Popular EVs Consumer Reports thinks you should avoid

As gas prices skyrocket thanks to the war in Iran, many Americans are considering switching to EVs. But not all electric vehicles are created equal.

“Being brand-new doesn’t guarantee a model is a good vehicle,” Consumer Reports said. “EVs are susceptible to the same uncomfortable rides, maddening controls, and defects as gas-powered models.”

Consumer Reports has compiled a list of popular electric vehicles it thinks you should avoid — and what to buy instead.

Continue reading to see which picks made the list before you buy a new EV.

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The Kira Niro EV may be nice to drive and is decently priced, starting just under $40,000, but CR thinks you should steer clear. It didn’t score particularly high on CR’s test, particularly for reliability and owner satisfaction.

Instead, CR thinks you should consider the Tesla $TSLA Model 3, which actually has a lower starting price at just under $37,000. “We recorded an impressive 334 miles during our highway-range test of the Long Range AWD version,” it said. “Home charging is speedy, at about 44 miles of range gained per hour.” But it warned that the real seats aren’t very comfortable.

Another option: the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which starts just below $38,000. “The ride is firm yet comfortable, handling is agile, acceleration is smooth, and the cabin is quiet,” CR said. It has a long range, too.

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If you’re looking for a luxury EV, you may want to skip the Mercedes-Benz EQE 2026, CR said. The EV starts just below $65,000. CR's experts were impressed by the long range and comfortable ride. Still, “the brake pedal has a discon­cert­ingly mushy feel, even though stopping distances are short,” CR said. Plus, “the swanky interior is attractive, but the controls are too distracting, and it’s annoying that the steering wheel rim blocks the top of the driver’s instrument screen.”

Instead, consider the BMW i5 2026, which starts around $67,000. CR liked that it “combines super-quick acceleration with agile handling and a cushy ride.” The rear seats are a tad cramped, though.

Another option: the Porsche Taycan 2026. It’s certainly more pricey, starting just under $106,000, but it has strong reviews. CR said the Taycan “is quick, agile, and very enjoyable to drive.”

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If you’re looking for an electric SUV, you may not want the Hyundai Ioniq 5 2026, CR said. The SUV, which starts at $35,000, was one of CR’s favorite EVs it tested. But it can’t recommend it. “Many owners in our survey shared reliability issues, including those that can cause a loss of power while driving,” CR said.

Instead, consider the Ford $F Mustang Mach-E, which starts just under $38,000. It’s made major improvements since it first debuted in 2021, and owner satisfaction is above average. 

The Chevrolet Equinox EV 2026 is another recommended choice, starting just below $35,000. It’s “quick and quiet, and rides comfortably,” CR said.

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CR says the Audi Q6 E-Tron 2027, which starts at $64,500, is supposed to be luxury but doesn’t feel like it. It got low reliability and owner satisfaction scores, and “many of the interior controls are unintuitive and distracting to use while driving.”

Check out the BMW iX 2026 instead. It starts at $75,150. CR said its “super-quick and quiet, delivers a plush ride and agile handling, and has a uniquely stylish cabin.”

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The Rivian $RIVN R1T is quick, quiet, and comfortable, and it starts below $73,000. But its dismal reliability score keeps its off CR’s list of recommended trucks. In fact, it ranks last among EV pickups.

CR thinks you should consider the Ford $F F-150 Lightning instead, which is more affordable, starting just below $50,000. “The powerful truck delivers quick acceleration, and its independent rear suspension provides a more comfortable ride than the regular F-150,” CR said.