10 Underpowered Electric Cars That'll Make You Wish For A Gas … – HotCars

In recent years, there has been a significant transformation in the automotive market with the rise in the popularity of EVs. Electric vehicles are more mainstream thanks to most automotive manufacturers producing different iterations for all types of buyers. Nowadays, there are impressive electric vehicles in the sedan, SUV, sports car, and hatchback segments.

While EVs offer numerous advantages, like reduced operating costs and environmental sustainability, some are still underpowered. These underpowered variants lack the performance and power of ICE-powered counterparts, leaving some people yearning for the trill of the gasoline engine.

10 2023 Mazda MX-30

Power Output: 143 HP

Mazda introduced the first MX-30 in 2022, offering enthusiasts its first-ever electric vehicle. The MX-30 shares similar styling with most of its Mazda stablemates, featuring a smaller version of the traditional Mazda grille and familiar swept-back headlights. However, the MX-30 has one unique feature that makes it stand out from its siblings, a small rear-hinged rear door, similar to that in the RX-8 sports car. The door provides a wider opening for easier access to the cabin.

Performance

Being the brand’s first EV, the MX-30 only has a single powertrain – a single electric motor with 143 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The motor sends power to the front wheels, helping make the MX-30 playful despite its low horsepower rating.

9 2023 Nissan Leaf

Power Output: 147 HP

Nissan introduced the Leaf in 2011, and it was the first modern mass-produced electric vehicle. Despite being in the market for over a decade, the Leaf received just one major redesign in 2018. In a world where EVs boast futuristic designs and innovative technology, the Leaf feels outdated, with most of its competitors offering more power, features, and range.

Performance

For the 2023 model year, Nissan made a few design improvements, including a revised front bumper, grille, and exterior lighting elements. The Nissan Leaf is a front-wheel drive car that comes standard with a single electric motor with 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Nissan also offers a more powerful variant with 214 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2023 Nissan Leaf

8 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Power Output: 149 HP

The Ioniq 6 is Hyundai’s second electric vehicle, and it offers enthusiasts a comfortable and spacious sedan. The Ioniq 6 boasts an arching aerodynamic shape that helps it deliver up to 361 miles of range. Its unique shape also helps make it an attractive option for most EV buyers. Hyundai equips the Ioniq 6 with plenty of standard features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-following assist, lane-keeping assist, and a 6-speaker audio system.

Performance

Hyundai offers four trim variants of the Ioniq 6, including the SE Standard Range, SE, SEL, and Limited. The base SE is only available with a rear-mounted electric motor with 149 hp. All other models are available either with a 225 hp single motor or a more powerful 320 hp all-wheel drive dual motor layout. The SE trim offers the best range, with 305 miles in the RWD setup and 270 miles in the AWD variant.

7 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Power Output: 168 HP

Hyundai is synonymous with building good-looking and reliable cars with impressive pricing. The Ioniq 5 is a dazzling electric SUV with some impressive retro styling and new-era technology. It’s among the vehicles that tick most of the boxes, considering that it’s available in four trims, all with impressive cabins, different battery options, and rear- or all-wheel drive systems.

Performance

The base Ioniq 5 uses a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 168 hp. Adding a long-range battery increases the output to 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai also offers a dual motor variant, with all-wheel drive and 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. The dual motor variant offers better acceleration than the base variant. It also offers an athletic driving feel, thanks to the low center of gravity.

Related: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: This Is The Most Fun You Can Have In An EV

6 2024 Mini Cooper Electric

Power Output: 181 HP

The 2024 Mini Cooper Electric offers enthusiasts a great daily driver car. It has an extra dose of personality, thanks to its iconic design cues and battery electric powertrain. The Mini Cooper Electric is a direct descendant of the original Mini, but its electric setup helps it stand out from the crowd. Mini offers multiple color variants of the 2024 Cooper Electric, helping give it a vibrant exterior.

Performance

As standard, the Mini Cooper Electric uses a single motor setup, producing 181 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. The motor powers the front wheels and gets power from a 28.9 kWh battery pack. While it isn’t the most powerful variant on the market, the 2024 Mini Cooper Electric has reasonably zippy acceleration.

5 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB

Power Output: 188 HP

Mercedes finally got into the EV game with the new EQ line. While the full-size EQS sedan was out of reach for most people, the EQB SUV is one of the most affordable offerings. It uses the gasoline-powered GLB platform, offering enthusiasts an entry-level EQ product. Considering how good the GLB is, the EQB has an advantage over its rivals.

Performance

The base EQB features a single electric motor with 188 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. The motor powers the front wheels only. Luckily, Mercedes-Benz also offers a more powerful variant of the EQB with 225 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque. At the top of the lineup sits a dual-motor EQB with 288 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.

Related: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB: Costs, Facts, And Figures

4 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Power Output: 200 HP

The Bolt EV is an engaging vehicle with a low starting price tag. Despite being one of the smallest vehicles in the U.S., the Bolt EV offers a roomy cabin with 17 cubic feet of cargo space that easily extends to 57 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Its small size also helps offer a tighter turning circle, making it great for city driving.

Performance

The Bolt EV uses a single electric motor, producing 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Power goes exclusively to the front wheels. The Bolt EV doesn’t have the immediate response of more powerful EVs, but it offers enough power for passing and merging on the highway.

3 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

Power Output: 201 HP

The Hyundai Kona Electric is a two-row subcompact crossover with an affordable starting price. It competes with the Kia Niro EV, Volkswagen ID.4, and Chevrolet Bolt EV. Like its rivals, the Kone Electric has comparable charging and range estimates. For the 2023 model year, Hyundai offers multiple standard features, making the Kona Electric a more attractive package.

Performance

The Kona Electric has a single powertrain option, a single electric motor with 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain sends power to the front wheels only and gets power from a 64.0 kWh battery pack. While it’s not the quickest crossover on the market, it easily outperforms the gasoline Kona variants.

Related: Why We Would Rather Buy The 2024 Hyundai Kona EV Over Ioniq 5

2 2023 Kia Niro EV

Power Output: 201 HP

For the 2023 model year, Kia gives the Niro EV a modern interior and less wagon-like exterior. This helps make the Niro EV more eye-catching, be it on the showroom floor or road. Unlike most EVs, the Niro EV has a striking aero blade side panel, giving it a contrasting look. The unique side panel also helps with the Niro EV’s aerodynamics, allowing buyers to easily get more range.

Performance

Kia offers a single powertrain option for all Niro EV variants. The powertrain features a single electric motor that churns out 201 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. While this isn’t impressive performance, it makes the Niro EV more powerful than the Niro hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.

1 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

Power Output: 201 HP

After years of teasing enthusiasts with an electric-powered concept vehicle, Volkswagen finally delivered the ID.4 electric SUV. The ID.4 helped achieve the brand’s goal of delivering a robust lineup of EVs. Upon its introduction in 2021, the ID.4 had an EPA-estimated driving range of 260 miles. Volkswagen offered the ID.4 with rear-wheel drive as standard and optional all-wheel drive.

Performance

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 has a single rear-mounted motor, producing 201 hp. For more power, Volkswagen offers a dual-motor version with all-wheel drive and 295 hp. While the rear-wheel-drive version doesn’t offer gut-punching accelerations, its dual-motor sibling boasts accelerative performance. Both models offer a refined and smooth ride quality.