10 Electric Cars With The Lowest Range

Summary

• American market no longer has electric cars with under 100 miles of range – a step in the right direction.
• Updated list of EVs in the US with the least EPA-estimated range highlights new models and data.
• Range varies from 114 to 228 miles in these 10 electric vehicles, showing improved offerings in the market.

EVs are about power, speed, range, and how fast you can recharge their batteries. As you can imagine, not every electric car out there can deliver the 516-mile range of the Lucid Air or the 350–400 miles every decent EV should have. To our surprise, you can still find EVs that deliver under 200 miles of range, and they come with hefty sticker prices.

However, with cars like the Smart EQ (58 miles), the Volkswagen e-up! (70 miles), and the BMW i3 (81 miles) out of production, the average range of electric cars available in the States is a little better. We can happily say the American market has no electric cars with under 100 miles of range. Here’s a list of the 10 EVs with the lowest EPA-estimated range in the United States.

UPDATE: 2024/04/18 13:00 EST BY AYUSH ARYA

This article has been comprehensively updated to highlight the top ten electric vehicles on sale in the United States with the least EPA-estimated range. Five vehicles, including the Porsche Taycan and Volvo XC-40 Recharge, dropped off this list and were replaced by other models that offer less range. We have added new details on the existing vehicles and revised the content to align with our latest content standards, thus improving your reading experience.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA. The vehicles on this list have been arranged in descending order according to their EPA-estimated range.

10 Toyota bZ4X XLE AWD

EPA-Estimated Range: 228 Miles

The Toyota bZ4X shares its underpinnings and drivetrain with the Subaru Solterra. However, unlike the Subaru, you can buy it in a front-wheel-drive configuration. If you want more range, you’d have to go for the FWD model of the bZ4X, as it has an EPA-estimated range of 252 miles. The all-wheel-drive version, which comes with a 72.8 kWh battery pack, can only do 228 miles on a single charge.

2024 Subaru Solterra XLE AWD Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Toyota and the EPA)

The single-motor front-wheel-drive bZ4X produces 201 horsepower with a peak torque of 196 pound-feet. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants are good for 214 horsepower with a peak torque of 248 pound-feet. EPA rates this setup for a combined 104 MPGe. The cheapest way to get the bZ4X with the dual-motor AWD configuration is the XLE trim, which retails for a base MSRP of $45,150.

9 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select eAWD

EPA-Estimated Range: 224 Miles

Ford shocked the world when it introduced the Mustang Mach-E. It was clear that many people disagreed with having the Mustang nomenclature on an electric crossover. Time has proven the Mustang Mach-E is not as bad as people thought, and it aims to be one of the best EVs. However, as with many other electric cars on the market, you need to pay big money to benefit from those numbers that make the Mustang Mach-E the most efficient Ford ever.

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select eAWD Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Ford and the EPA)

Conversely, the entry-level Select trim delivers 264 horsepower and 387 pound-feet of torque, or 325 horsepower and 500 pound-feet in the eAWD trim. The base 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select SR (Standard Range) features a 72-kWh battery that provides a range of only 224 miles (EPA-estimated) in the eAWD model. Prices start from $45,390 (including destination and delivery charges), a lot to pay for a model with such a low range.

8 Subaru Solterra Limited

EPA-Estimated Range: 222 Miles

The Solterra is Subaru’s sole EV sold in the States. It features a 72.8 kWh battery pack, which allows for an EPA-estimated 227-mile range in the base Premium trim. However, if you go for the Solterra Limited or Touring, the range drops to 222 miles. All versions of the Solterra are available with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. The lower range in the higher trims is likely the result of higher curb weight.

2024 Subaru Solterra Limited Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Subaru and the EPA)

The EPA rates the Solterra’s base trim at 104 MPGe, while the Limited and Touring trims are rated at 102 MPGe. This EV’s dual motor setup produces 215 horsepower with a peak torque of 249 pound-feet. Subaru states that Solterra’s battery pack can charge 10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes when connected to a 100 kW DC fast charger. Prices start at $44,995 and go up to $51,995.

7 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic

EPA-Estimated Range: 221 Miles

The EQB SUV is the entry point into Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric range. It has a 70.5 kWh battery pack, standard across its trims. On the entry-level EQB 250+, which has a single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup, you get 245 miles of range on a full charge. However, the range drops drastically for the top-spec EQB 350 4MATIC, which has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration.

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Mercedes-Benz and the EPA)

The EQB 350 4 MATIC’s electric motors produce 288 horsepower and a peak torque of 384 pound-feet. 0 to 60 mph takes 6.0 seconds, but you can only go 221 miles. The EQB’s 70.5 kWh battery pack can be juiced up from 0 to 80 percent in 32 minutes. Prices for this all-electric Mercedes-Benz start from $52,750, with the 350 4Matic retailing at $60,550.

