of these cars will qualify for a tax credit. I also did not dig deep into the feature difference between the new, certified, and used vehicles -- that’s research for the buyer to dig into.
New Vehicle Suggestions -- $30,000-ish
1. Hyundai Kona - 258-miles for $35,295
The Kona and the Niro are sister vehicles, but I find the Kia has more interior room. Like the Niro, it has a 400-volt drivetrain and 70kW DC fast charging capability. Checking AutoTrader I found a used 2021 SEL model for $32,998. None of the new models had prices listed.
2. Chevrolet Bolt EUV - 247-miles for $34,495
The Chevrolet Bolt’s big brother - the Bolt EUV - is a new model that seems to have addressed many of the gripes that the Bolt had, namely, the seats don’t suck (as much). I like the taller stance of this vehicle, especially after seeing a few of them on the local roads. The downside to this car, which really doesn’t apply in this scenario, is that it only has a 50kW DC Fast charging capability, meaning it’ll be at least 45 minutes to 80% state of charge. That said, as a commuter, this is a pretty good option. AutoTrader tells me that there’s a new 2023 model in Raleigh for less than $30,000 - which is a pretty decent deal. There’s no shortage of these cars for sale within 200 miles of my friend’s zipcode, many of them at or below the MSRP of $35k.
3. Chevrolet Bolt EV - 259-miles for $32,495
The Bolt has been around since 2017 and, frankly, it’s a solid vehicle. I know a lot of folks with this car, and if you can get past the atrocious seats (which apparently can be improved by adding more foam to the seats - the covers come off shockly easily), it’s just a trooper. Being a small hatchback it’s the closest bodystyle to my friend’s mom’s GTI, and with 200hp on tap, it’s no slouch. Some of these cars can be had used for decent prices (to me that’s under $17k with a replaced battery pack). Checking AutoTrader I found several in Raleigh for under $30,000, this particular LT model is only $26,330. On the used front, I found a 2017 for $21,290 -- a hard price for me to swallow. For $16k? Sure. But not $21k when I can get a brand new one for less just a hundred miles away...
4. Nissan LEAF Plus - 226 miles for $36,040
Ah, the Leaf... one of the earliest Battery-electric vehicles to be sold in the US. I am a fan of the second generation styling, but the non-cooled battery pack and obsoleted rapid charging port are hard no’s from me. However as a commuter that’s only plugged in at home? It’s actually one of the first car I’d recommend because outside early pack degradation, these things are Energizer Bunnies. I’ve put a number of folks in Leafs, and my first EV experience was with a 2012 Leaf and I still have fond memories of that bug-eyed car. AutoTrader tells me that there is a new 2022 for $37,290, a Certified 2020 for $32,788, and a used 2019 for $25,900. Because these cars are assembled in Tennessee, I do think that new models qualify for the tax credit.
Other Suggestions
1. BMW i3 (2019+ with Range Extender)
I loved this car to much. The 2019-2012 models of this Carbon Fiber city car models have 126-miles of battery range and an additional 80-ish miles of range from the 2-gallon on-board gasoline generator. Make no mistake this is a Battery-electric vehicle with an engine that could be physically removed and the car wouldn’t care (unlike other Plug-in Hybrids). The cheapest one I could find was $33,499 in Charlottesville VA. It’s really hard to truly suggest this vehicle compared to many others in this list, but, it is a cool car and if you keep your eye out you might be able to score one for under $30k (which I think the car is 100% worth).
2. Some Tesla....
It’s no secret that I am not a Tesla fan, and I’m rather certain my friend isn’t either. That said, there’s two models for sale under $30,000 - but I caution that any repair will require a trip to Raleigh, and that they’re rather anti-independant repair - which generally goes against this family’s core values.
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