Whether you like the company or not, there’s no denying Tesla makes some of the best EVs on the market. The automaker is single-handedly responsible for the proliferation of EVs today because, as others were releasing lukewarm products, Tesla showed the world just how good an electric vehicle could be. This is in no small part due to the influence the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, has also had on changing public perception regarding the products, and creating hype around them never before seen in the automotive industry.
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Unfortunately, not everyone wants to get on the hype train. There’s just something off-putting about the cult of personality that has erupted around the company, regardless of how good its products are, and we don’t blame you if you’re not eager to jump on board despite your interest in electric vehicles. This is why we’ve compiled a list of the best alternatives for every model in the Tesla lineup coming from industry stalwarts and upstart competitors alike. Remember: you don’t have to drink the Tesla Kool-Aid just because everyone else is.
1 Tesla Model S
Tesla
Model
Model S
Model S Plaid
Power
670 hp
1,020 hp
Range
402 miles
359 miles
0-60 mph
3.1 seconds
1.99 seconds
Starting price
$74,990
$108,490
The car that really started it all for Tesla (RIP the O.G. Roadster), the Model S, continues to get older yet still manages to impress us thanks to continued meaningful updates. While it may not be as far in front of the pack as it once was, there’s no denying it’s still one of the best, and it continues to offer more bang for your buck than most cars. If it’s not your cup of tea, there are quite a few luxury alternatives on the market that best match or exceed it in performance, luxury, and style, but the prices are all over the map. One model stands out above the rest in our opinion, but don’t think it’s the only option out there.
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Lucid Air
Lucid
Model
Air Pure
Air Sapphire
Power
430 hp
1,234 hp
Range
420 miles
427 miles
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
1.89 seconds
Starting price
$69,900
$249,900
Established automakers should be concerned that a startup is capable of crafting a vehicle that categorically puts their offerings to shame. Lucid is following the same formula that Tesla established last decade, and the Air has been every bit as impressive, offering incredible range (up to 512 miles on the Grand Touring trim), but also incredible performance in the Sapphire trim, which is one of the few cars that can best the Model S Plaid in a straight line. We love everything Lucid is doing with the model. However, it’s to ignore how large the price gap is between trims, and the company still needs to iron out the kinks in its software and build quality if it’s going to continue to ask these prices.
2 Tesla Model 3
Tesla
Model
Model 3
Model 3 Performance
Power
257 hp
510 hp
Range
272 miles
303 miles
0-60 mph
5.8 seconds
2.9 seconds
Starting price
$38,990
$54,990
Ever since the Model 3 debuted in 2018, it’s been a car for the masses, and its updates for the 2024 model year have improved on the formula in almost every way. Not only is the car very affordable (especially once you factor in the EV Tax Credit), but performance has also gotten cheaper, meaning if you qualify, you can find yourself in a wickedly fast car for a little over $40,000. There really isn’t anything else like it on sale, especially because automakers have given up on sedans, but there is one vehicle that stacks up nicely against it.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai
Model
Ioniq 6 SE Standard RWD
Ioniq 6 Limited AWD
Power
149 hp
320 hp
Range
240 miles
270 miles
0-60 mph
7.4 seconds
4.3 seconds
Starting price
$37,500
$53,650
As far as mid-size, fully electric sedans go, the Ioniq 6 is really your only option outside the luxury space. Hyundai has been killing it recently with its electric offerings, and the introduction of the Ioniq 6 has given it a solid entry-level foothold in the market. While we know the brand’s current futuristic designs may not be to everyone’s tastes, we’re fans, and more importantly, we’re fans of its range (which reaches 305 miles on some trims) and the performance on the top models. The upcoming N version is going to promise even more performance when it debuts next year, and we expect it to give the Model 3 Performance a solid run for its money.
3 Tesla Model X
Tesla
Model
Model X
Model X Plaid
Power
670 hp
1,020 hp
Range
335 miles
326 miles
0-60 mph
3.8 seconds
2.5 seconds
Starting price
$79,990
$94,990
When the Tesla Model X debuted, it was unlike anything else on the road, offering blistering performance, space-age looks, and insane falcon-wing doors. We finally had a quirky Tesla EV for the entire family, but it didn’t take long for the luster to fade, especially because the model hasn’t had a comprehensive update in almost 4 years. The range is still impressive, offering up to 335 miles, but other competitors are meeting and surpassing it, and the Plaid performance also isn’t what it used to be. Fortunately, the pricing is still excellent compared to competitors, continuing to give it a leg up, but if you’re not sold the model, we don’t blame you.
