In the Shadow of the BoltCar and DriverEveryone loves a deal. I once saw a man worth hundreds of millions thrilled at getting a few free T-shirts. Which is why I love this year's choice for EV of the Year. The Bolt offers an immense amount of value and does so at an accessible price. But it's not the only contender that we sampled at our EV throwdown that does so; just the best. Here are my honorable mentions.In a time when the average price of a car is cresting at around 50 big ones, and expensive EVs are the norm, what juiced me up at our EV of the Year testing event were the cars that were pared down to the basics; pared down but not stripped down. Building inexpensive great cars is harder than building expensive great cars.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverThe cars I'm lauding here are all the least expensive models in their respective lineups, yet they all feel honest, forthright, and expertly focused on their missions. All of them deliver strongly on the core requirement for any EV—good range—without scrimping so much on the niceties that it would make you wince to own one. In fact, they'll make you feel smart.AdvertisementAdvertisementOur EV of the Year competition has strict requirements, including staffers only being allowed to consider cars and trims that are present at the event. Previous-year losers don't get a second chance. But the Ceppos short list has no such rules, so I'm taking a few liberties to highlight several great alternatives to the winning Bolt. In fact, the following EVs very much echo the Bolt's ethos of less is more.Tesla Model 3.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverI found happiness and contentment in the Tesla Model 3 RWD. This is the base model, a rear-drive 300-hp sweetheart with a 321-mile EPA range and a 5.4-second 60-mph time. It's been around a while, which has given Tesla years to hone it, and it shows. It's light on its feet and effortless to helm, and lacks none of the basic amenities. At $38,630, it feels like it's high-quality goods at a below-market price.Lexus ES350e.James Lipman - Car and DriverI didn't expect the Lexus ES350e Premium to deliver the holistic luxury-EV sedan experience with such poise and grace. It's posh inside, roomy, quiet as a tomb, glides along as if suspended from the clouds, and delivers solid performance, darting to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It offers 307 miles of EPA-rated range. It delivers so much, it feels like a steal at its $48,795 base price, and it gives me no reason to recommend popping for its more expensive ES500e stablemate.Nissan Leaf.Andi Hedrick - Car and DriverNissan's Leaf, new for 2026, is the car the OG model should have been from the start. To me, the most compelling version in the lineup is the least expensive, the S+, which starts at $31,535. Alas, only the top $40,535 Platinum was at our event, so we didn't sample the S+—in fact, we've yet to drive one. (Nissan, send us one already!) But it's the idea of the S+, just knowing that it's out there, that wins my heart. How does 303 miles of range sound? For that kind of money, it sounds compelling, well worth a look if that's the price range you want to stay in.Tesla Model Y Base.Greg Pajo - Car and DriverAdvertisementAdvertisementAnother Tesla we had at the test also grabbed me, and it's not new either: the base Model Y RWD. Like its Model 3 sibling, it's pleasant to drive, delivers 321 miles of range, sprints to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, and treats you to a handsome Tesla-minimalist interior. It's $41,630, you really don't need more Model Y than this.As a final bit of rebellious rule-breaking, I offer up a car that wasn't even at this year's EVOTY event: the Lucid Air Pure. We've had one on long-term test, and living with it has shown me that it too is an example of tremendous value, albeit at a higher price point.Lucid Air Pure.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverThis sleek, stylishly appointed sedan will take you 420 miles, according to the EPA. Its 430 -hp rear motor shoots it to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and it's a pleasure to drive. It, too, is the entry point into its lineup. Value is where you find it. At $72,400, the Air Pure isn't inexpensive, but like the other cars on this list, it feels so successful at its core mission that it seems every bit the value of the less costly vehicles we had at EV of the Year.You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
