BOISE, Idaho — Electric vehicles are hitting the market little by little, and many Americans are looking to make the switch from gas cars to electric or hybrid cars, according to AAA.
AAA Car Guide ranks electric, plug-in electric, hybrid and other alternative fuel cars by category, to help buyers with their purchase decision. This guide is based on testing conducted by AAA's Automotive Research Center in southern California.
Taking first place this year was the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV.
Other categorial winners include:
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV (electric) - Overall Winner
- 2023 Volvo S60 Recharge Ultimate Black Edition (plug-in hybrid) - Small Car Winner
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC Sedan (electric) - Midsize Car Winner
- 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 (electric) - Large Car Winner
- 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat (electric) - Pickup Truck Winner
- 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (electric) - Small SUV Winner
- 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Prestige (electric) - Midsize SUV Winner
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV (electric) - Large SUV Winner
- 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring (hybrid) - Best Under $40k Winner
- 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (electric) - Best Between $40-60k Winner
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV (electric) - Over $60k Winner
According to AAA, in order to be eligible for this year's Car Guide, cars had to be all-new or completely redesigned for 2023 or 2024, and also had to be hybrid, electric, low-emission diesel or run on an alternative fuel.
There was a combination of real-world and test track conditions, vehicles were evaluated across 13 criteria such as acceleration, handling, fuel efficiency, braking and ride quality, said AAA.
"In the early days of electric vehicles, one of the major concerns was that the few available options didn't match the needs and lifestyles of some drivers. But fast forward to today – selection has dramatically improved, and range anxiety is also starting to dissipate," said AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. "Regardless of vehicle type, we'll always be there to lend a helping hand, including for those people who are excited about EV technology."
When purchasing an electric vehicle, AAA recommends looking into the locations of charging stations near work, home or along roads commonly driven in your routes. AAA also recommends looking into the cost of installing an at-home charging station as well.
EVs may have a learning curve, so AAA also recommends getting familiar with the elements of driving an EV by doing an in-depth driving test before buying.
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