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Rivian R1S
Rivian
Model
Rivian R1S Adventure Standard Pack
Rivian R1S Tri-Motor
Power
533 hp
850 hp
Range
258 miles
380 miles
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
2.9 seconds
Starting price
$75,900
$105,900
The Rivian R1S is the most impressive competitor the Model X has. The first SUV offered by the US-based automaker Rivian arrived with more conventional styling than most EVs, although it still offers plenty of quirks in its styling. Despite offering an off-road focus with the R1S, the range is exceptional, easily besting the Model X in the higher trims. Although performance is down on the Tri-Motor model, a new Quad-Motor variant is also on the way, and we’re expecting it to put up numbers equal to the Tesla. The only issue is it will cost about $50,000 more than the Model X, but at this point, that’s to be expected, isn’t it?
4 Tesla Model Y
Tesla
Model
Model Y Long-Range RWD
Model Y Performance
Power
295 hp
456 hp
Range
320 miles
279 miles
0-60 mph
6.5 seconds
3.5 seconds
Starting price
$44,990
$51,490
While the Model Y is fresher than most models on this list, it is still due for a refresh that won’t arrive this year. We expect these updates to mimic mostly what was done to the revamped Model 3, plus a few tweaks to the design. Frequent updates on these volume-selling models are crucial, as you don’t become the best-selling vehicle in the world by just sitting around, you have to constantly innovate, especially because it’s now going up against solid competitors from its backyard.
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Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford
Model
Mach-E Select RWD
Mach-E Rallye
Power
264 hp
480 hp
Range
250 miles
265 miles
0-60 mph
5.2 seconds
3.4 seconds
Starting price
$44,990
$51,490
Whether or not you feel the Mustang Mach-E should wear the Mustang name, there’s no denying it’s a pretty compelling EV. As the Blue Oval’s first fully electric offering (in a couple of decades at least), it aims to offer the practicality of a crossover with an extra dose of sportiness. If you’re looking for Range, the Extended Range battery pack on the Premium trim can get you up to 320 miles of range, which puts it right up there with the Model Y. Even better, Ford introduced the Rally version for 2024 that gives the EV a whole host of off-road features to have fun in the mud, along with a power bump in torque 600 to 700 lb-ft. It may not be as sleek as the Tesla, but we’d venture to say it’s cooler for sure.
5 Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla
Model
Cybertruck Dual-Motor AWD
Cybertruck Tri-Motor Cyberbeast
Power
600 hp
845 hp
Range
318 miles
301 miles
0-60 mph
4.1 seconds
2.6 seconds
Starting price
$99,990
$119,990
Serious question: is the Tesla Cybertruck the brand’s first miss? Up until now, it felt like anything the company touched turned to gold, but it finally feels like after years of false promises and missed production targets, the company has finally lost momentum with a model. The truck is impressive, to be sure, but it’s also the most outlandish model the company has ever released, and really pushes the boundaries of what the public is willing to accept from the company. Perhaps it was always supposed to be a niche product instead of a volume seller, but we can’t help but feel it indicates a change in tide for the automaker.
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Rivian R1T
Rivian
Model
Rivian R1T Adventure Standard Pack
Rivian R1T Tri-Motor
Power
533 hp
850 hp
Range
258 miles
380 miles
0-60 mph
4.5 seconds
2.9 seconds
Starting price
$69,900
$99,900
The fact that essentially the same vehicle is on this list twice is a testament to how darn good it is. The R1T is just the R1S with a bed in the rear, still offering the same amount of blistering acceleration and range with the ability to haul a couple of hundred pounds of mulch in the rear. Again, styling is crazy here, which we think is a smart move when you’re trying to convince traditional truck buyers to switch from the same brand they’ve been buying for the past 40 years to something new. Now with these new updates for 2025, we’re hard-pressed to find a better electric truck on the market, including the Cybertruck.