Best Luxury Electric Cars for 2024

The best used and new luxury electric cars based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.

The best luxury electric car is the Tesla Model 3 based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. Its overall rating of 8.3 out of 10 reflects the Model 3’s reliability, value retention and safety scores. A new Tesla Model 3 costs between $38,990 and $52,990 while a used version costs between $21,751 and $36,998. This luxury electric car can seat up to 5 people and is EPA rated to deliver up to 127 miles per gallon equivalent in mixed city/highway driving.

The Luxury Electric Car category consists of 15 models priced between $38,990 and $249,000 for new vehicles and between $17,299 and $206,079 for used vehicles. iSeeCars has sufficient vehicle data to rate and rank 3 of these 15 models based on their reliability, value retention and safety scores.

Luxury electric SUVs are growing in market share, with models like the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Rivian R1s,and Tesla Model Y among premium EV SUVs offering varying degrees of off-road capability. But luxury electric cars arrived first, and continue to represent an important part of the EV space.

The original luxury electric cars entered the market with relatively small batteries, limited range, and slower on-board charger capacities. But newer luxury EVs feature fast charging, over 250 miles of driving range, and acceleration on par with traditional high performance cars. Most can be equipped with dual electric motors and all-wheel, giving them crossover-like grip on slippery surfaces, and several are available in “long range” configurations that offer more than 300 or more miles of range.

Shoppers seeking a luxury EV with a lower price tag than electric SUVs should consider the luxury cars listed below, especially if cargo and passenger space are not a primary concern. Full-size electric cars like the Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan may not have quite as much carrying capacity as the EQE SUV, but it’s still a luxurious and roomy model with premium upgrades like plush interior materials and a tranquil cabin.

Buyers seeking a low emissions vehicle without range anxiety might consider a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. The Lexus ES 300h is an affordable hybrid sedan that gets over 40 mpg, while the Volvo S60 Recharge is a plug-in hybrid sedan capable of traveling over 40 miles on pure electricity. Both are viable alternatives to a luxury electric car.

1. Tesla Model 3

#1 of 26 Best Electric Cars #1 of 26 Safest Electric Cars #1 of 26 Best Family Electric Cars

Tesla Model 3 for Sale

iSEECARS SCORE

iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
8.3 / 10

Reliability 7.2 / 10
Value Retention 7.6 / 10
Safety 10 / 10

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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $38,990 - $52,990

USED PRICE $21,751 - $36,998

EV RANGE 272 - 341 miles

CARGO VOLUME 24.1 cu ft

Tesla Model 3 Summary

The Tesla Model 3 is widely regarded as the best electric sedan in the world. The Model 3 is also the top-selling EV in the US market by a wide margin. This compact/midsize sedan offers a thrilling driving experience and advanced technology.

Pros and Cons

Key Features

Tesla Model 3 Summary

Pros and Cons

Excellent range
AWD available
Attractive styling
Amazing performance with Performance trim

No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
Pricier than its reputation (mid-$50Ks is the typical price point)
No spare tire on any trim
Interior design and materials don’t match premium pricing

Key Features

Large and active owner fanbase (it’s like a religion)
Comprehensive, nationwide Supercharger network access
Advanced driver-assist available (Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving or FSD)
Over-the-air updates increase the Model 3’s security and performance while you sleep

Overview

Tesla’s Model 3 has become the benchmark in the EV car world. This sedan now outsells entire brands in America. Fans love the Model 3 because it brought an amazing electric vehicle to shoppers at a, relatively, attainable price point. All Teslas have a large main central screen that operates almost every aspect of the vehicle. Once novel, that approach has gone farther than some shoppers like. There is no head-up display available and no driver information display offered directly ahead of the driver. Tesla also does not offer many traditional luxury features some buyers in the $50K range have come to expect. For example, there is no option for leather seating surfaces. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, the Model 3 offers performance car driving dynamics in most trims. Its top trims are arguably the best bang for the buck in the performance car market.

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2. Tesla Model S

#1 of 26 Most Reliable Electric Cars #1 of 15 Most Reliable Luxury Electric Cars #1 of 6 Best Electric Luxury Hatchbacks

Tesla Model S for Sale

Reliability 9.4 / 10
Value Retention 6.8 / 10
Safety Not Available

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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $72,990 - $87,990

USED PRICE $36,119 - $79,745

EV RANGE 359 - 402 miles

CARGO VOLUME 28.2 cu ft

Tesla Model S Summary

Tesla’s Model S was the vehicle that proved beyond a doubt electric cars don’t need to be boring econoboxes with a short range. This is the industry’s most prolific large electric sedan, and is considered the flagship in the Tesla line.

Pros and Cons

Key Features

Tesla Model S Summary

Pros and Cons

Unbeatable performance in top trims
Roomy, large sedan size
Appealing style, inside and out

No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
No spare tire on any trim
Few luxury features

Key Features

Welcoming fanbase (it’s like a religion)
Comprehensive Supercharger network access
Advanced driver-assist available (Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving or FSD)
Over-the-air updates

Overview

While the Model S was Tesla’s second vehicle, it was the brand’s defining vehicle first in terms of being a high-volume model with a major impact on the global car industry. Launched nearly a decade ago, it has sold in numbers typical for its price point as a premium sedan and many are available in the used market. The Model S is a sleek performance car with some touches of luxury, but not many. Tesla created this segment and it continues to dominate the EV market. New versions of the Model S focus on hyper-performance and novel interior touches like a yoke-style steering wheel and no wiper controls other than via the touch-screen. In fact, most controls for the Model S, like all Teslas, are operated through the large central display screen.

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Last new model year: 2021

3. BMW i3 (electric)

#1 of 13 Best German Electric Cars #1 of 10 Best German Luxury Electric Cars #1 of 5 Best German Small Electric Cars

BMW i3 for Sale

Reliability 7.2 / 10
Value Retention 6.4 / 10
Safety Not Available

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NEW PRICE (MSRP) $44,450 - $47,650

USED PRICE $17,299 - $27,994

EV RANGE 153 miles

CARGO VOLUME 15.1 cu ft

BMW i3 Summary

The BMW i3 is a compact electric car and was the first European EV to market in the US. BMW broke the mold when it created this fresh approach to motoring.

Pros and Cons

Key Features

BMW i3 Summary

The BMW i3 is a compact electric car and was the first European EV to market in the US. BMW broke the mold when it created this fresh approach to motoring.

Pros and Cons

Ultra-green construction with low carbon footprint
Unique styling
Vegan interior options

Polarizing styling
Limited space for its price point
Poor reliability score
Adaptive cruise control is not standard
Rear-wheel drive only

Key Features

Environmental-themed interior packages
Unique styling
No B-pillar - rear half-doors open from a rear hinge
Environmentally-friendly manufacturing

Overview

When BMW set out to create its first battery-electric car it started with a clean sheet of paper. The result was an EV that didn’t just consume less energy than conventional cars when driving but was made using green materials, methods, and energy. The BMW i3 will appeal to conservationists trying to leave the smallest possible carbon footprint in their wake. BMW went so far as to put its frame manufacturing plant next to a source of hydroelectricity. The dashboard is made using plant fiber. The low rolling resistance tires resemble bicycle tires more than typical car tires. Despite all these unique, some may say odd, qualities, the i3 is fun to drive. It has great outward visibility and feels light on its feet. A new BMW i3 ranges in price from about $46K to nearly $60K. Used BMW i3s are widely available now, despite being sold in relatively low numbers when new. Shoppers should remember there is more than one generation of battery packs for the i3, and that some i3 cars have an onboard gasoline-powered range extender.

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