6 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range

EPA-Estimated Range: 220 Miles

In many ways, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is better than its competition, including models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Ioniq 5 comes in base RWD and AWD versions. As you would probably expect, you have to go for the AWD models to get the best deal. The base Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range with the RWD setup features a single motor that puts down 168 horsepower, while a 58-kWh battery provides a range of only 220 miles.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Hyundai and the EPA)

This is much less than the top 303 miles you will get from models equipped with the larger 77.4 kWh battery pack in the rear-wheel-drive configuration. Nevertheless, the Ioniq 5 remains one of the best family EVs available today; you just have to choose the right model. Prices for the 2024 Ioniq 5 start from $41,800 for the SE Standard Range to $59,775 for the range-topping Limited AWD.

5 Kia EV6 GT AWD

EPA-Estimated Range: 218 Miles

If you want maximum range from the Kia EV6, you’d have to go for its single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup, which comes with the bigger 77.4 kWh battery pack. This configuration has an EPA-estimated range of 310 miles. However, if you want your EV6 to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, you’d have to invest $61,600 for its top-of-the-line GT AWD trim that features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration.

2024 Kia EV6 GT Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Kia and the EPA)

The EV6 GT AWD’s dual electric motors produce 576 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of peak torque. Though these performance figures are impressive for an electric crossover, the corresponding range estimates are not. According to the EPA, the EV6 GT AWD can only do 218 miles on a single charge despite having the bigger 77.4 kWh battery pack. Thankfully, you can charge up this pack in 18 minutes from 10 to 80 percent by connecting to a DC fast charger.

4 Nissan Ariya Engage e-4ORCE

EPA-Estimated Range: 205 Miles

The 2023 Ariya is Nissan’s second electric model for the American market and its first all-electric crossover SUV. It went on sale for the 2023 model year and promises powerful acceleration, smooth, quiet operation, and a range of up to 304 miles. However, the entry-level model, the 2024 Ariya Engage, is far from being this efficient. It has a 63-kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a range of 216 miles in front-wheel-drive configuration.

2024 Nissan Ariya Engage e-4ORCE Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Nissan and the EPA)

The range drops to 205 miles if you choose the Engage e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive version. The all-wheel-drive model is powered by dual electric motors that deliver 335 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The good news is that the Engage trim needs only 35 minutes to charge from 20 to 80 percent using a 130 kW fast charger. The 2024 Nissan Ariya Engage is not cheap. The FWD version can be yours for $43,190, while the AWD version costs $47,190.

3 Fiat 500e

Claimed Range: 149 Miles

Stellantis states that at 3,000 pounds, the 500e is the lightest passenger electric vehicle in the segment. But that doesn’t mean that it comes with a very high range. Its 42 kWh battery pack can only hold enough charge for 149 miles. Fast charging capability is available, but it caps out at 85 kW, allowing for a 0 to 80% charge time of 35 minutes.

2024 Fiat 500e Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Fiat)

The EPA has yet to release official estimates for the 500e’s range and efficiency. The compact electric hatchback has a single electric motor that powers the front wheels; there is no all-wheel-drive option. The electric motor produces 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of peak torque. The entry-level INSPI(RED) trim has a base MSRP of $32,500.

2 Nissan Leaf S

EPA-Estimated Range: 149 Miles

The Nissan Leaf is one of the oldest EVs on the market. It has improved greatly in terms of looks and performance since Nissan unveiled its first generation iteration in 2010. The first generation delivered a range of 73 miles, and despite all the improvements, the second generation Nissan Leaf remains one of the electric vehicles with the lowest range on the American market.

2024 Nissan Leaf S Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Nissan and the EPA)

For the 2024 model year, the Leaf is offered in S and SV Plus trims, with the entry-level model being the least efficient. The 2024 Leaf S is powered by a 160-kW electric motor that delivers 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. All its juice comes from a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a range of 149 miles. The 2024 Nissan Leaf S has the advantage of being cheap; you can get one for $28,140.

1 Mini Cooper SE

EPA-Estimated Range: 114 Miles

Launched in 2020, the Mini Cooper SE—aka the electric Mini—is nothing more than a BMW i3 powertrain hiding under the traditional Mini design. If you are wondering why BMW dropped the i3, you should know that the range had something to do with it. The 2023 Cooper SE Electric features a 135 kW electric motor with 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of peak torque.

2024 Mini Cooper SE Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Mini and the EPA)

A 32.6 kWh lithium-ion battery provides a range of only 114 miles, making the Cooper SE one of the least desirable EVs on the market. Using one of the many Level 3 public DC fast charging locations, you can recharge the battery pack to 80 percent in just 36 minutes. At home, however, with a Level 2 wall charger, you will need around 4 hours. For the 2023 model year, the Mini Cooper SE is priced at $30,900.